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Isaiah 41:14

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Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Fear {H3372} not, thou worm {H8438} Jacob {H3290}, and ye men {H4962} of Israel {H3478}; I will help {H5826} thee, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, and thy redeemer {H1350}, the Holy One {H6918} of Israel {H3478}.

Have no fear, Ya'akov, you worm, you men of Isra'el!' I will help you," says ADONAI; "Your redeemer is the Holy One of Isra'el.

Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Commentary

Isaiah 41:14 offers a profound message of comfort and assurance from God to His people, Israel, particularly in their time of weakness and distress. The verse directly addresses their fears and promises divine intervention, highlighting God's character as their helper and redeemer.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 40-48) known as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah." Here, God speaks to His exiled people, Israel, who are feeling abandoned and powerless. Amidst the rise of mighty empires (like Persia under Cyrus, mentioned in chapter 41), God reasserts His sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to His chosen nation. He challenges the futility of idols and promises to deliver Israel, using them as His witnesses to the world. The preceding verses in chapter 41 also contain similar promises of divine assistance and strength, echoing the frequent divine command to 'fear not' found throughout Scripture.

Key Themes

  • Divine Comfort and Assurance: The opening command, "Fear not," is a recurring theme in Isaiah and throughout the Bible, signifying God's presence and His desire to alleviate human anxiety. It’s a direct antidote to the despair Israel felt in exile.
  • God's Power in Human Weakness: Calling Jacob a "worm" (Hebrew: tola'at or rimmah) emphasizes Israel's utter helplessness and insignificance from a human perspective. This is not an insult but a stark contrast to God's immense power. It highlights that God chooses to work through the weak and despised, demonstrating that His strength is perfected in weakness, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
  • God as Redeemer and Holy One: God identifies Himself as "the LORD" (Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God), "thy redeemer," and "the Holy One of Israel." The term "redeemer" (Hebrew: go'el) refers to a kinsman-redeemer in ancient Israelite law—a relative who had the responsibility to protect family interests, including buying back property, avenging blood, or delivering from slavery. This powerfully emphasizes His covenant faithfulness and His active role in delivering Israel from their bondage, emphasizing His role as the powerful deliverer and kinsman-redeemer. "The Holy One of Israel" underscores His unique, transcendent nature and His special covenant relationship with His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "worm" here, tola'at, often refers to a crimson worm, which was crushed to produce a red dye. This imagery, though seemingly demeaning, beautifully illustrates humility and vulnerability, suggesting that even in their lowest state, God values and will elevate them. The term go'el for "redeemer" is rich with meaning, pointing to a family member who acts on behalf of another, securing their freedom or justice. This paints a picture of God's intimate and personal commitment to Israel's well-being and restoration.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 41:14 offers immense comfort. We often feel like "worms" in the face of overwhelming challenges, personal weaknesses, or powerful adversaries. This verse reminds us that:

  • God knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, yet He does not despise us.
  • His command to "Fear not" is a call to trust in His sovereign power.
  • He is our personal Redeemer, able and willing to deliver us from any form of bondage—sin, fear, despair, or oppression.
  • Our help comes from the Holy One, whose character is perfect and whose promises are unfailing.
This verse encourages us to lean on God's strength when we are weak, trusting that our powerful and loving Redeemer will uphold us.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 43:14 (8 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry [is] in the ships.

  • Psalms 22:6 (7 votes)

    But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

  • Isaiah 54:5 (7 votes)

    For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

  • Jeremiah 50:34 (6 votes)

    Their Redeemer [is] strong; the LORD of hosts [is] his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

  • Psalms 19:14 (5 votes)

    Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

  • Job 25:6 (5 votes)

    How much less man, [that is] a worm? and the son of man, [which is] a worm?

  • Job 19:25 (4 votes)

    For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: