The big picture
Isaiah 59 opens in verse 1 with “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is…”, and closes in verse 21 with “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; My spirit that is upon thee…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 21Isaiah 59:1-7
1–7: Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither…
Isaiah 59:1–7 opens with “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it…” and reaches “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice, with particular weight carried by iniquity, works, blood.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, hear, heavy. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Isaiah 59:1-7
King James Version1Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Isaiah 59:8-14
8–14: The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their…
Isaiah 59:8–14 opens with “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them…” and reaches “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice, with particular weight carried by judgment, know, grope.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 59:8-14
King James Version8The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
9Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
13In transgressing and lying against the LORD , and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Isaiah 59:15-21
15–21: Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a…
Isaiah 59:15–21 opens with “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it…” and reaches “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; My spirit that is upon thee, and my…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice, with particular weight carried by LORD, mouth, recompence.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto…” The line’s distinctive content terms include intercessor, righteousness, salvation. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 59:15-21
King James Version15Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
18According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
19So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
20And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD .
21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD , from henceforth and for ever.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 59:1 begins with “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 59:9 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.”
The final note
Isaiah 59:21 leaves the reader with “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice, know help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.