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Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59

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 · 21

Isaiah 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies…” It lands on “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as iniquity, works, blood, eggs, hands, hear tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Their, God, None. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 2: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: iniquity, works, blood, eggs, hands, hear

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Isaiah 59:1

    “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.

  2. Isaiah 59:2

    “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.

  3. Isaiah 59:3

    “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  4. Isaiah 59:4

    “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief…” Naming None keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Isaiah 59:5

    “They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed…” The line’s distinctive content terms include eggs, breaketh, cockatrice. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

  6. Isaiah 59:6

    “Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  7. Isaiah 59:7

    “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting…” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Isaiah 59:1-7

King James Version

1Behold, 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made…” By verse 11, the text has turned to “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none…” It lands on “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as judgment, know, grope, justice, peace, transgressions tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 9: “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: judgment, know, grope, justice, peace, transgressions

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Isaiah 59:8

    “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.

  2. Isaiah 59:9

    “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.

  3. Isaiah 59:10

    “We 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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include grope, blind, dead. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

  4. Isaiah 59:11

    “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bears, doves, judgment. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

  5. Isaiah 59:12

    “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  6. Isaiah 59:13

    “In transgressing and lying against the LORD , and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

  7. Isaiah 59:14

    “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afar, backward, enter. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

Isaiah 59:8-14

King James Version

8The 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.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw…” By verse 18, the text has turned to “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to…” It lands on “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; My spirit that is upon thee, and…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as LORD, mouth, recompence, repay, righteousness, salvation tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include According, Jacob, Redeemer, Spirit, Yea, Zion. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 18: “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, mouth, recompence, repay, righteousness, salvation

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Isaiah 59:15

    “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.

  2. Isaiah 59:16

    “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.

  3. Isaiah 59:17

    “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.

  4. Isaiah 59:18

    “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the…” Naming According keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. Isaiah 59:19

    “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  6. Isaiah 59:20

    “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  7. Isaiah 59:21

    “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…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

Isaiah 59:15-21

King James Version

15Yea, 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.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
  2. Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
  3. Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.

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.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Isaiah 59?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Isaiah 59 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Isaiah 59 develops its own movement around LORD, judgment, iniquity, mouth, justice?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?