Isaiah 41

“Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feet, gone, passed. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD , the first, and with the last; I…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.” The line’s distinctive content terms include afraid, drew, earth. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.” Naming Abraham and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…” Naming Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD , and thy redeemer, the Holy One of…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beat, chaff, hills. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include water, fountains, high. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert…” The line’s distinctive content terms include tree, cedar, desert. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Produce your cause, saith the LORD ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.” Naming Jacob and King keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may…” Naming Shew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, chooseth, nothing. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.” The line’s distinctive content terms include confusion, images, molten. Its relationship to verses 28 shows what work it does in this passage.