Isaiah 59:1

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

a. NLT: Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.

b. NIV: Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

c. YLT: Lo, the hand of Jehovah Hath not been shortened from saving, Nor heavy his ear from hearing.

d. Amplified Bible: Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear.

e. Septuagint: Has the hand of the Lord no power to save? or has he made his ear heavy, so that he should not hear?

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Surely, the hand of HASHEM is not short, [preventing Him] from saving, nor isHis ear heavy, [preventing Him] from hearing.

1. “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened that it cannot save…”

a. behold [2005 * hen] [Strong: a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if:--behold, if, lo, though.]

b. the LORD’S [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

c. hand [3027 * yad] [Strong: a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad, (broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in, labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine, ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain, power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing, + thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side, where, + wide, X with (him, me, you), work, + yield, X yourselves.]

d. is not shortened [7114 * qatsar] [Strong: a primitive root; to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain):--X at all, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax) short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex.]

e. that it cannot save [3467 * yashaa’] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor:--X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.]

1). It is not because the Lord’s hand is too short that we are not delivered, that we do not have victory, that we are not helped, preserved, and safe.

2. “…neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear…”

a. neither his ear [241 * ‘ozen] [Strong:  from 238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man):--+ advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, + show.]

b. heavy [3513 * kabad] [Strong: a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses):--abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.]

1). This is the same Hebrew word used earlier in Isaiah 6:9, 10 to describe Jews who cannot hear from God.

a). Isaiah 6:9, 10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

2). Jesus cited this passage and applied it to the contemporary Jews of his day who couldn’t understand his parables.

a). Matthew 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

3). Being dull of hearing is a condition that that refers to our spiritual senses. It is a condition we are all susceptible to and we must all guard against. See notes for Hebrews 5:11-14.

c. that it cannot hear [8085 * shama’] [Strong: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.]