Restoration for the Humble and Promise of Peace
Isaiah 57:14-21
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Isa.57.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- סלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- סלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- פנו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הרימו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מכשול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
Parallels
- Isaiah 62:10 (structural): Close verbal and structural parallel — repeated imperatives to 'pass through'/'prepare the way,' 'build up' and 'remove the stumbling-block from the people's way.'
- Isaiah 40:3 (verbal): Same road-building imagery — a call to 'prepare the way' for the Lord; both use the motif of clearing/straightening a path for divine movement.
- Isaiah 35:8 (thematic): Shared theme of a transformed, cleared highway — a 'way' that leads to restoration and holiness for God's people.
- Matthew 3:3 (quotation): New Testament citation of Isaiah's road-making motif (via Isaiah 40:3) applied to John the Baptist; echoes the preparatory imagery of clearing a way for the Lord.
Alternative generated candidates
- And say, "Build up! Build up! Prepare the way; remove the stumbling‑block from the way of my people."
- And say, 'Build up, build up; prepare the way, clear the road; lift up a signal—remove the stumbling-block from the way of my people.'
Isa.57.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רם: ADJ,m,sg
- ונשא: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שכן: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- וקדוש: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מרום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקדוש: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אשכון: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- דכא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ושפל: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- להחיות: VERB,hiphil,inf,NA,NA,NA
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שפלים: ADJ,m,pl
- ולהחיות: VERB,hiphil,inf
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נדכאים: ADJ,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 66:2 (verbal): Uses very similar language—God looks to/ dwells with the ‘humble and contrite in spirit’—closely echoing Isaiah 57:15’s promise to be with the lowly and revive the contrite.
- Isaiah 6:1,3 (structural): Both verses depict God as ‘high/exalted’ and emphasize his holiness (cf. ‘the Lord high and lifted up’ and the thrice‑holy), paralleling 57:15’s opening portrait of God’s transcendence and holiness.
- Psalm 34:18 (thematic): Affirms the theme that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves/renews the crushed in spirit, resonating with 57:15’s promise to revive the spirit of the lowly.
- Psalm 51:17 (verbal): Speaks of ‘a broken and contrite heart’ as the acceptable sacrifice—language nearly identical to 57:15’s ‘contrite/lowly spirit,’ linking repentance/humility with God’s presence and restoration.
- Matthew 5:3 (thematic): ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ echoes the theme that humility/poverty of spirit is honored by God and receives his kingdom/comfort, paralleling 57:15’s assurance to the lowly and contrite.
Alternative generated candidates
- For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell on high and holy, yet I also dwell with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
- For thus says the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell on high and holy ground, yet I also dwell with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'
Isa.57.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- לעולם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אריב: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- לנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אקצוף: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- כי: CONJ
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלפני: PREP
- יעטוף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ונשמות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 103:9 (verbal): Closely parallels the declaration that God 'will not always be angry' / 'will not keep his anger forever,' echoing Isaiah's refusal to remain enraged eternally.
- Lamentations 3:31-33 (thematic): Like Isaiah 57:16, stresses that the Lord will not abandon or afflict forever and emphasizes God's compassionate restraint in anger toward human beings.
- Psalm 104:29-30 (thematic): Connects the idea of God as the giver of life—when he sends out his spirit/ breath creatures are created—paralleling 'souls I have made' and the link between divine spirit and life.
- Genesis 2:7 (allusion): The narrative of God breathing life into man ('breath of life' / 'living soul') echoes Isaiah's claim that the souls are his making and ties divine breath/spirit to human life.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I will not contend forever, nor will I be angry for ever; for the spirit before me would faint— the souls I have made.
- For I will not contend forever, nor will I be angry to the end; for the spirit before me would faint, and the souls I have made.
Isa.57.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בצעו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- קצפתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,NA,sg
- ואכהו: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- הסתר: INFABS,qal
- ואקצף: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שובב: ADJ,m,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 59:2 (verbal): Both verses state that sin separates people from God and causes Him to 'hide his face' (Heb. הסתר), linking iniquity with divine alienation and lack of hearing.
- Deuteronomy 31:17 (verbal): God speaks of kindled anger and hiding His face from Israel because of their apostasy—same causal pattern (sin → divine anger/hidden face) as Isaiah 57:17.
- Ezekiel 8:18 (verbal): Ezekiel depicts God acting in fury, not sparing or having pity and refusing to hear their cries—language and theme parallel Isaiah’s description of divine wrath and concealment of face.
- Romans 1:18 (thematic): Paul says God’s wrath is revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness; thematically parallels Isaiah’s linking of divine anger with persistent sin (here covetousness/iniquity).
Alternative generated candidates
- Because of the iniquity of his gain I was angry and struck him; I hid my face and was angry, and he turned aside, rebellious in the way of his heart.
- Because of the iniquity of his greed I was angry and struck him down; I hid my face and was displeased—and he turned aside, a rebellious wanderer in the way of his heart.
Isa.57.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דרכיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3ms
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- וארפאהו: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- ואנחהו: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- ואשלם: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- נחמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ולאבליו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 30:17 (verbal): God promises to restore health and heal wounds—language of divine healing and restoration parallels “I will heal him.”
- Hosea 6:1 (verbal): After calling to return to the LORD the prophet says ‘he will heal us’ and bind up our sores, echoing the pledge ‘I have seen his ways, and will heal him.’
- Psalm 23:3 (thematic): ‘He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me…’—the combined motifs of God’s leading and restoring mirror Isaiah’s promise to lead and renew comforts.
- Psalm 147:3 (verbal): ‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds’—explicit theme of healing and consoling the mourners resonates with Isaiah’s restoration of comforts.
- Jeremiah 31:13 (thematic): God’s promise to turn mourning into joy and to comfort his people closely parallels Isaiah’s pledge to ‘restore comforts…to his mourners.’
Alternative generated candidates
- I have seen his ways and I will heal him; I will lead him and comfort him, and I will restore consolation to his mourners.
- I have seen his ways; I will heal him—I will lead him and comfort him, and I will restore consolation to his mourners.
Isa.57.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בורא: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- ניב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שפתים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לרחוק: PREP
- ולקרוב: CONJ
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ורפאתיו: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
Parallels
- Ephesians 2:17 (verbal): 'He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near' closely echoes Isaiah's wording 'peace… to the far off and to the near,' applying the promise to Christ's reconciliation.
- Jeremiah 30:17 (verbal): 'I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds' parallels Isaiah's promise 'and I will heal him,' both offering divine restoration/healing language.
- Hosea 6:1-2 (verbal): 'Come, and let us return… for he has torn, that he may heal us' echoes the motif of divine healing and restoration found in Isaiah 57:19.
- Psalm 147:3 (thematic): 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' thematically parallels Isaiah's assurance of peace and healing for the afflicted.
- Ezekiel 34:25 (thematic): 'I will make with them a covenant of peace' resonates with Isaiah's repeated 'peace, peace' formula and the promise of God's restoring peace.
Alternative generated candidates
- I create the fruit of the lips: "Peace, peace," to the far and to the near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.
- He creates the sound of lips: 'Peace, peace—to the far and to the near,' says the LORD; 'and I will heal them.'
Isa.57.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והרשעים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נגרש: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- השקט: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- יוכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,ms
- ויגרשו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מימיו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,3ms
- רפש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וטיט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 65:7 (thematic): Uses the image of God stilling the roaring of the sea; thematically contrasts God’s calming of chaotic waters with Isaiah’s depiction of the wicked as a restless, tossing sea.
- Jeremiah 5:22 (verbal): Speaks of God placing sand as a boundary for the sea so its waves may toss but cannot prevail—similar sea-tossing imagery used to discuss limits on chaos and moral disorder.
- Job 38:8-11 (verbal): God’s speech about laying bars on the sea and setting its limits ('Hitherto shall you come, but no further') parallels the motif of the uncontrollable sea and divine authority over it, which Isaiah invokes to describe the wicked.
- Mark 4:39 (thematic): Jesus’ calming of the storm echoes the biblical motif of divine power to still the restless sea; serves as a New Testament counterpart to the OT contrast between chaotic waters and God’s (or God’s agent’s) control—relevant for understanding the sea-image of the wicked.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the wicked are like the restless sea that cannot be quiet; its waters cast up mire and mud.
- But the wicked are like the restless sea, which cannot rest; its waters toss up mire and mud.
Isa.57.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אין: PART,neg
- שלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- לרשעים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 48:22 (verbal): Almost identical wording: “There is no peace, says the LORD, to the wicked,” a close verbal parallel to Isa 57:21.
- Jeremiah 6:14 (thematic): Condemns false assurances of “Peace, peace” when there is no peace; addresses false comfort contrasted with true judgment—related theme to Isa 57:21.
- Jeremiah 8:11 (thematic): Repeats the motif “Peace, peace, when there is no peace,” criticizing deceptive prophets and false security—echoes the denial of peace to the wicked.
- Ezekiel 13:10 (verbal): Accuses prophets who prophesy ‘Peace’ where there is no peace—uses the same phrase and condemns false promises of peace.
- Ezekiel 13:16 (allusion): Pronounces punishment on those who give false assurances of peace; complements Isaiah’s declaration that the wicked shall have no peace.
Alternative generated candidates
- "No peace," declares my God, "for the wicked."
- No peace, says God, for the wicked.
And say: "Build up, build up; clear the way, lift up a signal—remove the stumbling-block from my people's road."
For thus says the High and Exalted One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell on high and holy ground, and also with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to restore the heart of the contrite."
For I will not contend forever, nor will I be continually angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls I have made.
Because of the iniquity of his gain I was wroth; I struck him, I hid my face and was angered—yet he turned aside, obstinate in the way of his heart.
I have seen his ways and I will heal him; I will lead him and give him comfort, and I will restore consolations to his mourners.
I create the utterance of the lips: "Peace, peace to the far and to the near," says the LORD; "and I will heal them." But the wicked are like the restless sea, which cannot rest; its waters toss up mire and mud.
There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.