Isaiah 41:1
What does Isaiah 41:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 41:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 41:1 means
Here, the Lord commands all the distant lands and their inhabitants to be silent and prepare themselves. He challenges them to gather their strength and present their case before Him for judgment. This sets the scene for a divine courtroom where God will demonstrate His unique sovereignty and power, contrasting it with the inability of idols and their worshipers. The call for silence emphasizes the Lord's supreme authority and the reverence due to Him as the ultimate Judge over all creation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Come quietly before me, O sea-lands, and let the peoples get together their strength: let them come near; then let them say what they have to say: let us put forward our cause against one another.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Keep silent towards Me, O isles, And the peoples pass on <FI>to<Fi> power, They come nigh, then they speak, `Together--to judgment we draw near.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let the islands keep silence before me, and the nations take new strength: let them come near, and then speak, let us come near to judgment together.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Keep silence before me, islands; and let the peoples renew [their] strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us draw near together to judgment.
Context
This verse opens chapter 41, initiating a legal dispute between God and the nations. It immediately establishes God's authority by demanding silence and a reckoning. This challenge prepares the reader for the subsequent demonstration of God's power through a chosen instrument, highlighting the Creator's control over history before contrasting it with the weakness of idols that cannot speak or act.
v.1This passage
v.2Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 38:3
Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
- Isaiah 34:1
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples: let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof; the world, and all things that come forth from it.
- Isaiah 41:6
They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage.
- Job 31:35
Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me) Andthat I hadthe indictment which mine adversary hath written!
- Isaiah 48:16
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord Jehovah hath sent me, and his Spirit.
- Job 23:3
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
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