Isaiah 41:15
What does Isaiah 41:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 41:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 41:15 means
God declares He will transform Israel into a formidable, new, sharp threshing instrument with teeth. This imagery signifies that Israel, previously weak and vulnerable, will be empowered by God to overcome massive obstacles. They will thresh and pulverize 'mountains' and 'hills'—representing mighty nations, formidable problems, or seemingly insurmountable challenges—reducing them to fine dust and chaff. God Himself will equip them for victory, making them effective agents of His will.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, I have made thee to be a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, I have made thee to be a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, I will make you like a new grain-crushing instrument with teeth, crushing the mountains small, and making the hills like dry stems.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Lo, I have set thee for a new sharp threshing instrument, Possessing teeth, thou threshest mountains, And beatest small, and hills as chaff thou makest.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I have made thee as a new thrashing wain, with teeth like a saw: thou shalt thrash the mountains, and break them in pieces: and shalt make the hills as chaff.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Behold, I have made of thee a new sharp threshing instrument having double teeth: thou shalt thresh and beat small the mountains, and shalt make the hills as chaff;
Context
Building on the theme of God's help for a 'worm Jacob' in verse 14, this verse dramatically portrays the transformation and empowerment Israel will experience. It vividly illustrates how God will equip His seemingly weak people with strength to overcome their challenges. This promise of supernatural enabling sets the stage for the complete dispersal of their enemies and the subsequent rejoicing in the Lord.
v.14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
v.15This passage
v.16Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Habakkuk 3:12
Thou didst march through the land in indignation; Thou didst thresh the nations in anger.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);
- Isaiah 28:27
For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
- Zechariah 4:7
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.
- Micah 4:13
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their gain unto Jehovah, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
- Psalms 18:42
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
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