Isaiah 41:21
What does Isaiah 41:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 41:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 41:21 means
Jehovah issues a renewed challenge to the nations and their gods, commanding them to "Produce your cause" and "bring forth your strong reasons." This is a legal summons from the "King of Jacob," inviting them to present their arguments and evidence. God is once again demanding that they justify their existence and claims of deity, setting up a courtroom scenario where their impotence will be starkly contrasted with His absolute sovereignty and power.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Put forward your cause, says the Lord; let your strong argument come out, says the King of Jacob.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Bring near your cause, saith Jehovah, Bring nigh your mighty ones, saith the king of Jacob.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Bring your cause near, saith the Lord: bring hither, if you have any thing to allege, saith the King of Jacob.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forward your arguments, saith the King of Jacob.
Context
Following the declaration of the purpose behind God's miraculous acts (verse 20), this verse transitions back to the legal challenge introduced at the beginning of the chapter. God renews His summons to the idols and nations, urging them to present their defense against His claims of unique sovereignty. This sets the stage for the specific challenge of foretelling the future, which is the ultimate test of true divinity.
v.20that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
v.21This passage
v.22Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
Related questions readers ask
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