The Meaning of Isaiah 12:2 Explained

Isaiah 12:2

KJV: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

YLT: Lo, God is my salvation, I trust, and fear not, For my strength and song is Jah Jehovah, And He is to me for salvation.

Darby: Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid; for Jah, Jehovah, is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.

ASV: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, God  [is] my salvation;  I will trust,  and not be afraid:  for the LORD  JEHOVAH  [is] my strength  and [my] song;  he also is become my salvation. 

What does Isaiah 12:2 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Verse Meaning

The focus of this song is God Himself. Finally the Israelites express their commitment to trust in Him rather than in other people (cf. Isaiah 8:12 to Isaiah 9:1). They acknowledge Him as their salvation, their strength, and their song (cf. Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14), not just as the provider of these blessings. Song is the natural expression of a free spirit. None of these things come apart from Him. Isaiah had tried to get King Ahaz to trust and not fear ( Isaiah 7:2-9), but he would not believe that God was with him.

Context Summary

Isaiah 12:1-6 - A Song Of Thanksgiving
The prophet's vision extends. He has seen the effect of redemption, as it emanates from Jesus Christ, upon the whole physical creation; now he beholds also the ingathering of all Israel. The ancient enmity between Ephraim and Judah would pass away. As Paul puts it afterward, "All Israel shall be saved," Romans 11:25-26. As they were brought out of Egypt, so shall they be brought from all the countries of the world, where they have dwelt during these Christian centuries. The return of the Jews under Ezra included those of one tribe only, and cannot fulfill the great dreams of all the prophets as here of Isaiah. The following chapter is the counterpart of Exodus 15:1-27. When their enemies are overwhelmed in the great battle of Armageddon, the ransomed hosts of Israel shall break forth in this anthem.
The Isaiah 12:3 was chanted by the priests on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, John 7:37-38. The little possessive pronoun my is the bucket with which we draw water from the depths of God. Our pilgrimage way is lined by these wells of saving help. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 12

1  A joyful thanksgiving of the faithful for the mercies of God

What do the individual words in Isaiah 12:2 mean?

Behold God [is] my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for my strength and song YAH Yahweh [is] and He has become my salvation
הִנֵּ֨ה אֵ֧ל יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י אֶבְטַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אֶפְחָ֑ד כִּֽי־ עָזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֣הּ יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־ לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָֽה

הִנֵּ֨ה  Behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אֵ֧ל  God  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י  my  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
אֶבְטַ֖ח  I  will  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֶפְחָ֑ד  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּחַד  
Sense: to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread.
עָזִּ֤י  my  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
וְזִמְרָת֙  and  song 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: זִמְרָת  
Sense: song of praise, song, music, melody.
יָ֣הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַֽיְהִי־  and  He  has  become 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לִ֖י  my 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
לִֽישׁוּעָֽה  salvation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.