The Meaning of Isaiah 32:8 Explained

Isaiah 32:8

KJV: But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

YLT: And the noble counselled noble things, And he for noble things riseth up.

Darby: But the noble deviseth noble things; and to noble things doth he stand.

ASV: But the noble deviseth noble things; and in noble things shall he continue.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the liberal  deviseth  liberal things;  and by liberal things  shall he stand. 

What does Isaiah 32:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 32:1-8 - A Nobler Future For The Nation
Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the help of their fathers' God. Yet was He not so wise as the Egyptians, and equally as strong! And were they not running a fearful risk in rejecting One who would not recall His words of threatened punishment to those who refused His help? At best, the Egyptians were men, and not God, and their cavalry, flesh. If only they would trust Him, God would defy their foes, as a lion defies a company of unarmed shepherds, Isaiah 31:4. The mother-bird hovers over her brood to protect it from the kestrel; so would He spread His covering wing over Jerusalem, Isaiah 31:5. We may have deeply revolted, yet we may turn back to God with the certainty that He will receive and rescue us, Isaiah 31:6.
Sennacherib fell by the sword of his sons. Compare Isaiah 32:8 with 2 Kings 19:36-37. How different is our glorious King, whose many-sided nature meets all our needs! Isaiah 32:2. Before Him all men are unveiled in their true characters. Only those who are royal in heart shall stand before Him, Isaiah 31:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 32

1  The blessings of Christ's kingdom
9  Desolation is foreshown
14  Restoration is promised to succeed

What do the individual words in Isaiah 32:8 mean?

But a generous man generous things devises and he by generosity shall stand -
וְנָדִ֖יב נְדִיב֣וֹת יָעָ֑ץ וְה֖וּא עַל־ נְדִיב֥וֹת יָקֽוּם פ

וְנָדִ֖יב  But  a  generous  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָדִיב  
Sense: inclined, willing, noble, generous.
נְדִיב֣וֹת  generous  things 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: נָדִיב  
Sense: inclined, willing, noble, generous.
יָעָ֑ץ  devises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
וְה֖וּא  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
נְדִיב֥וֹת  generosity 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: נָדִיב  
Sense: inclined, willing, noble, generous.
יָקֽוּם  shall  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation