The Meaning of Isaiah 57:16 Explained

Isaiah 57:16

KJV: For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

YLT: For, not to the age do I strive, nor for ever am I wroth, For the spirit from before Me is feeble, And the souls I have made.

Darby: For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

ASV: For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.

Discover Isaiah 57:16

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 57:16?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 57:16 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 57:16 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 57:16?

What is the context of Isaiah 57:16?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.

What does Isaiah 57:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God will not always be angry with sinners; His anger will come to an end because He has made provision for human sin through the Servant. He becomes angry, but He is love (cf. Psalm 30:5). If God remained angry with sin, humanity could not endure His wrath and everyone would perish (cf. Genesis 6:3). Obviously God remains angry with sinners who refuse His grace, but He does not need to remain angry with the humble who accept His provision for their sins.

Context Summary

Isaiah 57:1-21 - No Peace To The Wicked

A terrible portrayal is given here of the idolatries and impurities into which the Chosen People had fallen. These scenes under "the oaks" (r.v.) and in the valleys remind us of the invariable evils associated with idolatry which the great Apostle has recorded in Romans 1:23-28. They refused to retain God in their knowledge, and He gave them over to a reprobate mind; that is, He ceased to restrain them.

But amid the degenerate nation, there was a handful of elect souls; God is always careful against rooting up the tares, lest one stalk of wheat perish. Amid the destruction that must overtake the guilty land they that trusted in Him, would not be overlooked. See Isaiah 57:13-14.

With what comfort the chapter closes! Isaiah 57:15, etc. We may have been covetous and froward, and have deserved wrath and chastisement, but God will not always chide. Only return to Him! He will revive your heart, and "restore comfort" to you. He will heal where He has wounded, and will bring you near, through the blood of the Cross. See Ephesians 2:16-17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 57

¹ The blessed death of the righteous
³ God reproves the People for their idolatry
¹³ He gives promises of mercy to the penitent

What do the individual words in Isaiah 57:16 mean?

For not forever I will contend nor always will I be angry for the spirit before Me would fail and the souls [which] I have made

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א לְעוֹלָם֙ אָרִ֔יב וְלֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אֶקְּצ֑וֹף כִּי־ ר֙וּחַ֙ מִלְּפָנַ֣י יַֽעֲט֔וֹף וּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת אֲנִ֥י עָשִֽׂיתִי

לְעוֹלָם֙	forever
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular Root: עֹולָם Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
אָרִ֔יב	I will contend
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular Root: רִיב Sense: to strive, contend.
וְלֹ֥א	nor
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle Root: הֲלֹא Sense: not, no.
לָנֶ֖צַח	always
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular Root: נֵצַח Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.
אֶקְּצ֑וֹף	will I be angry
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular Root: קָצַף Sense: to be displeased, be angry, fret oneself, be wroth.
ר֙וּחַ֙	the spirit
Parse: Noun, common singular Root: רוּחַ Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
מִלְּפָנַ֣י	before Me
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.
יַֽעֲט֔וֹף	would fail
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: עָטוּף Sense: to turn aside.
וּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת	and the souls
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural Root: נְשָׁמָה Sense: breath, spirit.
אֲנִ֥י	[which] I
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular Root: אֲנִי Sense: I (first pers.
עָשִֽׂיתִי	have made
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: עָשָׂה Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 57:16?

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Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 57:16

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