The Meaning of Isaiah 59:16 Explained

Isaiah 59:16

KJV: And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

YLT: And He seeth that there is no man, And is astonished that there is no intercessor, And His own arm giveth salvation to Him, And His righteousness -- it sustained Him.

Darby: And he saw that there was no man, and he wondered that there was no intercessor; and his arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness, it sustained him.

ASV: And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he saw  that [there was] no man,  and wondered  that [there was] no intercessor:  therefore his arm  brought salvation  unto him; and his righteousness,  it sustained  him. 

What does Isaiah 59:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God also saw that there was no human being who could mediate between Himself and His people, who could appeal effectively to Him for them (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). Aaron and Phinehas had done this for Israel in the past ( Numbers 17:12-13; Numbers 25:7). So God Himself acted in power to deliver them, in faithfulness to His promises.
"In saying that God was astonished the prophet does not mean that God had been ignorant of the situation until He saw it and then this sight brought astonishment to Him. Rather, the language speaks of a genuine astonishment, which would express itself in displeasure and yet in compassion for His own to such an extent that He Himself acts." [1]
"Man"s failure to avail himself of God"s gracious provision to have a share in the restraint of wickedness and the promotion of righteousness through the ministery [2] of intercession is a definite cause for divine astonishment." [3]

Context Summary

Isaiah 59:15-21 - The Divine Arm Brings Redemption
Israel's Savior. The Almighty Lover of souls is described as looking round to see if help were forthcoming from any other quarter; and there being none, He girds Himself for the conflict with the enemies of His people. He dons breastplate and helmet, clothing and cloak, and hastens to deliver, Isaiah 59:17. This is surely a portrait of our Lord Jesus, who stands up to plead the cause and to achieve the redemption of the penitent and believing soul. When, the enemy threatens to pour in like a pent-up stream, look to Jesus to raise the standard against him. Let Him fight your battles! Let the blows that are meant for you be caught on His shield!
All parents and grandparents should ponder the precious promises of Isaiah 59:20-21. As God gives us children, let us place our fingers on this sure word of promise and claim that it shall be literally fulfilled in children and children's children. In thousands of godly families there has been an unbroken succession of piety. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 59

1  Calamities are not due to lack of saving power in God, but to their own sins
16  Salvation is only of God
20  The covenant of the Redeemer

What do the individual words in Isaiah 59:16 mean?

And He saw that [there was] no man and wondered that intercessor therefore brought salvation for Him His own arm and His own righteousness it sustained Him
וַיַּרְא֙ כִּֽי־ אֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם כִּ֣י מַפְגִּ֑יעַ וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע לוֹ֙ זְרֹע֔וֹ וְצִדְקָת֖וֹ הִ֥יא סְמָכָֽתְהוּ

וַיַּרְא֙  And  He  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֵ֣ין  [there  was]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
אִ֔ישׁ  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם  and  wondered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מַפְגִּ֑יעַ  intercessor 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּגַע  
Sense: to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession.
וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע  therefore  brought  salvation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
לוֹ֙  for  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
זְרֹע֔וֹ  His  own  arm 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
וְצִדְקָת֖וֹ  and  His  own  righteousness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
סְמָכָֽתְהוּ  sustained  Him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.