Isaiah 59:1

1 Lo! the hand of the Lord is not abridged, that he may not save, neither his ear is made hard, that he hear not; (Lo! the hand, or the power, of the Lord is not shortened, or weakened, so that he cannot save, nor is his ear made hard, so that he cannot hear;)

Isaiah 59:1 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save
It is not for want of power in the Lord, that he has not as yet destroyed the enemies of his people, antichrist, and the antichristian states, and saved them out of their hands, and made them to triumph over them; or brought on the glorious state of the church, and fulfilled the promises of good things, suggested in the latter part of the preceding chapter. His hand is as long as ever, and as able to reach his and their enemies in the greatest height of power, or at the greatest distance, and to do every good thing for them; his power is as great as ever, and not in the least abridged or curtailed. Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
the prayers of his people, their cries unto him on their fast days, of which he seemed to take no notice, complained of ( Isaiah 58:3 ) , this is not owing to any want of attention in him, or of readiness to hear prayer made unto him; for he is a God hearing and answering prayer, and is ready to help his people in every time of need, who apply to him in a proper and suitable manner; his eyes are upon them, and his ears are open to their cries. And this is introduced with a "behold", as requiring attention, and deserving the notice and consideration of his people. The Targum is,

``behold, not through defect of hand (or power) from the Lord ye are not saved; nor because it is heavy to him to hear, that your prayer is not received.''

Isaiah 59:1 In-Context

1 Lo! the hand of the Lord is not abridged, that he may not save, neither his ear is made hard, that he hear not; (Lo! the hand, or the power, of the Lord is not shortened, or weakened, so that he cannot save, nor is his ear made hard, so that he cannot hear;)

2 but your wickednesses have parted betwixt you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he should not hear. (but your wickednesses have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not listen to you.)

3 For why your hands be defouled with blood, and your fingers with wickedness; your lips spake leasing (your lips speak lies), and your tongue speaketh wickedness.

4 None there is, that calleth rightfulness to help, and none (there) is, that deemeth verily; but they trust in nought, and speak vanities; they conceived travail, and childed wickedness. (There is no one who calleth for justice, and there is no one who judgeth with truth; but they trust in nothing, and only say what is empty and futile; they think of ways to make things difficult, and give birth to wickedness.)

5 The have broken (the) eggs of snakes, and (have) made (the) webs of an araneid; he that eateth of the eggs of them, shall die, and that that is nursed, or hatched, shall break out into a cockatrice.