Isaiah 41:3-13

3 He shall pursue them, he shall go in peace; a path shall not appear in his feet. (He shall swiftly pursue them, but he shall be safe; and no path shall be made by his feet.)

4 Who wrought and did these things? calling generations at the beginning (calling the generations from the beginning). (I did, for) I am the Lord; and I am the first, and the last.

5 Isles saw, and dreaded; the last parts of [the] earth were astonied; they came nigh, and nighed. (The islands saw it, and feared, or were afraid; the ends of the earth were astonished; they came together, and came near.)

6 Each man shall help his neighbour, and shall say to his brother, Be thou comforted (Be thou encouraged).

7 A smith of metal smiting with an hammer comforted him that polished, either made fair, in that time, saying, It is good to [the] glue; and he fastened him with nails, that he should not be moved. (A metalsmith striking with a hammer encouraged him who polished, or who made beautiful, at that time, saying, It is ready for the glue; and then he fastened it with nails, so that it could not be moved.)

8 And thou, Israel (But thou, Israel), (art) my servant, Jacob, whom I chose, the seed of Abraham, my friend,

9 in whom I took thee; from the last parts of [the] earth, and from the far parts thereof I called thee; and I said to thee, Thou art my servant; I chose thee, and casted not away thee. (I have taken thee up from the ends of the earth, and I have called thee from the far parts of it; and I said to thee, Thou art my servant; I chose thee, and did not cast thee away.)

10 Dread thou not, for I am with thee; bow thou not away, for I am thy God. I comforted thee, and helped thee; and the right hand of my just man uptook thee. (Fear thou not, for I am with thee; turn thou not away, for I am thy God. I shall strengthen thee, and I shall help thee, and I shall uphold thee with my just right hand.)

11 Lo! all men shall be shamed, and shall be ashamed, that fight against thee; they shall be as if they be not, and men shall perish, that against-say thee. (Lo! all people shall be shamed, and shall be ashamed, who say against thee; and those who fight against thee shall perish, they shall be as if they be not.)

12 Thou shalt seek them, and thou shalt not find thy rebel men; they shall be as if they be not, and as the wasting of a man fighting against thee.

13 For I am thy Lord God, taking thine hand, and saying to thee, Dread thou not, I helped thee. (For I am the Lord thy God, who taketh thy hand, and saith to thee, Fear thou not, I shall help thee.)

Isaiah 41:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 41

This chapter contains a summons to the enemies of Christ to come and try the cause between God and them before him; words of comfort to true believers, promising them help, protection, and provision; full conviction of idolaters, and their practices; and is closed with a promise of some great person, and what he will do unto them, and for the people of God. The summons is in Isa 41:1, expressed according to the forms used in courts of judicature. The issue of the controversy is put upon this foot, the raising up a certain person from the east, who it was that did it, which appearing to be the work of the Lord, proves the point contended about, Isa 41:2-4, the obstinate persistence of idolaters in their idolatry, notwithstanding this is observed, Isa 41:5-7, the people of God, under the names of Jacob and Israel, the objects of God's choice and affection, Isa 41:8,9 are encouraged against the fear of men, with promises of help and strength from the Lord, Isa 41:10,13,14 of confusion to their enemies, and victory over them, Isa 41:11,12,15,16, and of spiritual provisions, and great prosperity in their wilderness state, in which they should manifestly see the hand of the Lord, Isa 41:17-20 when the idolatrous nations are challenged to produce their strong reasons for their idolatry, and are put upon proving that their idols can foretell things to come, or do good or evil to men, or own they are nothing but an abomination, Isa 41:21-24,26 and then one is spoken of that should come as a mighty warrior, and tread down the Pagan princes, and a set of Gospel ministers should be sent, bringing good tidings to Zion, to the silencing of idolaters, and the cessation of idolatrous worship, Isa 41:25,27,28.