New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Isaiah 51
1
The Lord says, "Listen to me, you who want to do what is right. Pay attention, you who look to me. Consider the rock you were cut out of. Think about the rock pit you were dug from.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 48:12
Romans 14:19
References Lord
Hebrews 12:14
Amos 5:6
Righteousness
Isaiah 51:7
Psalm 94:15
Proverbs 15:9
Proverbs 21:21
2 Timothy 2:22
Isaiah 45:19
2
Consider Abraham. He is the father of your people. Think about Sarah. She is your mother. When I chose Abraham, he did not have any children. But I blessed him and gave him many of them.
Reference
Blessing
Genesis 24:35
Genesis 22:17
Genesis 24:1
References Abraham
Ezekiel 33:24
Isaiah 29:22
Joshua 24:3
3
You can be sure that I will comfort Zion's people. I will look with loving concern on all of their destroyed buildings. I will make their deserts like Eden. I will make their dry and empty land like my very own garden. Joy and gladness will be there. People will sing and give thanks to me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joel 2:3
Jeremiah 31:25
1 Peter 1:8
References Lord
Isaiah 49:13
Isaiah 52:9
Genesis 13:10
4
"Listen to me, my people. Pay attention, my nation. My law will go out to the nations. I make everything right. That will be a guiding light for them.
Reference
5
The time for me to set you free is near. I will soon save you. My powerful arm will make everything right among the nations. The islands will put their hope in me. They will wait for my powerful arm to act.
Reference
Judgment
Isaiah 42:4
2 Corinthians 5:10
Romans 2:16
Parallel theme
Isaiah 60:9
Isaiah 49:1
Isaiah 40:10
Righteousness
Acts 17:31
Salvation
Isaiah 46:13
Isaiah 56:1
Isaiah 63:5
6
Look up toward the heavens. Then look at the earth. The heavens will vanish like smoke. The earth will wear out like clothes. Those who live there will die like flies. But I will save you forever. My saving power will never end.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 24:35
Isaiah 34:4
Isaiah 13:13
Revelation 20:11
Isaiah 40:26
Deuteronomy 4:19
Hebrews 9:15
Righteousness
Daniel 9:24
Salvation
Isaiah 51:8
Isaiah 45:17
7
"Listen to me, you who know what is right. Pay attention, you who have my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid when mere people make fun of you. Do not be terrified when they laugh at you.
Reference
Evil
Matthew 5:11
1 Peter 4:14
1 Peter 4:4
Parallel theme
Acts 5:41
Jeremiah 1:17
2 Corinthians 3:3
Righteousness
Isaiah 51:1
Word
Psalm 37:31
Ezekiel 2:6
Psalm 40:8
8
They will be like clothes that moths have eaten up. They will be like wool that worms have chewed up. But my saving power will last forever. I will save you for all time to come."
Reference
9
Wake up! Lord, wake up! Dress your powerful arm with strength as if it were your clothes. Wake up, just as you did in the past. Wake up, as you did long ago. Didn't you cut Rahab to pieces? Didn't you stab that sea monster to death?
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 52:1
Psalm 89:10
Isaiah 30:7
Psalm 44:1
Job 26:12
References Lord
Isaiah 27:1
Isaiah 51:17
Ezekiel 29:3
Psalm 7:6
Isaiah 62:8
10
Didn't you dry up the Red Sea? Didn't you dry up those deep waters? You made a road on the bottom of that sea. Then those who were set free went across.
Reference
11
Those the Lord has saved will return to their land. They will sing as they enter the city of Zion. Joy that lasts forever will be like beautiful crowns on their heads. They will be filled with gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing will be gone.
Reference
Eternal Life
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Isaiah 61:7
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:4
Revelation 7:17
Revelation 22:3
Jude 1:24
Isaiah 65:19
Redemption
Isaiah 35:10
References Lord
Isaiah 25:8
Jeremiah 33:11
12
The Lord says to his people, "I comfort you because of who I am. Why are you afraid of mere men? They are only human beings. They are like grass that dries up.
Reference
13
How can you forget me? I made you. I spread out the heavens. I laid the foundations of the earth. Why are you terrified every day? Is it because those who are angry with you are crushing you? Is it because they are trying to destroy you? Their anger can't harm you anymore.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 17:10
Isaiah 40:22
Isaiah 45:12
Psalm 104:2
Isaiah 48:13
Job 9:8
Daniel 3:19
References Lord
Isaiah 44:24
14
You prisoners who are so afraid will soon be set free. You will not die in your prison cells. You will not go without food.
Reference
15
I am the Lord your God. I stir up the ocean. I make its waves roar. My name is The Lord Who Rules Over All.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 51:10
Psalm 74:13
Psalm 136:13
References God
Isaiah 54:5
References Lord
Jeremiah 31:35
Isaiah 47:4
Jeremiah 10:16
16
I have put my words in your mouth. I have kept you safe in the palm of my hand. I set the heavens in place. I laid the foundations of the earth. I say to Zion, 'You are my people.' "
Reference
17
Wake up, Jerusalem! Wake up! Get up! The Lord has handed you the cup of his burning anger. And you have drunk from it. That cup makes men unsteady on their feet. And you have drunk from it to the very last drop.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 14:10
Psalm 60:3
Job 21:20
1 Corinthians 15:34
Revelation 18:6
Psalm 11:6
Ephesians 5:14
References Jerusalem
Isaiah 52:1
References Lord
Isaiah 51:9
Psalm 75:8
18
None of the children who were born to you are left to guide you. None of the children you brought up are left to lead you by the hand.
Reference
19
Nothing but trouble has come to you. You have been wiped out and destroyed. And you have suffered hunger and war. No one feels sorry for you. No one can comfort you.
Reference
20
Your children have fainted. They lie helpless at every street corner. They are like antelope that have been caught in a net. They have felt the full force of the Lord's burning anger. Jerusalem, your God had to warn them strongly.
21
So listen to me, you suffering people of Jerusalem. You have been made drunk, but not by drinking wine.
22
Your Lord and King speaks. He is your God. He stands up for his people. He says, "I have taken from you the cup of my burning anger. It made you unsteady on your feet. But you will never drink from that cup again.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joel 3:2
References Lord
Isaiah 49:25
Proverbs 22:23
Isaiah 51:17
Isaiah 62:8
Jeremiah 50:34
Psalm 35:1
1 Samuel 25:39
Micah 7:9
Summary of Isaiah 51
Isaiah 51 is a chapter of encouragement for people who have experienced suffering, exile, and uncertainty, calling them to remember God's faithfulness rather than allowing their present circumstances to determine their expectations for the future.
The chapter begins by telling those who seek righteousness to look backward to their spiritual beginning.
They are reminded of Abraham and Sarah, because the nation that now seems small and defeated originally came from one man whom God called and blessed.
The message is that God has repeatedly created something great from circumstances that initially appeared insignificant.
God then promises to comfort Zion and transform its devastated places into something resembling Eden, replacing destruction with joy, thanksgiving, and singing.
The chapter repeatedly contrasts things that are temporary with things that are permanent.
Human beings disappear like grass, clothing eventually wears out, and even heaven and earth will pass away, but God's righteousness and salvation remain forever.
Because of this, God's people should not allow human insults, political oppression, or fear of powerful rulers to determine their confidence.
Isaiah then calls upon God to act again as He did during the Exodus.
The memory of God drying the sea and creating a path for His redeemed people becomes evidence that He can once again overcome apparently impossible obstacles.
The future restoration of Israel is therefore presented as a new exodus, in which the redeemed return to Zion with everlasting joy.
The chapter then turns directly toward Jerusalem's suffering.
Zion has drunk the cup of God's anger, representing the devastating judgment that came upon Jerusalem because of its rebellion.
The city has experienced destruction, famine, warfare, death, and captivity, while its children have been left helpless.
This reflects the historical catastrophe of 586 BC, when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.
Yet the chapter does not end with judgment.
God announces that the cup of His anger will be removed from Jerusalem and transferred to her oppressors.
This represents a complete reversal: the people who suffered under Babylonian domination will be restored, while the power that oppressed them will itself face judgment.
The central message is that God's people should remember where they came from, trust the God who created them and delivered them in the past, and refuse to be controlled by fear of temporary human powers; although Jerusalem experienced terrible judgment and suffering, God promises comfort, restoration, salvation, and a new exodus in which His redeemed people return to Zion with lasting joy, while the nations that oppressed them ultimately lose their power.
The chapter begins by telling those who seek righteousness to look backward to their spiritual beginning.
They are reminded of Abraham and Sarah, because the nation that now seems small and defeated originally came from one man whom God called and blessed.
The message is that God has repeatedly created something great from circumstances that initially appeared insignificant.
God then promises to comfort Zion and transform its devastated places into something resembling Eden, replacing destruction with joy, thanksgiving, and singing.
The chapter repeatedly contrasts things that are temporary with things that are permanent.
Human beings disappear like grass, clothing eventually wears out, and even heaven and earth will pass away, but God's righteousness and salvation remain forever.
Because of this, God's people should not allow human insults, political oppression, or fear of powerful rulers to determine their confidence.
Isaiah then calls upon God to act again as He did during the Exodus.
The memory of God drying the sea and creating a path for His redeemed people becomes evidence that He can once again overcome apparently impossible obstacles.
The future restoration of Israel is therefore presented as a new exodus, in which the redeemed return to Zion with everlasting joy.
The chapter then turns directly toward Jerusalem's suffering.
Zion has drunk the cup of God's anger, representing the devastating judgment that came upon Jerusalem because of its rebellion.
The city has experienced destruction, famine, warfare, death, and captivity, while its children have been left helpless.
This reflects the historical catastrophe of 586 BC, when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.
Yet the chapter does not end with judgment.
God announces that the cup of His anger will be removed from Jerusalem and transferred to her oppressors.
This represents a complete reversal: the people who suffered under Babylonian domination will be restored, while the power that oppressed them will itself face judgment.
The central message is that God's people should remember where they came from, trust the God who created them and delivered them in the past, and refuse to be controlled by fear of temporary human powers; although Jerusalem experienced terrible judgment and suffering, God promises comfort, restoration, salvation, and a new exodus in which His redeemed people return to Zion with lasting joy, while the nations that oppressed them ultimately lose their power.