Bible/Isaiah/41

Isaiah 41:12

41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. they that strive: Heb. the men of thy strife
Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. them that: Heb. the men of thy contention they: Heb. the men of thy war

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You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing.

Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

You shall seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with you: they that war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nothing.

41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

What does Isaiah 41:12 mean?

Isaiah 41:12 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בָּקַשׁ (bâqash), מָצָא (mâtsâʼ), אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Thou
shalt
seekבָּקַשׁbâqash/baw-kash'/H1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
them,
and
shalt
not
findמָצָאmâtsâʼ/maw-tsaw'/H4672properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
them,
even
themאֱנוֹשׁʼĕnôwsh/en-oshe'/H582a man in general (singly or collectively)
that
contendedמַצּוּתmatstsûwth/mats-tsooth'/H4695a quarrel
with
thee:
they
that
warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh/mil-khaw-maw'/H4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)
against
thee
shall
be
as
nothing,
and
as
a
thing
of
nought.אֶפֶסʼepheç/eh'-fes/H657cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot
them
that:
Heb.
the
men
of
thy
contention
they:
Heb.
the
men
of
thy
war

Commentary on Isaiah 41:12

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 41:12–13
> He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass. Here is another sort of evil men described to us, that we may neither do like them, nor have any thing to do with them. 1. Such as (like Satan) do all the mischief they can by force and violence, as roaring lions, and not only by fraud and insinuation, as subtle serpents: They are violent men, that do all by rapine and oppression, that shut their eyes, meditating with the closest intention and application of mind to devise froward things, to contrive how they may do the greatest mischief to their neighbour, to do it effectually and yet securely to themselves; and then moving their lips, giving the word of command to their agents, they bring the evil to pass, and accomplish the wicked device, biting his lips (so some read it) for vexation. When the wicked plots against the just he gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 2. Such as (like Satan still) do all they can to entice and draw in others to join with them in doing mischief, leading them in a way that is not good, that is not honest, nor honourable, nor safe, but offensive to God, and which will be in the end pernicious to the sinner. Thus he aims to ruin some in this world by bringing them into trouble, and others in the other world by bringing them into sin. The Sovereignty of Divine Providence.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 47:7

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

1 Samuel 12:2

And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

1 Chronicles 29:10

Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

Job 32:6

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. young: Heb. few of days durst: Heb. feared

Job 32:7

I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. who: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished

Luke 1:6

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 2:29

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Luke 2:38

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Jerusalem: or, Israel

Philemon 1:9

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Topics

StrifeWarfare of Saints

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 41:12.

1 Kings 1:3

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

1 Kings 18:10

As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

1 Kings 9:22

But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.

1 Samuel 25:28

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

2 Kings 2:17

And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

2 Samuel 17:20

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 41:12 say?

Isaiah 41:12 (King James Version) reads: "Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. them that: Heb. the men of thy contention they: Heb. the men of thy war"

Is Isaiah 41:12 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 41:12 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 41:12, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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