Bible/Isaiah/41

Isaiah 41:17

41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

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The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

What does Isaiah 41:17 mean?

Isaiah 41:17 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עָנִי (ʻânîy), אֶבְיוֹן (ʼebyôwn), בָּקַשׁ (bâqash). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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When
the
poorעָנִיʻânîy/aw-nee'/H6041depressed, in mind or circumstances
and
needyאֶבְיוֹןʼebyôwn/eb-yone'/H34destitute
seekבָּקַשׁbâqash/baw-kash'/H1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
water,מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
and
there
is
none,
and
their
tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôwn/law-shone'/H3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
failethנָשַׁתnâshath/naw-shath'/H5405properly, to eliminate, i.e. (intransitively) to dry up
for
thirst,צָמָאtsâmâʼ/tsaw-maw'/H6772thirst (literally or figuratively)
I
the
LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
will
hearעָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
them,
I
the
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
of
IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
will
not
forsakeעָזַבʻâzab/aw-zab'/H5800to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.
them.

Commentary on Isaiah 41:17

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 41:17
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Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 24:4

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

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

Isaiah 10:5

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. O: or, Woe to the Assyrian: Heb. Asshur and: or, though

Isaiah 29:15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Topics

Afflictions and AdversitiesPoor, thePrayer, Answers ToWater

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 41:17.

Deuteronomy 15:11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Deuteronomy 24:14

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:

Job 24:14

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

Job 24:4

They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

Psalms 109:16

Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

Psalms 12:5

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. puffeth: or, would ensnare him

Psalms 35:10

All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Psalms 37:14

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. such: Heb. the upright of way

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 41:17 say?

Isaiah 41:17 (King James Version) reads: "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."

Is Isaiah 41:17 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 41:17 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 41:17, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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