Isaiah 51:1

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

KJV

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“Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from.

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Listen to me, you that follow after righteousness, you that seek the LORD: look to the rock from where you are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from where you are dig.

51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

What does Isaiah 51:1 mean?

Isaiah 51:1 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), רָדַף (râdaph), צֶדֶק (tsedeq). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Hearkenשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

me,

that

afterרָדַףrâdaph/raw-daf'/H7291to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)

righteousness,צֶדֶקtsedeq/tseh'-dek/H6664the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity

that

seekבָּקַשׁbâqash/baw-kash'/H1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

the

LORD:יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

lookנָבַטnâbaṭ/naw-bat'/H5027to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care

unto

the

rockצוּרtsûwr/tsoor/H6697properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)

whence

are

hewn,חָצַבchâtsab/khaw-tsab'/H2672to cut or carve (wood, stone or other material); by implication, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave

and

the

holeמַקֶּבֶתmaqqebeth/mak-keh'-beth/H4718properly, a perforator, i.e. a hammer (as piercing); also (intransitively) a perforation, i.e. a quarry

the

pitבּוֹרbôwr/bore/H953a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

whence

are

digged.נָקַרnâqar/naw-kar'/H5365to bore (penetrate, quarry)

Commentary on Isaiah 51:1

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 51:1

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Matthew 18:8

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Matthew 18:9

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

1 Corinthians 9:27

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Philippians 3:19

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Topics

Righteousness Rocks Seekers

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 51:1.

2 Kings 12:12

And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. was: Heb. went forth

Job 19:24

That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

Psalms 34:14

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 51:1 say?

Isaiah 51:1 (King James Version) reads: "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."

Is Isaiah 51:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 51:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 51:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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