Isaiah 57:16

57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

KJV

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For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. frowardly: Heb. turning away

What does Isaiah 57:16 mean?

Isaiah 57:16 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include רִיב (rîyb), עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm), נֶצַח (netsach).

Hebrew interlinear

For

will

not

contendרִיבrîyb/reeb/H7378properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend

for

ever,עוֹלָםʻôwlâm/o-lawm'/H5769properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always

neither

will

alwaysנֶצַחnetsach/neh'-tsakh/H5331properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view)

wroth:קָצַףqâtsaph/kaw-tsaf'/H7107to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage

for

the

spiritרוּחַrûwach/roo'-akh/H7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)

should

failעָטַףʻâṭaph/aw-taf'/H5848to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish

beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

me,

and

the

soulsנְשָׁמָהnᵉshâmâh/nesh-aw-maw'/H5397a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal

which

have

made.עָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

Topics

Anger Chastisement

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 57:16.

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 3:8

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. cool: Heb. wind

Genesis 6:3

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Numbers 16:22

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Psalms 103:9

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 57:16 say?

Isaiah 57:16 (King James Version) reads: "For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made."

Is Isaiah 57:16 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 57:16 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 57:16, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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