Isaiah 41:13-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:14-16

Weakness made strong. "A fine touch is lost in the English here. In the Hebrew, Israel is addressed in the feminine gender, as a weak and suffering woman. It is not so in the preceding verses, and in Isaiah 41:15 the prophet significantly reverts to the masculine" (Cheyne). I. HUMILITY THE CONDITION OF STRENGTH . Jacob is a worm, Israel a "petty folk." This was, we know, a clear historic fact. It was not by armies or by navies, by numerous fortresses and serried ranks, and an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:14-20

God's strength made perfect in weakness. It is when Jacob is brought so low that his only fitting designation is "thou worm," and Israel is so reduced as to be a mere "handful of men," that the promise is made of the triumphant crushing of enemies, and scattering of them "like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor." It is when the nation generally feels itself to be "poor and needy" ( Isaiah 41:17 ), when it is as it were at the last gasp, actually perishing of thirst, that it is raised... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 41:14

Fear not - (See the note at Isaiah 41:10).Thou worm - This word is properly applied as it is with us, to denote a worm, such as is generated in putrid substances Exodus 16:20; Isaiah 14:11; Isaiah 66:24; or such as destroy plants Jonah 4:7; Deuteronomy 28:39. It is used also to describe a person that is poor, afflicted, and an object of insignificance Job 25:5-6 :Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not;Yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.How much less man, that is a worm;And the son of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 41:8-13

Isaiah 41:8-13. But thou, Israel, art my servant Thus the Gentiles show themselves to be the servants of their idols, and own them for their gods: but thou art my people, and I am and will be thy God. Jacob, whom I have chosen Out of the multitude of idolatrous nations, to be my peculiar people. The seed of Abraham my friend With whom I made a strict league of perpetual friendship: see Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:1; Genesis 15:8. “The expressions are very endearing: it is honourable to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 41:14-16

Isaiah 41:14-16. Fear not, thou worm Jacob Who art weak in thyself, despised and trodden under foot by thy proud and potent enemies. I will make thee a new sharp thrashing instrument Such as were usual in those times and places. Thou shall thrash the mountains and hills The great and lofty potentates of the world, which set themselves against thee: or, the greater or lesser kingdoms or countries which were enemies to God’s truth and people; so the phrase signifies, Isaiah 2:14, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-29

The living God and idols (41:1-29)At that time Cyrus of Persia had been expanding his empire. He had conquered all the countries to the north and east, and was now threatening Babylon. The prophet imagines God calling the nations to assemble before him and asking them a question: who is it that has stirred up Cyrus to carry out this conquest? The answer: Yahweh (41:1-4).As the armies of Cyrus approach these nations the people panic, and in their distress call upon their gods for protection.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 41:14

thou worm. To emphasize the weakness of Israel; marked also by the Figure of speech Asterismos , "Behold". men. Hebrew. methim. App-14 . thy Redeemer. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 48:16 . Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 15:13 ). the Holy One of Israel See note on Isaiah 1:4 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 41:8-13

Isaiah 41:8-13. But thou, Israel, &c.— The prophet here subjoins to his reproof of the nations, a consolation to the people of God, drawn from the same argument, as also he had done in the preceding section. See the analysis of this chapter. In order fully to understand this consolation, it is necessary to observe, that the scene of this exhortation is to be fixed in the midst of the period between the return of the people of God from Babylon, and the manifestation of the Son of God. To... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 41:14-16

Isaiah 41:14-16. Fear not, thou worm Jacob— We have here a new consolatory exhortation; which I refer, says Vitringa, to the people of Christ, mean, afflicted, despised, such as they were at the very commencement of the kingdom of Christ among the Jews. The disposition of the prophet's discourse leads us to this; for he begins with a new title, and promises a new blessing to the afflicted people. The prophet passes from the afflicted church of the Maccabees to the apostolic; between which there... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 41:13

13. (Deuteronomy 33:26; Deuteronomy 33:29). read more

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