The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
Parallel translations
- WEB For Yahweh of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”
- KJV For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
- NKJV For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?”
- NASB For the Lord of armies has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”
- NLT The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Since the LORD of Armies has planned it, no one can thwart his outstretched hand. God's purposes cannot be reversed by any power.
Overview
The chapter's section on Assyria closes with a ringing affirmation of God's irresistible sovereignty. What he has decided, none can annul. This bedrock truth assures believers that God's saving purposes in Christ are equally unstoppable.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Isa 43:13Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
- Job 23:13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
- 2 Chr 20:6and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Job 9:12If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
- Prov 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Rom 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Ps 33:11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Jer 4:28Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”
- Isa 46:11I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
- Isa 23:9The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
- Job 40:8Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
- Dan 4:31–35While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.
- Isa 9:12Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
- Jer 51:59This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 14:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.