The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”
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?
- BSB The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can 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?”
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 43:13Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?”
- Job 23:13But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
- 2 Chr 20:6and he said, “Yahweh, the God of our fathers, aren’t you God in heaven? Aren’t you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- Job 9:12Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
- Prov 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
- Rom 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- Ps 33:11The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Jer 4:28For this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.”
- Isa 46:11I call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it.
- Isa 23:9Yahweh of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
- Job 40:8Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
- Dan 4:31–35While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you.
- Isa 9:12The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
- Jer 51:59The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster.
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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.