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“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
Isaiah 41:21 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Produce your cause,” says Yahweh. “Bring out your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
  • KJV Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
  • BSB “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
  • NASB ¶“Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your evidence,” The King of Jacob says.
  • NLT “Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel.

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

God, the King of Jacob, summons the idols to present their best arguments in court.

Overview

The legal disputation resumes as the Lord challenges the false gods to make their case. The title 'King of Jacob' asserts His rightful rule over His people. The trial will expose the idols' utter inability to predict or accomplish anything.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Job 23:3–4Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
  • Job 38:3Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
  • Mic 6:1–2Listen now to what Yahweh says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
  • Job 31:37I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.
  • Job 40:7–9“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 41:21YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 41:21 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.