to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work so that we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come so that we may know it!”
Parallel translations
- WEB Who say, “Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!”
- KJV That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
- NKJV That say, “Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.”
- NASB Who say, “Let Him hurry, let Him do His work quickly, so that we may see it; And let the plan of the Holy One of Israel approach And come to pass, so that we may know it!”
- NLT They even mock God and say, “Hurry up and do something! We want to see what you can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan, for we want to know what it is.”
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
These scoffers taunt God to hurry His work so they can see it, mocking the counsel of the Holy One. It reveals brazen unbelief that dares God to act.
Overview
Their challenge is not honest inquiry but cynical defiance, doubting that God will ever fulfill His word of judgment. This skepticism toward 'the counsel of the Holy One of Israel' shows hardened hearts that treat God's warnings with contempt. Scripture warns that such mockery does not delay but invites the judgment it scorns (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 12:22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?
- Jer 17:15Behold, they keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!”
- Jer 23:36But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.
- Jer 5:12–13They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.
- Isa 66:5You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
- 2 Pet 3:3–4Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
- Amos 5:18–19Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.
- Isa 30:11Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”
- Jer 23:18But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it?
- Ezek 12:27“Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’
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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 5:19 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
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