Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; nor his ear dull, that it can’t hear.
- KJV Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
- NKJV Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
- NASB Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.
- NLT Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
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's power to save and His ability to hear are not diminished. The problem in their broken fellowship lies with the people, not with God.
Overview
Isaiah corrects any notion that God is unable or unwilling to help: His hand is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. The fault for unanswered prayer lies elsewhere, as the next verse explains. This affirms God's unchanging power and readiness to save, the same power displayed supremely in the salvation accomplished through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 32:17“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
- Isa 50:2Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
- Num 11:23The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”
- Isa 65:24Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- Matt 13:15For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Heb 7:25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Gen 18:14Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
- Isa 58:9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,
- Isa 6:10Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
- Isa 63:1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 59:1 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.