And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

ISAIAH 12:1KJV
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Isaiah 12:1 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 12:1 mean?

Isaiah 12:1 gives words for a future day when God’s people will praise the LORD for a change in their relationship with him. The speaker recognizes that the LORD had been angry, but now addresses him as one who gives comfort.

The words are spoken directly to the LORD: “I will praise thee.” The speaker’s repeated “me” makes the response personal, even though Isaiah places it within a message addressed to his people.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 12:1

  • “praise” — יָדָה (yadah): This word can mean to give thanks or praise. Here it suggests an acknowledgment of what the LORD has done, not simply a general statement of admiration.
  • “anger” — אַף (af): This word often means anger and can also refer to the nose. The expression draws on a picture of anger associated with the nose or breath, though the KJV rightly conveys the sense as “anger.”
  • “comfortedst” — נָחַם (nacham): This word can carry the sense of comforting or consoling. It gives a positive ending to the speaker’s account: the LORD has responded with comfort.

Why Isaiah 12:1 matters

  • The praise includes an honest reference to earlier anger. The phrase “though thou wast angry with me” makes that earlier experience part of what the speaker brings before the LORD.
  • The verse marks a future response, not a description of the speaker’s present moment. “In that day thou shalt say” introduces the words Isaiah expects to be spoken after the events described in the preceding passage.
  • The personal voice begins a larger song of praise. In verse 1, the speaker says “me”; later, in verse 4, the call to praise is addressed to a group.

Where else these words appear

“angry” Hebrew H599 · used in 14 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.
  • 1 Kings 8:46 If they sin against thee,(for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

“comfortedst” Hebrew H5162 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
  • Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
  • Jeremiah 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

“praise” Hebrew H3034 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
  • Psalms 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
  • Psalms 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!