My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
ISAIAH 51:5KJVWhat does Isaiah 51:5 mean?
Isaiah 51:5 describes God declaring that His righteousness and salvation are close at hand, and that He will judge the people with strength and authority. People from distant lands (“the isles”) are pictured as waiting for and trusting in God’s power.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, reassuring them during a time of trouble or exile. The verse emphasizes that God’s saving help and justice are not far off, but about to be revealed, and that even those far away will look to Him for hope and deliverance.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 51:5
- “Righteousness” (צֶדֶק, tsedeq, H6664) refers to God’s moral rightness and faithfulness to His promises, highlighting that His actions are just and trustworthy.
- “Isles” (אִי, ’i, H339) often means distant coastlands or far-off nations, showing that God’s reach and concern extend beyond Israel to all peoples.
- “Wait” (קָוָה, qavah, H6960) and “trust” (יָחַל, yachal, H3176) both carry the sense of hopeful expectation, not just passive waiting, but an active looking forward to God’s intervention.
Why Isaiah 51:5 matters
- Isaiah 51:5 clarifies that God’s justice and salvation are not limited to Israel but are meant for all nations, as shown by the mention of “the isles.”
- The verse reassures readers that God’s help is near, even when circumstances seem hopeless or distant.
- This verse connects to the larger theme in Isaiah of God’s universal plan to bring salvation and justice, not just to Israel but to the whole world.