Isaiah 41

Isaiah 41
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The Great Isaiah Scroll, the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at Qumran from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.
Book	Book of Isaiah
Hebrew Bible part	Nevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part	5
Category	Latter Prophets
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	23

Isaiah 41 is the forty-first chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible and the second chapter of the section known as "Deutero-Isaiah" (Isaiah 40–55), dating from the time of the Israelites' exile in Babylon. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and is one of the Books of the Prophets.

Text

The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).[1]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):

• 1QIsa^a: complete
• 1QIsa^b: extant: verses 4-27
• 4QIsa^b (4Q56): extant: verses 8-11
• 5Q^3 (5QIsa): extant: verses 25

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).[2]

Parashot

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.[3] Isaiah 41 is a part of the Consolations (Isaiah 40–66). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.

{S} 41:1-7 {S} 41:8-13 {S} 41:14-16 {S} 41:17-20 {P} 41:21-24 {P} 41:25-29 {P}

Verse 2

"Who has stirred up one from the east ...?"[4]

J. Skinner, in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, describes this reference as "unquestionably" pointing to Cyrus.[5] The Amplified Bible and the Jerusalem Bible both specify Cyrus here.[6] However, some Jewish exegetes have applied the verse to Abraham; Reformation theologian John Calvin makes the same connection:

[The prophet] mentions Abraham; for he might have enumerated other works of God, but selected an example appropriate to his subject; for ... Abraham, whom God had brought out of Chaldea ...[7]

Verse 10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.[8]

This verse has inspired many well-known hymns, among them:[9]

• How Firm a Foundation
• The Right Hand of God
• Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Verse 13

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.[10]

This verse has inspired many well-known hymns, among them:[9]

• Precious Lord, Take My Hand
• He Leadeth Me
• Lead Me, Guide Me

Verse 14

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob [11]

John Wycliffe's translation, "worm of Jacob", uses the appositive genitive syntax. There is no reference to the worm in the Septuagint version:

Fear not, Jacob, and thou Israel few in number.[12]

See also

• Christian messianic prophecies
• Messianic prophecies of Jesus
• Related Bible parts: Isaiah 40, Isaiah 42

References

1. Würthwein 1995, pp. 35–37.
2. Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
3. As implemented in the Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English.
4. Isaiah 41:2
5. Skinner, J. (1915), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Isaiah 41, accessed 1 August 2018
6. Isaiah 41:2 in the Amplified Bible; Jerusalem Bible (1966), sub-heading for Isaiah 41:1-7
7. Calvin, J., Calvin's Commentaries on Isaiah 41, accessed 1 August 2018
8. Isaiah 41:10
9. Hymns for Isaiah 41 - Hymnary.org
10. Isaiah 41:13
11. Isaiah 41:14
12. Isaiah 41:14 - Brenton's Septuagint Translation

Bibliography

• Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

External links

Jewish

• Isaiah 41: Hebrew with Parallel English

Christian

• Isaiah 41 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate