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Isaiah 41:16

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 41:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15Behold, I have made thee [to be] a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
16Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
17The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together:
← Isaiah 41:15Isaiah 41:17 →
← Full Chapter 41 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them, &c.] In illusion to the custom of the Jews, who had their threshingfloors on the tops of hills and mountains, where they took the opportunity and advantage of the wind in winnowing their corn, which fanned it, and carried away the chaff, and scattered it abroad; in like manner, it is suggested, the enemies of the church and people of God should be dealt with, which are like the chaff the wind driveth away, and is found no more, (<190105>Psalm 1:5), and so Rome Pagan was no more as such when subdued by Constantine, nor will the Papal antichristian states, (<270235>Daniel 2:35). Compare with this…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“fan--winnowed (compare Mat 3:12). whirlwind . . . scatter them-- (Job 27:21; Job 30:22).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou shalt fan them - Keeping up the figure commenced in the previous verse. To fan here means to winnow, an operation which was performed by throwing the threshed grain up with a shovel into the air, so that the wind drove the chaff away. So all their enemies, and all the obstacles which were in their way should be scattered. And the whirlwind shall scatter them - The ancients believed that people might be swept away by a storm or whirlwind. See Job 27:0: The cast wind carrieth him away and he departeth; And as a storm hurleth him out of his place. Compare Homer, Odys. xx. 63ff, thus rendered by Pope: Snatch me, ye whirlwinds! far from human race, Tost through the void illimitable space; Or…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Fan - When thou hast beaten them as small as chaff. In the Holy One - For to him, thou shalt ascribe thy victory. Isaiah 41:18”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“41:16 When the grain is thrown into the wind, the chaff is blown away. Likewise, Israel’s enemies appeared to be strong but would easily be driven off.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shalt fan: Isa 17:13; Psa 1:4; Jer 15:7, Jer 51:2; Mat 3:12 thou shalt rejoice: Isa 12:6, Isa 25:1-3, Isa 45:24, Isa 45:25, Isa 61:10, Isa 61:11; Sa1 2:1, Sa1 2:2; Jer 9:23, Jer 9:24; Hab 3:18; Luk 1:46, Luk 1:47; Rom 5:11; Co1 1:30, Co1 1:31; Phi 3:3 \*Gr. Isaiah 41:17”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification