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Isaiah 51:14

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 51:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die [and go down] into the pit, neither shall his bread fail.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die [and go down] into the pit, neither shall his bread fail.
Isaiah 51:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 51

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou art afraid of man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass;
13and hast forgotten Jehovah thy Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and fearest continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he maketh ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
14The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die [and go down] into the pit, neither shall his bread fail.
15For I am Jehovah thy God, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar: Jehovah of hosts is his name.
16And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
17Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, that hast drunk at the hand of Jehovah the cup of his wrath; thou hast drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.
← Isaiah 51:13Isaiah 51:15 →
← Full Chapter 51 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
“The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, &c.] The time hastens on, or God will hasten the time, for the release either of the captive Jews in literal Babylon, or of his people in mystical Babylon; or they that are in exile and captivity, as soon as ever opportunity offers for their release, will take it, and make no delay: though some understand the words by way of complaint, as if the persons spoken of were impatient, and could not wait the proper time of their deliverance: and that he should not die in the pit; in captivity, which was like a pit or grave: nor that his bread should fail: while in the pit or prison, or on his way home. Musculus interprets all this of Pharaoh, whom…”
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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
“captive exile--literally, one bowed down as a captive (Isa 10:4) [MAURER]. The scene is primarily Babylon, and the time near the close of the captivity. Secondarily, and antitypically, the mystical Babylon, the last enemy of Israel and the Church, in which they have long suffered, but from which they are to be gloriously delivered. pit--such as were many of the ancient dungeons (compare Jer 38:6, Jer 38:11, Jer 38:13; Gen 37:20). nor . . . bread . . . fail-- (Isa 33:16; Jer 37:21).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The captive exile - Lowth renders this, evidently very improperly, ‘He marcheth on with speed who cometh to set the captive free;’ and supposes that it refers to Cyrus, if understood of the temporal redemption from the captivity at Babylon; in the spiritual sense, to the Messiah. But the meaning evidently is, that the exile who had been so long as it were enchained in Babylon, was about to be set free, and that the time was very near when the captivity was to end. The prisoner should not die there, but should be conducted again to his own land. The word used here, and rendered ‘captive exile’ (צעה tso‛eh from צעה tsâ‛âh), means properly ‘that which is turned on one side,’ or inclined, as,…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“51:14 The Exile brought such brutal conditions as imprisonment, starvation, and death.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“captive: Isa 48:20, Isa 52:2; Ezr 1:5; Act 12:7, Act 12:8 die: Jer 37:16, Jer 38:6-13; Lam 3:53, Lam 3:54; Zac 9:11 Isaiah 51:15”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification