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Isaiah 57:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 57:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
Isaiah 57:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 57

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.
17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
← Isaiah 57:17Isaiah 57:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I have seen his ways, and will heal him, &c.] Either the ways of such who trust in the Lord, the ways of the humble and contrite, who are brought by repentance and reformation, by the dealings of God with them; these he sees, knows, and approves of, and heals their former backslidings; for though not all, yet some may be reformed hereby; or rather the ways of the froward, their evil ways, which are their own ways in opposition to God’s ways, peculiar to themselves, of their own devising and choosing; these the Lord sees, resents, and corrects for, and yet graciously pardons them, which is meant by healing: I will lead him also; out of those evil ways of his into the good and right way in…”
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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
“Rather, "I have seen his ways (in sin), yet will I heal him," that is, restore Israel spiritually and temporally (Jer 33:6; Jer 3:22; Hos 14:4-5) [HORSLEY]. I will . . . restore comforts unto him and to his mourners--However, the phrase, "his mourners," favors English Version; "his ways" will thus be his ways of repentance; and God's pardon on "seeing" them answers to the like promise (Isa 61:2-3; Jer 31:18, Jer 31:20).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I have seen his ways - That is, either his ways of sin, or of repentance most probably it means the former; and the idea is, that God had seen how prone his people were to sin, and that he would now interpose and correct their proneness to sin against him, and remove from them the judgments which had been brought upon them in consequence of their crimes. And will heal him - That is, I will pardon and restore him. Sin, in the Scriptures, is often represented as a disease, and pardon and salvation as a healing of the disease (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 41:4; Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 17:4; Jeremiah 32:6; Hosea 14:4; see the notes at Isaiah 6:10). And to his mourners - To the pious portion that…”
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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
“Mourners - To those who are humbled under God's hand, that mourn in Zion for their own and others sins. Isaiah 57:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“57:18 I will heal them anyway: Salvation is by God’s grace (see 19:22; 30:26; 53:5).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“have: Isa 1:18, Isa 43:24, Isa 43:25, Isa 48:8-11; Jer 31:18-20; Eze 16:60-63, 36:22-38; Luk 15:20; Rom 5:20 will heal: Jer 3:22, Jer 31:3, Jer 33:6; Hos 14:4-8 will lead: Isa 49:10; Psa 23:2; Rev 7:17 restore: Isa 57:15, Isa 12:1, Isa 61:2, Isa 61:3, Isa 66:10-13; Psa 51:12 to his: Jer 13:17; Ecc 9:4 Isaiah 57:19”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 57 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification