Isaiah 57:19

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 57:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I 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.
Isaiah 57:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 57

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.

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 create the fruit of the lips, &c.] Which is praise and thanksgiving, (<581316>Hebrews 13:16) that is, give occasion of it, afford matter for it, by restoring comforts to the church and its mourners, as in the preceding verse; and by giving peace, as in all the following words. The Targum renders it, “the speech of the lips in the mouth of all men;” as if it respected that blessing of nature, speech, common to all mankind: whereas this is a blessing of grace, peculiar to some that share in the above blessings; and it may be restrained to Gospel ministers, the fruit of whose lips is the Gospel of peace; or the word preaching peace by Christ; the word of reconciliation committed to them; the…”
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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
“fruit of . . . lips--that is, thanksgivings which flow from the lips. I make men to return thanks to Me (Hos 14:2; Heb 13:15). Peace, peace--"perfect peace" (see Isa 26:3, Margin; Joh 14:27). Primarily, the cessation of the trouble s now afflicting the Jews, as formerly, under the Babylonian exile. More generally, the peace which the Gospel proclaims both to Israel "that is near," and to the Gentiles who are "far off" (Act 2:39; Eph 2:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I create the fruit of the lips - The Chaldee and Syriac render this, ‘The words of the lips.’ The ‘fruit’ of the lips is that which the lips produce, that is, words; and the reference here is doubtless to offerings of praise and thanksgiving. See Hebrews 13:15; where the phrase, ‘fruit of the lips’ (καρπὸς χειλέων karpos cheileōn), is explained to mean praise. Compare Hosea 14:2, where the expression, ‘we will render the calves of the lips,’ means that they would offer praise. The sense here is, that God bestowed such blessings as made thanksgiving proper, and thus, he ‘created the fruit of the lips.’ Peace, peace - The great subject of the thanksgiving would be peace. The peace here…”
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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
“I create - I will by my almighty power produce. Peace - That peace which is not wrought by mens hands, but only by God's lips or word. The doubling of the word signifies the certainty and abundance this peace. Far off - To the Gentiles who are far from God, as well as to the Jews, who are called a people near unto God, Psa 148:14. Isaiah 57:20”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“57:19 words of praise: God’s redemption should bring a response of praise from its recipients. • both near and far: Both Gentiles and Jews are included (see 56:3; John 10:16; Eph 2:17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I create: "The sacrifice of praise," says St. Paul, "is the fruit of the lips." God creates this fruit of the lips, by giving new subject and cause of thanksgiving by His mercies conferred on His people. The great subject of thanksgiving is peace, reconciliation and pardon offered to them that are nigh, and to them that are afar off; not only to the Jew, but also to the Gentile. the fruit: Exo 4:11, Exo 4:12; Hos 14:2; Luk 21:15; Eph 6:19; Col 4:3, Col 4:4; Heb 13:15 Peace: Mat 10:13; Mar 16:15; Luk 2:14, Luk 10:5, Luk 10:6; Act 2:39, Act 10:36; Co2 5:20, Co2 5:21; Eph 2:14-17 Isaiah 57:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“But when the redemption comes, it will divide Israel into two halves, with very different prospects. "Creating fruit of the lips; Jehovah saith, 'Peace, peace to those that are far off, and to those that are near; and I heal it.' But the wicked are like the sea that is cast up for it cannot rest, and its waters cast out slime and mud. There is no peace, saith my God, for the wicked." The words of God in Isa 57:19 are introduced with an interpolated "inquit Jehova" (cf., Isa 45:24, and the ellipsis in Isa 41:27); and what Jehovah effects by speaking thus is placed first in a determining participial clause: "Creating fruit (נוב = נוּב, נוב, keri ניב) of the lips," καρπὸν χείλεων (lxx, Heb…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification