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Isaiah 59:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 59:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
Isaiah 59:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 59

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Yea, truth is lacking; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
16And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.
17And he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
18According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
19So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth.
20And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.
21And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah: my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed`s seed, saith Jehovah, from henceforth and for ever.
← Isaiah 59:17Isaiah 59:19 →
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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
“According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, &c.] As the enemies of his people have treated them, so will the Lord deal with them; as they have shed their blood, he will, according to the laws of retribution and retaliation, give them blood to drink, as they deserve. The whore of Rome shall be rewarded as the followers of Christ have been rewarded by her, and double shall be rendered to her double, according to her works, (<661606>Revelation 16:6 18:6): fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies: the church’s adversaries and enemies are Christ’s, and so he esteems them; and therefore his wrath and fury is poured out by way of recompence to them, for all the ill they have done…”
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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
“deeds--Hebrew, "recompenses"; "according as their deeds demand" [MAURER]. This verse predicts the judgments at the Lord's second coming, which shall precede the final redemption of His people (Isa 66:18, Isa 66:15-16). islands--(See on Isa 41:1). Distant countries.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“According to their deeds - The general sentiment of this verse is plain, though there is not a little difficulty in the construction of the Hebrew. Lowth pronounces the former part of the verse, as it stands in the Hebrew text, to be ‘absolutely unintelligible. By a slight change in the Hebrew as it now stands (reading בעל ba‛al, “lord,” instead of כעל ke‛al “as according to”), Lowth supposes that he has obtained the true sense, and accordingly translates it: He is mighty to recompense; He that is mighty to recompense shall requite. This translation is substantially according to the Chaldee, but there is no authority from manuscripts to change the text in this place. Nor is it necessary. The…”
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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
“Deeds - Heb. recompences or deserts. That is, he will recompence his adversaries with those effects of his fury that they have deserved. Islands - To those remoter nations under the king of Babylon, that thought themselves secure. Isaiah 59:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“59:18 repay his enemies: The Lord will dole out righteous retribution on the whole earth. His justice requires people to be judged for the evil they have done (see also 3:9-11; 13:9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“According: Isa 63:6; Job 34:11; Psa 18:24-26, Psa 62:12; Jer 17:10, Jer 50:29; Mat 16:27; Rom 2:6; Rev 20:12, Rev 20:13 deeds: Heb. recompences fury: Isa 1:24, Isa 49:25, Isa 49:26, Isa 63:3, Isa 63:6, Isa 66:15; Psa 21:8, Psa 21:9; Lam 4:11; Eze 5:13, Eze 6:12; Eze 38:18; Nah 1:2; Luk 19:27, Luk 21:22; Rev 16:19, Rev 19:15 Isaiah 59:19”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 59 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification