Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
the Lord's
Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Numbers 11:23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
that it cannot save
Isaiah 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
his ear
Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
nor His ear too dull to hear
This phrase highlights God's attentiveness and willingness to listen to the cries of His people. It counters any belief that God is indifferent or unresponsive to their prayers. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, gods of other nations were often seen as distant or needing to be appeased to gain their attention. In contrast, the God of Israel is portrayed as actively listening and engaged with His people. This assurance is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 34:15, which states that the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. It also foreshadows the New Testament teaching that God hears and answers prayer through Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of believers (Hebrews 7:25).
• The verse opens with a word of absolute certainty. God is not speculating; He is declaring.
• Isaiah often uses firm language to remind Israel that the Lord’s promises never wobble (see Isaiah 55:11: “so My word… will not return to Me empty”).
• Because every promise of God is “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20), we may read the rest of the verse with settled confidence.
• “Arm” pictures God’s active power. Isaiah has already asked, “To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1), tying God’s strength to His saving work.
• From Egypt onward, the Lord’s “outstretched arm” accomplished real, historical deliverance (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34).
• This is not mere poetry; it is the literal, sovereign ability of God to intervene in human affairs whenever He chooses.
• God’s reach knows no geographical or spiritual limit. When Moses doubted provision in the wilderness, the Lord asked, “Is the LORD’s arm too short?” (Numbers 11:23).
• The psalmist echoes the same boundlessness: “Even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:10).
• Jeremiah adds, “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). The expected answer is an emphatic “Nothing.”
• Salvation here includes rescue from danger, exile, sin, and death. God declares, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 45:22).
• In Jesus, that saving power is perfected: “He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25; see also Acts 4:12).
• Whenever we cry out in faith, we tap into an unshortened arm that can still lift, heal, and restore.
• God does not suffer hearing loss. “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).
• From Israel’s groans in Egypt (Exodus 2:24) to the church’s petitions today (1 John 5:14-15), His listening has never dimmed.
• Psalm 94:9 puts it plainly: “He who affixed the ear, does He not hear?”
• If prayers seem unanswered, the problem is never divine deafness. The very next verse explains: “Your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God… so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
• Scripture repeats the theme: “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29; see also Micah 3:4).
• The solution is repentance and humility: “Then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Isaiah 59:1 insists that God’s power still reaches and His ears still listen. Any perceived distance is on our side of the relationship. When we turn from sin and call upon Him, the same mighty arm that parted seas and the same attentive ear that heard captive Israel respond with saving grace today.
LIX.(1) Behold, the Lord's hand . . .--The declaration is an implied answer to the complaint, like that of Isaiah 58:3, that the glorious promises had not as yet been fulfilled. The murmurera are told that the hindrance is on their side.
Verses 1-8. - A GENERAL REBUKE OF ISRAEL FOR ITS MANIFOLD SINS, The command given to the prophet in Isaiah 58:1 to "show God's people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins " - partly executed in Isaiah 58:4-7 and 13 - is now further carried out by a scathing denunciation of various forms of wickedness, more or less prevalent in Israel, the effect of which has been to separate between Israel and God, to "shorten God's hand" and "make his ears heavy." The passage has many analogies with Isaiah 1:2-23. Verse 1. - The Lord's hand is not shortened; i.e. God is not less able to help than of old; his "hand" has lost none of its power. That he does not help is owing to the iniquities of his people, which have separated between him and them (ver. 2). It is the same fact which has made his ear heavy. He cannot hear prayers that are not sincere - not from the heart.