The Meaning of Isaiah 41:12 Explained

Isaiah 41:12

KJV: Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

YLT: Thou seekest them, and findest them not, The men who debate with thee, They are as nothing, yea, as nothing, The men who war with thee.

Darby: Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them them that contend with thee; they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

ASV: Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt seek  them, and shalt not find  them, [even] them  that contended  with thee: they that war  against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 

What does Isaiah 41:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 41:1-16 - The Lord Upholdeth His Servant
The conception of this passage is superb. Jehovah is represented as summoning the earth to determine whether He or some idol of the heathen is the true God, Isaiah 41:7. Also see Isaiah 41:23. The test proposed is a simple one! Which can most precisely predict the future? Not, as in Elijah's case, is the appeal made to fire, but to the fitting of prophecy with historical fulfillment. See Isaiah 41:22-23.
While this great arbitration is in process, God turns with tender assurances to His own people. They were at this time captives in Babylon. They were poor and needy. They were surrounded by strong and crafty foes, against whom they were as powerless as a worm. But no height, however precipitous, or depth, however profound, could separate them from His love. Heart and flesh might fail, but He would strengthen; difficulties might appear insurmountable, but He would help. He does more. He takes His people, weak as worms, and makes them, if they but yield to Him, sharp threshing instruments having teeth before which the powers of evil become as chaff. O man, listen to God saying, I will make. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 41

1  God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church
10  About his promises
21  And about the vanity of idols

What do the individual words in Isaiah 41:12 mean?

You shall seek them and not find them Those who contended with you shall be as nothing and as a nonexistent thing Those who war against you
תְּבַקְשֵׁם֙ וְלֹ֣א תִמְצָאֵ֔ם אַנְשֵׁ֖י מַצֻּתֶ֑ךָ יִהְי֥וּ כְאַ֛יִן וּכְאֶ֖פֶס אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ

תְּבַקְשֵׁם֙  You  shall  seek  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִמְצָאֵ֔ם  find  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
אַנְשֵׁ֖י  Those  who 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מַצֻּתֶ֑ךָ  contended  with  you 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַצּוּת  
Sense: strife, contention.
יִהְי֥וּ  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְאַ֛יִן  as  nothing 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
וּכְאֶ֖פֶס  and  as  a  nonexistent  thing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
אַנְשֵׁ֥י  Those  who 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ  war  against  you 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 41:12?

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