The Meaning of Isaiah 41:6 Explained

Isaiah 41:6

KJV: They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

YLT: Each his neighbour they help, And to his brother he saith, 'Be strong.'

Darby: They helped every one his neighbour, and each said to his brother, Take courage.

ASV: They help every one his neighbor; and every one'saith to his brother, Be of good courage.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They helped  every one  his neighbour;  and [every one] said  to his brother,  Be of good courage. 

What does Isaiah 41:6 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 41:6 mean?

Everyone - his neighbor helped and to his brother said Be of good courage
אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֖הוּ יַעְזֹ֑רוּ וּלְאָחִ֖יו יֹאמַ֥ר חֲזָֽק

אִ֥ישׁ  Everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֵעֵ֖הוּ  his  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
יַעְזֹ֑רוּ  helped 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָזַר  
Sense: to help, succour, support.
וּלְאָחִ֖יו  and  to  his  brother 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
יֹאמַ֥ר  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חֲזָֽק  Be  of  good  courage 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.