The Meaning of Isaiah 54:17 Explained

Isaiah 54:17

KJV: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

YLT: No weapon formed against thee prospereth, And every tongue rising against thee, In judgment thou condemnest. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, And their righteousness from me, an affirmation of Jehovah!

Darby: No weapon that is prepared against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that riseth against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah; and their righteousness is of me, saith Jehovah.

ASV: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

No weapon  that is formed  against thee shall prosper;  and every tongue  [that] shall rise  against thee in judgment  thou shalt condemn.  This [is] the heritage  of the servants  of the LORD,  and their righteousness  [is] of me, saith  the LORD. 

What does Isaiah 54:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Even though opponents might arise, they would be ineffective against God"s invincible people. Hard steel or a hot tongue, two forms of antagonism that represent all forms of it, would not prosper. Yahweh"s vindication of His people would be the heritage of His servants in that peaceful era. That heritage would include restoration to intimacy with God (cf. Isaiah 54:1-10), and, for Israel, fulfillment of the promises in the Abrahamic Covenant ( Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 12:7).
"Beginning here and throughout the rest of the book, Israel is referred to as servants (pl.), and the Servant who restores his people to the covenant and brings justice to the nations is not referred to again as such [1]....
"The purpose then in the shift to the plural at this point seems to be to finalize the distinction between the "servant" of the Lord, who receives benefits, and the "Servant" of the Lord, who makes those benefits possible." [2]
The historical setting for the fulfillment of this prophecy is the time following the Servant"s full redemption of His people. This full redemption will take place at His second advent. Even though Jesus Christ died for our sins and defeated Satan during His first advent, He has not yet destroyed the effects of sin in the creation, including humanity, or punished Satan. He will do this at His second advent. Thus, the joy Isaiah described in this chapter will come to fruition during the Millennium, and thereafter, throughout eternity.
"If all the future blessings promised in Scripture to the nation of Israel are to be fulfilled spiritually in the church, as many allege, why are not those same interpreters willing to take upon themselves all the curses pronounced against Israel? Scarcely anyone is willing to do this." [3]

Context Summary

Isaiah 54:1-17 - The Wondrous Love Of God
We have heard the exiles summoned to leave Babylon, and have beheld the Savior becoming the sin-bearer. Here our attention is recalled to the still desolate condition of Jerusalem. See Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3; Nehemiah 2:13-17. Jehovah says, Sing, but Israel replies that she cannot sing so long as she lies desolate. In reply God declares His inalienable love: He is their husband still and has sworn that the waters of death and destruction shall never be able to separate them from Himself. The kindness of His mercy is everlasting, and His covenant of peace shall outlast the mountains and hills.
In the closing paragraph, Isaiah 54:11-17, we behold the chosen city emerging from her heap of ruins. Watched by the eye of the great Architect, wrought by unseen hands, tested by the line and plummet of righteousness, she arises to fulfill her mission to the world. To inspired hearts it seems as though her common stones are jewels. Her children are taught of the Lord. Every accusing voice is hushed. All weapons of destruction are impotent. The New Jerusalem seems to have come down from heaven. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 54

1  The prophet, to comfort the Gentiles, prophesies the amplitude of their church
4  Their safety
6  Their certain deliverance out of affliction
11  Their fair edification
15  And their sure preservation

What do the individual words in Isaiah 54:17 mean?

Every weapon formed against you No shall prosper and every tongue [which] rises against you in judgment You shall condemn This [is] the heritage of the servants of Yahweh and their righteousness [is] from Me says Yahweh -
כָּל־ כְּלִ֞י יוּצַ֤ר עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ לֹ֣א יִצְלָ֔ח וְכָל־ לָשׁ֛וֹן תָּֽקוּם־ אִתָּ֥ךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט תַּרְשִׁ֑יעִי זֹ֡את נַחֲלַת֩ עַבְדֵ֨י יְהוָ֧ה וְצִדְקָתָ֛ם מֵאִתִּ֖י נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה ס

כָּל־  Every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
כְּלִ֞י  weapon 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
יוּצַ֤ר  formed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
עָלַ֙יִךְ֙  against  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לֹ֣א  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִצְלָ֔ח  shall  prosper 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
וְכָל־  and  every 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לָשׁ֛וֹן  tongue 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
תָּֽקוּם־  [which]  rises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אִתָּ֥ךְ  against  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט  in  judgment 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
תַּרְשִׁ֑יעִי  You  shall  condemn 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: רָשַׁע  
Sense: to be wicked, act wickedly.
זֹ֡את  This  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
נַחֲלַת֩  the  heritage 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
עַבְדֵ֨י  of  the  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
יְהוָ֧ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְצִדְקָתָ֛ם  and  their  righteousness  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
מֵאִתִּ֖י  from  Me 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation