The Meaning of Isaiah 59:17 Explained

Isaiah 59:17

KJV: For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

YLT: And He putteth on righteousness as a breastplate, And an helmet of salvation on His head, And He putteth on garments of vengeance for clothing, And is covered, as with an upper-robe, with zeal.

Darby: And 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 cloak.

ASV: And 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he put on  righteousness  as a breastplate,  and an helmet  of salvation  upon his head;  and he put on  the garments  of vengeance  [for] clothing,  and was clad  with zeal  as a cloke. 

What does Isaiah 59:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As a warrior preparing for battle, the Lord made ready to defend His people (cf. Ephesians 6:13-17).
"No weapon is mentioned, neither sword or bow; for His own arm procures Him help, and this alone." [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 59:15-21 - The Divine Arm Brings Redemption
Israel's Savior. The Almighty Lover of souls is described as looking round to see if help were forthcoming from any other quarter; and there being none, He girds Himself for the conflict with the enemies of His people. He dons breastplate and helmet, clothing and cloak, and hastens to deliver, Isaiah 59:17. This is surely a portrait of our Lord Jesus, who stands up to plead the cause and to achieve the redemption of the penitent and believing soul. When, the enemy threatens to pour in like a pent-up stream, look to Jesus to raise the standard against him. Let Him fight your battles! Let the blows that are meant for you be caught on His shield!
All parents and grandparents should ponder the precious promises of Isaiah 59:20-21. As God gives us children, let us place our fingers on this sure word of promise and claim that it shall be literally fulfilled in children and children's children. In thousands of godly families there has been an unbroken succession of piety. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 59

1  Calamities are not due to lack of saving power in God, but to their own sins
16  Salvation is only of God
20  The covenant of the Redeemer

What do the individual words in Isaiah 59:17 mean?

For He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on His head and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad as a cloak with zeal
וַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁ צְדָקָה֙ כַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ן וְכ֥וֹבַע יְשׁוּעָ֖ה בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁ בִּגְדֵ֤י נָקָם֙ תִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיַּ֥עַט כַּמְעִ֖יל קִנְאָֽה

וַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁ  For  He  put  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָבַשׁ  
Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
צְדָקָה֙  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
כַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ן  as  a  breastplate 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁרְיָה 
Sense: body armour.
וְכ֥וֹבַע  and  a  helmet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּובַע  
Sense: helmet.
יְשׁוּעָ֖ה  of  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ  on  His  head 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
וַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁ  and  He  put  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָבַשׁ  
Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
בִּגְדֵ֤י  the  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
נָקָם֙  of  vengeance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָקָם  
Sense: vengeance.
תִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁת  for  clothing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תִּלְבֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: garment, clothing, raiment.
וַיַּ֥עַט  and  was  clad 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָטָה 
Sense: to cover, enwrap, wrap oneself, envelop oneself.
כַּמְעִ֖יל  as  a  cloak 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְעִיל  
Sense: robe.
קִנְאָֽה  with  zeal 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קִנְאָה  
Sense: ardour, zeal, jealousy.