Isaiah 59:16
New International Version
He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.

New Living Translation
He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him.

English Standard Version
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.

Berean Standard Bible
He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

King James Bible
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

New King James Version
He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

New American Standard Bible
And He saw that there was no one, And was amazed that there was not one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.

NASB 1995
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.

NASB 1977
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him; And His righteousness upheld Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.

Amplified Bible
He saw that there was no man, And was amazed that there was no one to intercede [on behalf of truth and right]; Therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His own righteousness sustained Him.

Christian Standard Bible
He saw that there was no man — he was amazed that there was no one interceding; so his own arm brought salvation, and his own righteousness supported him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He saw that there was no man— He was amazed that there was no one interceding; so His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness supported Him.

American Standard Version
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.

Contemporary English Version
It disgusted him even more to learn that no one would do a thing about it. So with his own powerful arm, he won victories for truth.

English Revised Version
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He sees that there's no one to help. He's astounded that there's no one to intercede. So with his own power he wins a victory. His righteousness supports him.

Good News Translation
He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed. So he will use his own power to rescue them and to win the victory.

International Standard Version
He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteous acts upheld him.

Majority Standard Bible
He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

NET Bible
He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on.

New Heart English Bible
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

World English Bible
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness sustained him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He sees that there is no man, "" And is astonished that there is no intercessor, "" And His own arm gives salvation to Him, "" And His righteousness—it sustained Him.

Young's Literal Translation
And He seeth that there is no man, And is astonished that there is no intercessor, And His own arm giveth salvation to Him, And His righteousness -- it sustained Him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will see that not a man, and he will be astonished that none was supplicating: and his arm will save for him, and his justice it upheld him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saw that there is not a man: and he stood astonished, because there is none to oppose himself: and his own arm brought salvation to him, and his own justice supported him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he saw that there was no good man. And he was astonished that there was no one to meet him. And his own arm brought salvation to him, and his own justice strengthened him.

New American Bible
He saw that there was no one, was appalled that there was none to intervene; Then his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice sustained him.

New Revised Standard Version
He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to help; therefore his arm brought salvation to him, and his righteousness sustained him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he saw there was no man, and he was amazed that there was no helper, and his arm saved him, and his righteousness sustained him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; And His righteousness, it sustained Him;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he looked, and there was no man, and he observed, and there was none to help: so he defended them with his arm, and stablished them with his mercy.
Audio Bible



Context
Sin Separates Us from God
15Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him. 17He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.…

Cross References
Isaiah 63:5
I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted. So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me.

Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

Psalm 98:1
A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory.

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

Psalm 14:3
All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Psalm 53:2-3
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 5:6-8
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. / Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. / But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:34
Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. / For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.


Treasury of Scripture

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

he saw

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.

Isaiah 64:7
And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Genesis 18:23-32
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? …

therefore

Isaiah 52:10
The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 63:3-5
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment…

Psalm 98:1
A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

Jump to Previous
Appalled Arm Astonished Cause Intercede Intercessor Righteousness Salvation Support Surprised Sustained Upheld Victory Wondered Worked
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Appalled Arm Astonished Cause Intercede Intercessor Righteousness Salvation Support Surprised Sustained Upheld Victory Wondered Worked
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














He saw that there was no man
This phrase highlights God's observation of the spiritual and moral state of humanity. The Hebrew word for "saw" is "ra'ah," which implies a deep, discerning look. God is portrayed as actively observing the earth, seeking someone to stand in the gap. Historically, this reflects a time when Israel was in deep sin, and no one was righteous enough to intercede. It underscores the absence of a human savior or leader who could mediate between God and man, pointing to the need for divine intervention.

He was appalled that there was no intercessor
The word "appalled" comes from the Hebrew "shamem," meaning to be desolate or astonished. This indicates God's profound disappointment and shock at the lack of an intercessor. An intercessor, in biblical terms, is someone who stands in the gap, pleading on behalf of others. The absence of such a figure highlights the depth of Israel's spiritual crisis and the universal need for a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who intercedes for humanity.

so His own arm brought salvation
The "arm" of the Lord is a metaphor for His power and might. In Hebrew, "zeroa" signifies strength and the ability to act decisively. This phrase emphasizes that salvation is initiated and accomplished by God alone, without human aid. It reflects the biblical theme of divine intervention, where God steps in to deliver His people when they are incapable of saving themselves, foreshadowing the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

and His own righteousness sustained Him
"Righteousness" in Hebrew is "tsedaqah," which denotes justice, rightness, and faithfulness. This phrase suggests that God's actions are rooted in His inherent righteousness. His righteousness is not only the standard by which He judges but also the means by which He upholds His purposes. The sustaining power of His righteousness assures believers that God's plans are just and will ultimately prevail, providing hope and assurance of His faithful character.

(16) He saw that there was no man . . .--If the words mean no "righteous man," we have a parallel in Jeremiah 5:1, and the "intercessor" points to action like that of Aaron (Numbers 16:48) or Phinehas (Numbers 25:7). On the interpretation here adopted, "no man" is equivalent to "no champion."

Verse 16. - He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; i.e. God looked for some champion of the oppressed to arise; it was to be expected under the circumstances. But, alas! "there was no man." None stood up to resist the unrighteous and protect the innocent; much less did any stand up to deliver Israel from its heathen adversaries. When it is said that God "wondered" at no champion appearing, we must understand the expression as an anthropomorphism· Therefore his arm brought salvation unto him. As them was no human champion, it became necessary that God should arise in his own Person, and show himself. "His arm" and "his righteousness" were enough; no human aid was needed, or could have added anything to the resistless strength of his might (comp. Isaiah 63:5).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He saw
וַיַּרְא֙ (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there was no
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

man—
אִ֔ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

He was amazed
וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם (way·yiš·tō·w·mêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there was no one
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

to intercede;
מַפְגִּ֑יעַ (map̄·gî·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6293: To impinge, by accident, violence, by importunity

so His own arm
זְרֹע֔וֹ (zə·rō·‘ōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, force

brought salvation,
וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע (wat·tō·wō·ša‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

and His own righteousness
וְצִדְקָת֖וֹ (wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

sustained Him.
סְמָכָֽתְהוּ׃ (sə·mā·ḵā·ṯə·hū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no man (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 59:15
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