Isaiah 59:19

“And they will fear from the west the name of YHWH, and from the rising of the sun his glory; for he will come like a narrow river that the breath of YHWH drives along.”

Isaiah 59:19 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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19

Isaiah 59:19, word by word

And they will fearיִירְאוּyiru

revere

To revere God, or honor one's parents.

Where else “yiru” appears
from the westמַּעֲרָבmaarav

west

West: the side where the sun sets.

Where else “maarav” appears
the nameשֵׁםshem

name of YHWH

YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.

Where else “shem” appears
of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
and from the risingמִּזְרַחmizrach

east

Where the sun rises: the east.

Where else “mizrach” appears
of the sunשֶׁמֶשׁshemesh

sun

The star that gives light and heat by day and marks the day and the year; "under the sun" means in this world.

Where else “shemesh” appears
his gloryכְּבוֹדkevod

glory

God's majesty and presence.

Where else “kevod” appears
he will comeיָבוֹאyavo

come

To come, arrive: "days are coming".

Where else “yavo” appears
like a narrowצָרtsar

narrow

Not wide, with no room to move.

Where else “tsar” appears
riverנָּהָרnahar

river

River, stream; above all the Euphrates ("the River") or the Nile.

Where else “nahar” appears
that the breathרוּחַruach

breath

Literally "wind": the air that leaves the lungs.

Where else “ruach” appears
drives alongנֹסְסָהnossa

take refuge

To run to a place where one is safe.

Where else “nossa” appears

Translation note

It can also be understood: “when the adversary comes like a river, the spirit of YHWH will raise a banner against him.”

The context

18According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay: fury to his adversaries, retribution to his enemies; to the coastlands he will repay retribution.

19 · This verse (above)

20“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares YHWH.

Read all of Isaiah 59

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