Isaiah 30:18

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses Judah following a prophecy of military rout, immediately preceding a promise of relief to Jerusalem’s inhabitants.

The words — The verse centers on יְחַכֶּ֤ה (ye.cha.Keh, "he is waiting") and לַֽ/חֲנַנְ/כֶ֔ם (la./cha.nan./Khem, "to show favor to you").

The thread — The declaration of delayed divine compassion parallels 2 Peter 3:9 and the immediate context of Isaiah 30:19, where God promises to hear and answer cries for help.

Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh’s compassionate action is tied to His timing, requiring the reader to endure present delay without abandoning reliance on Him.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְלָכֵ֞ןve./la./Khenand/ <to>/ therefore יְחַכֶּ֤הye.cha.Kehhe is waiting יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh לַֽחֲנַנְכֶ֔םla./cha.nan./Khemto/ show favor to/ you וְלָכֵ֥ןve./la./Khenand/ <to>/ therefore יָר֖וּםya.Rumhe is rising up לְרַֽחֶמְכֶ֑םle./ra.chem./Khemto/ have compassion on/ you כִּֽי־ki-for אֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.Hei[is] a God of מִשְׁפָּט֙mish.Patjustice יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh אַשְׁרֵ֖י'ash.Reihow blessed!כָּל־kol-[are] all ח֥וֹכֵיCho.khei[those who] waitלֽוֹ׃ סl/ofor/ him

King James Version

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Cross-references

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
Proverbs 16:20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Isaiah 25:9 And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
Isaiah 8:17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.
Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalms 27:14 Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
2 Peter 3:15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.