Isaiah 41:20

so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker is the Lord, addressing the nations and Israel immediately after declaring He will miraculously plant trees in the wilderness and desert. This declaration sets the stage for the subsequent legal challenge in verse 21.

The words — The Hebrew לְמַ֧עַן (le.Ma.'an) literally means “so that,” and יַד\־ (yad-) translates to “the hand of.” These terms frame the clause as a purpose statement pointing to divine agency.

The thread — The motif runs through Job 12:9, which notes that all know “the hand of the LORD has done this,” and Psalm 109:27, which calls for recognition that “this is Your hand.” Isaiah 43:21 later connects this divine action to the people formed to declare praise.

Why it lands — The text demands that observers recognize the supernatural tree-planting as direct divine work rather than natural chance. It requires readers to acknowledge God’s active role in history before weighing any competing claims.

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

לְמַ֧עַןle.Ma.'anso that יִרְא֣וּyir.'Uthey may see וְיֵדְע֗וּve./ye.de.'Uso/ they may know וְיָשִׂ֤ימוּve./ya.Si.muso/ they may set וְיַשְׂכִּ֙ילוּ֙ve./yas.Ki.luso/ they may have insight יַחְדָּ֔וyach.Davall together כִּ֥יkithat יַד־yad-[the] hand of יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh עָ֣שְׂתָה'A.se.tahit has done זֹּ֑אתZotthis וּקְד֥וֹשׁu./ke.Do.oshand/ [the] holy [one] of יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsrael בְּרָאָֽהּ׃ פbe.ra.'A/hhe has created/ it

King James Version

That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Cross-references

Job 12:9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
Psalms 109:27 Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it.
Isaiah 43:21 The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
Isaiah 44:23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Isaiah 43:7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
Isaiah 45:6 so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.
2 Thessalonians 1:10 on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.
Numbers 23:23 For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’
Isaiah 66:18 “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.