Bible Strands
Isaiah 51:1
“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses a subset of Israel: those actively pursuing righteousness and seeking Him, within the broader oracle of comfort to the exiles (Isa 40–55).
The words — רֹ֥דְפֵי (rōḏp̄ê, "pursue") is a verb of sustained, active chase, not casual walking; it frames righteousness as something one must keep running after rather than a static possession.
The thread — The same address recurs in Isaiah 51:7 ("you who know what is right"), and the motif of seeking the LORD echoes in Psalms 105:3 and the upright-in-heart language of Psalms 94:15.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop justifying their own standing and instead trace their origin to the source: "Look to the rock from which you were cut." Righteousness is presented as a pursuit, not a credential.
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
King James Version
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 51:7 Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
- Psalms 94:15 Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
- Psalms 105:3 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
- Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Romans 9:30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- Romans 14:19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
- Isaiah 48:12 Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.
- Amos 5:6 Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—