Bible Strands
Isaiah 51:18
Among all the sons she bore, there is no one to guide her; among all the sons she brought up, there is no one to take her hand.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses personified Jerusalem immediately after describing her consumption of the cup of divine fury. He speaks to her at the precise moment of total abandonment following her judgment.
The words — The text highlights מְנַהֵ֣ל (me.na.Hel), meaning "[is one who] leads," and מַחֲזִיק֙ (ma.cha.Zik), meaning "[is one who] takes hold." Both verbs emphasize the complete absence of guidance and physical support among her offspring.
The thread — This theme of abandoned isolation recurs in Psalms 142:4, where the psalmist notes no one attends to him or cares for his soul, and in Psalms 88:18, which describes darkness as the closest companion after loved ones are removed. Isaiah 49:21 echoes the same maternal imagery when Jerusalem questions who begot her children amid her bereavement.
Why it lands — The text states that Jerusalem has no surviving offspring to guide her or take her hand. It demands the reader acknowledge that human relationships cannot provide rescue after divine judgment, necessitating reliance on God alone.
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
There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
Cross-references
- Psalms 88:18 You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
- Isaiah 49:21 Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”
- Psalms 142:4 Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
- Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.
- Isaiah 45:1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
- Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
- Job 8:20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
- Isaiah 3:4 “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”