Isaiah 54:16

Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The Lord speaks to the restored community of Israel, addressing their fear of future attacks following promises of renewal.

The words — בָּרָ֣אתִי (ba.Ra.ti) means "I created," and חָרָ֔שׁ (cha.Rash) denotes "a craftsman," highlighting that human skill originates from divine agency.

The thread — The motif of God ordaining hostile agents for His purposes appears in Proverbs 16:4 and Isaiah 46:11, where sovereign creation encompasses instruments of judgment.

Why it lands — The verse states that God creates both the skilled worker and the destroyer, demanding that readers cease fearing human violence and trust God's declared vindication.

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

הִנֵּ֤הhenhere!אָֽנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiI בָּרָ֣אתִיba.Ra.tiI created חָרָ֔שׁcha.Rasha craftsman נֹפֵ֙חַ֙no.Fe.ach[who] blows בְּאֵ֣שׁbe./'Eshon/ a fire of פֶּחָ֔םpe.Chamcharcoal וּמוֹצִ֥יאu./mo.Tzi'and/ [who] produces כְלִ֖יkhe.Lia weapon לְמַעֲשֵׂ֑הוּle./ma.'a.Se./hufor/ work/ its וְאָנֹכִ֛יve./'a.no.Khiand/ I בָּרָ֥אתִיba.Ra.tiI created מַשְׁחִ֖יתmash.Chita destroyer לְחַבֵּֽל׃le./cha.Belto/ ruin

King James Version

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

Cross-references

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.
Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Isaiah 46:11 I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
Isaiah 10:5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.
Isaiah 10:15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
Isaiah 37:26 Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.
Daniel 4:34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”