Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Israel following His declaration of anger and striking over their persistent sinful greed, marking the moment before He pronounces universal peace.

The words — רָאִ֖יתִי (ra.'I.ti) translates literally as "I have seen," and אֲשַׁלֵּ֧ם (a.sha.Lem) means "I may restore" or "I will recompense."

The thread — The motif of divine healing and restoration appears in Jeremiah 33:6 and Jeremiah 3:22, while the shepherd-leader imagery connects to Revelation 7:17.

Why it lands — The text declares God's active intervention to heal, guide, and comfort a stubborn sinner and their grieving community, demanding acknowledgment that divine mercy precedes human merit.

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

דְּרָכָ֥יוde.ra.Kha/vways/ his רָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiI have seen וְאֶרְפָּאֵ֑הוּve./'er.pa.'E./huand/ I will heal/ him וְאַנְחֵ֕הוּve./'an.Che./huand/ I will lead/ him וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֧םva./'a.sha.Lemand/ I may restore נִֽחֻמִ֛יםni.chu.Mimcomfort<s>ל֖וֹl/oto/ himוְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃ve./la./'a.ve.La/vand/ to/ mourners/ his

King James Version

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 33:6 Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal its people and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.
Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Jeremiah 13:17 But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
Ezekiel 16:60 But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.