What Does Isaiah 41:12 Mean?

“Thou shalt seek”

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“them and shalt not find”

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

“that contended”

a quarrel

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

“against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought”

cessation, i.e., an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or f

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

“with thee they that war”

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)