King James Version

What Does Isaiah 51:13 Mean?

Isaiah 51:13 in the King James Version says “And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and has...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? were: or, made himself ready”

Isaiah 51:13 · KJV

Context

11

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

12

I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

13

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? were: or, made himself ready

14

The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

15

But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.

Read Isaiah 51 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? God rebukes Israel for forgetting Him—not intellectual amnesia but practical neglect. The verb shakach (שָׁכַח, "forgettest") suggests pushing God out of consciousness, allowing circumstances to eclipse divine reality. Two divine titles counter this: "thy maker" ('oseikha, עֹשֶׂיךָ) and the Creator who "stretched forth the heavens" and "laid the foundations of the earth."

The cosmic scope of God's creative power contrasts sharply with fearing the "oppressor" (mets, מֵץ, one who presses/afflicts). The phrase "as if he were ready to destroy" indicates that feared destruction is illusory—the oppressor's fury is temporary and ultimately impotent before the Creator. The rhetorical question "where is the fury of the oppressor?" expects the answer: vanished, gone, ineffective against God's purposes.

From a Reformed perspective, this addresses the sin of practical atheism—living as if God were irrelevant while fearing created things. Jesus teaches identical truth: "Fear not them which kill the body...but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). The antidote to fear is remembering God's character and power. If He stretched the heavens, no earthly oppressor threatens His plans. This verse grounds courage in theology proper—right understanding of God displaces disordered fears.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The oppressor likely refers to Babylon, whose military might dominated the ancient Near East from 605-539 BCE. Nebuchadnezzar's conquests seemed unstoppable, creating existential threat to Jewish identity. The question "where is the fury?" prophetically anticipates Babylon's sudden fall—within Isaiah's prophecy framework, the seemingly invincible empire would vanish.

This pattern repeats throughout history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome—each dominated then disappeared. Meanwhile, God's people persist. The church has outlasted every persecuting empire: Nero's Rome, Diocletian's persecutions, Islamic conquests, Soviet atheism. Isaiah's question remains relevant—where are the oppressors who seemed ready to destroy God's people? Gone, while the church endures, vindicated by God's creative power and covenant faithfulness.

Reflection Questions

  1. What "oppressors" (circumstances, people, fears) loom larger in your consciousness than God?
  2. How does remembering God as Creator practically affect your daily anxieties?
  3. Where are the "furies" you feared last year? How does their disappearance teach you to trust God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַתִּשְׁכַּ֞ח1 of 20

“And forgettest”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

יְהוָ֣ה2 of 20

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עֹשֶׂ֗ךָ3 of 20

“thy maker”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

נוֹטֶ֣ה4 of 20

“that hath stretched forth”

H5186

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

שָׁמַיִם֮5 of 20

“the heavens”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וְיֹסֵ֣ד6 of 20

“and laid the foundations”

H3245

to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e., settle, consult

אָרֶץ֒7 of 20

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וַתְּפַחֵ֨ד8 of 20

“and hast feared”

H6342

to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general

תָּמִ֜יד9 of 20

“continually”

H8548

properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re

כָּל10 of 20
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַיּ֗וֹם11 of 20

“every day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מִפְּנֵי֙12 of 20

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

חֲמַ֥ת13 of 20

“and where is the fury”

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

הַמֵּצִֽיק׃14 of 20

“of the oppressor”

H6693

to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר15 of 20

“as if”

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

כּוֹנֵ֖ן16 of 20

“he were ready”

H3559

properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

לְהַשְׁחִ֑ית17 of 20

“to destroy”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

וְאַיֵּ֖ה18 of 20
H346

where?

חֲמַ֥ת19 of 20

“and where is the fury”

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

הַמֵּצִֽיק׃20 of 20

“of the oppressor”

H6693

to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 51:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 51:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 45:12Psalms 104:2Isaiah 40:22Isaiah 17:10Job 9:81 Corinthians 1:20

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