What does Isaiah 51:7 mean?
"¶ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." - Isaiah 51:7
Isaiah 51:7 (KJV) reads, "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings."
This verse is a call to those who know and believe in righteousness, urging them to pay attention and listen to the word of God. The speaker is urging the people to be strong in their faith and to not fear the opinions or reproach of men, but to remain steadfast in their commitment to God's law.
The book of Isaiah, from which this verse is taken, is a prophetic book in the Old Testament and is traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the reigns of four kings. The book contains prophecies, visions, and messages from God, and it addresses the nation of Israel as well as other nations, calling them to repentance, faithfulness, and obedience to God.
In this particular verse, the theme of righteousness and faithfulness to God's law is emphasized. The speaker is addressing those who already know and understand what is right and just, and is calling for them to remain faithful and unwavering in their commitment to God's law. This verse also touches on the theme of fear and the pressure to conform to the opinions and reproach of others. It encourages the listener to have courage and not be swayed by the revilings and criticisms of men.
The symbolism in this verse is found in the juxtaposition of the heart and the reproach of men. The "heart" is often used in the Bible as a symbol of the inner being, the seat of emotions and intentions. In this verse, it represents the deep, abiding commitment to God's law that should reside within the people. On the other hand, the "reproach of men" symbolizes the criticisms, opposition, and ridicule that may come from those who do not share the same faith or values.
The context of Isaiah 51:7 is important for understanding its significance. The verses preceding and following this one also emphasize the faithfulness and salvation of God, and the restoration of Israel. The speaker is urging the people to remember the faithfulness and power of God in the past, and to trust in Him for their future.
In the larger context of the book of Isaiah, these messages of faithfulness and trust in God are part of the prophetic call for the people of Israel to return to God and to live according to His ways. The book of Isaiah often speaks of the future redemption and restoration of Israel, and the importance of faith and righteousness in bringing about this divine plan.
Overall, Isaiah 51:7 in the KJV is a powerful call to the faithful to remain committed to God's law, to not be swayed by the reproach of men, and to trust in God's faithfulness and salvation. It speaks to the timeless themes of righteousness, faith, and courage in the face of opposition, and serves as a reminder of the enduring relevance of these messages for believers today.
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Isaiah 51:7 - "¶ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings."
"¶ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." - Isaiah 51:7
Isaiah 51:21 - "¶ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:"
Nehemiah 7:51 - "The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,"
Isaiah 51:15 - "But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name."
"¶ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:" - Isaiah 51:21
Isaiah 51:14 - "The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail."
Numbers 7:51 - "One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:"
Isaiah 51:2 - "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him."
Isaiah 51:19 - "These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?"
Isaiah 51:20 - "Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God."
Isaiah 51:10 - "Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?"
John 7:51 - "Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?"
"The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah," - Nehemiah 7:51
Isaiah 51:1 - "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."
"For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." - Isaiah 51:3
Isaiah 51:9 - "¶ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?"
Isaiah 51:5 - "My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust."
Isaiah 51:17 - "¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out."
Isaiah 51:8 - "For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation."
Isaiah 51:12 - "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;"
Isaiah 51:18 - "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."
Acts 7:51 - "¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."
Isaiah 51:11 - "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."
Isaiah 51:4 - "¶ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people."
Jeremiah 51:7 - "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."
Isaiah 51:13 - "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?"
Isaiah 51:16 - "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people."
Isaiah 51:23 - "But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over."
isaiah 6:7