Lexical Summary bitchah: Security, confidence, trust Original Word: בִּטְחָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confidence Feminine of Betach; trust -- confidence. see HEBREW Betach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of betach Definition a trust NASB Translation trust (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בִּטְחָה noun feminine trusting Isaiah 30:15 (prob infinitive f. = בֶּטַח Isaiah 32:17). Topical Lexicon Overview בִּטְחָה expresses the settled confidence that rests in the covenant-keeping character of the LORD. It is not merely an emotion but a God-centered posture of life that yields inner stability and outward obedience, especially in the face of political, military, or personal crisis. Biblical Context Its single canonical appearance occurs in Isaiah 30:15, where the prophet confronts Judah’s rush to secure Egyptian protection against Assyria: “For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength—but you were not willing.’” (Isaiah 30:15) Here “trust” (בִּטְחָה) stands in deliberate contrast to horses and chariots (Isaiah 30:16). Judah’s true “strength” is found not in diplomatic alliances but in quiet reliance on the LORD. Historical Setting of Isaiah 30:15 Around 701 B.C., King Hezekiah’s advisors promoted an alliance with Egypt to check Assyrian aggression. Isaiah’s oracle indicts that strategy, explaining that national survival hinges on repentance and reliance upon God alone. The subsequent deliverance of Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:33-36) vindicates Isaiah’s call to בִּטְחָה and exposes the futility of human schemes. Theological Themes • Salvation by Trust, Not Technique The verse unites repentance, rest, quietness, and trust as inseparable components of saving faith. Scripture consistently couples deliverance with confidence in the LORD (Psalm 20:7; Jeremiah 17:7-8). • Strength Through Stillness Human reflex equates strength with action; Isaiah reveals divine strength arising from surrender. Compare Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” • Covenant Faithfulness בִּטְחָה presupposes the unchanging nature of the Holy One of Israel. Dependence is rational because God has bound Himself to His people (Exodus 34:6-7; Malachi 3:6). • Rejection and Judgment Isaiah 30 highlights the tragedy of refusing this trust. Subsequent verses detail the oppressive yoke Judah will bear until chastening drives them back to God (Isaiah 30:17-22). Prophetic and Messianic Trajectory Isaiah’s invitation anticipates the Messiah, who calls weary sinners to find rest in Him: “Come to Me… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Jesus embodies בִּטְחָה both as object—He is the One trusted—and exemplar, entrusting Himself to the Father even unto death (1 Peter 2:23). Practical Applications for Ministry 1. Pastoral Counseling Remind believers that true resilience flows from quiet dependence upon God, not frantic self-help strategies. 2. Corporate Worship Liturgies that include reflective silence and Scriptural assurances of God’s sufficiency cultivate congregational בִּטְחָה. 3. Missions and Church Planting Strategic planning is prudent, yet Isaiah 30:15 warns against replacing prayerful trust with merely human networks and resources. 4. Discipleship Teach spiritual disciplines—especially confession, Sabbath rest, and contemplative prayer—that nurture inner confidence in God’s promises. Related Scripture • Trust commended: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 125:1. Summation בִּטְחָה crystallizes the biblical conviction that strength and salvation belong to those who quietly, resolutely, and exclusively entrust themselves to the LORD. Isaiah 30:15 stands as a timeless summons: lay down anxious stratagems, return to Him, and discover unshakable security. Forms and Transliterations וּבְבִטְחָ֔ה ובבטחה ū·ḇə·ḇiṭ·ḥāh ūḇəḇiṭḥāh uvevitChahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 30:15 HEB: תִּוָּ֣שֵׁע֔וּן בְּהַשְׁקֵט֙ וּבְבִטְחָ֔ה תִּֽהְיֶ֖ה גְּבֽוּרַתְכֶ֑ם NAS: In quietness and trust is your strength. KJV: in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: INT: will be saved quietness and trust become is your strength 1 Occurrence |
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