Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. New Living Translation You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. English Standard Version You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. Berean Standard Bible You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. King James Bible Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. New King James Version You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. New American Standard Bible “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. NASB 1995 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. NASB 1977 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent. Legacy Standard Bible You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. Amplified Bible “You shall search for those who quarrel with you, but will not find them; They who war against you will be as nothing, as nothing at all. Christian Standard Bible You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing. Holman Christian Standard Bible You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing. American Standard Version Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. Contemporary English Version You will look around for those brutal enemies, but you won't find them--they will be gone. English Revised Version Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. GOD'S WORD® Translation You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who are at war with you will be reduced to nothing and no longer exist. Good News Translation and will disappear from the earth. International Standard Version Those who quarrel with you will be as nothing; those who fight you like nothing at all!" NET Bible When you will look for your opponents, you will not find them; your enemies will be reduced to absolutely nothing. New Heart English Bible You will seek them, and won't find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing. Webster's Bible Translation Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. World English Bible You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou seek them, and do not find them, "" The men who debate with you, "" They are as nothing, indeed, as nothing, "" The men who war with you. Young's Literal Translation Thou seekest them, and findest them not, The men who debate with thee, They are as nothing, yea, as nothing, The men who war with thee. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them; the man of thy contention, the men of thy war, shall be as nothing and as no more. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou shalt seek them, and shalt not find the men that resist thee: they shall be as nothing: and as a thing consumed the men that war against thee. Catholic Public Domain Version You will seek them, and you will not find them. The men who rebel against you will be as if they did not exist. And the men who make war against you will be like something that has been consumed. New American Bible You shall seek but not find those who strive against you; They shall be as nothing at all who do battle with you. New Revised Standard Version You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall seek them that strive with you, but you shall not find them; they that war against you shall be as if they were nothing. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You shall seek them and you shall not find the men who contend with you. The men who fight with you shall be as if they are not OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, Even them that contended with thee; They that warred against thee Shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt seek them, and thou shalt not find the men who shall insolently rage against thee: for they shall be as if they were not, and they that war against thee shall not be. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Help to Israel…11Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish. 12You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. 13For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.… Cross References Isaiah 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness. Isaiah 45:24 Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 60:12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed. Job 8:22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” Job 20:7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ Psalm 37:10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. Psalm 37:36 yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. Psalm 83:17 May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. Psalm 92:9 For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. Jeremiah 30:16 Nevertheless, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your adversaries—every one of them—will go off into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who raided you will be raided. Jeremiah 46:28 And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.” Ezekiel 28:19 All the nations who know you are appalled over you. You have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’” Obadiah 1:16 For as you drank on My holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and gulp it down; they will be as if they had never existed. Treasury of Scripture You shall seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with you: they that war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nothing. shalt seek Job 20:7-9 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? … Psalm 37:35,36 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree… them that contended with thee. Jump to Previous Contend Contended Debate Destruction Enemies Find Findest Haters Naught Nought Quarrel Search Seek Seekest Wage War Warred Won'tJump to Next Contend Contended Debate Destruction Enemies Find Findest Haters Naught Nought Quarrel Search Seek Seekest Wage War Warred Won'tIsaiah 41 1. God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church.10. About his promises 21. And about the vanity of idols. You will seek them but will not find them. This phrase reflects God's promise of deliverance and protection for His people. In the context of Isaiah 41, God is reassuring Israel of His support against their enemies. Historically, Israel faced numerous adversaries, including powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon. The promise that their enemies will be untraceable signifies a complete and divine intervention where God will make their threats vanish. This echoes the theme of divine justice and protection found throughout the Old Testament, such as in Exodus 14:13-14, where God fights for Israel against the Egyptians. Theologically, it underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to control the fate of nations, ensuring that those who oppose His people will ultimately fail. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah's ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah. He is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the future restoration of Israel. 2. Israel The nation chosen by God, often facing threats from surrounding nations. In Isaiah 41, God reassures Israel of His protection and deliverance from their enemies. 3. Enemies of Israel The adversaries who rise against Israel, representing both literal nations and spiritual forces opposed to God's people. 4. God's Deliverance The event where God promises to protect and deliver Israel from their enemies, ensuring their ultimate victory and peace. 5. The Exile Context The backdrop of Isaiah's prophecies includes the impending Babylonian exile, a period of great trial for Israel, yet also a time when God's promises of restoration and protection are emphasized. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and ProtectionTrust in God's ultimate control over all circumstances, including the threats and challenges we face. The Futility of Opposing God Recognize that those who oppose God's people are ultimately opposing God Himself and will not succeed. Faith in God's Promises Encourage believers to hold fast to God's promises, even when circumstances seem dire or overwhelming. Spiritual Warfare Understand that our battles are not just physical but spiritual, and God equips us to stand firm against spiritual adversaries. Hope and Assurance Find hope in the assurance that God will bring justice and vindication for His people, even when it seems delayed. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 41:12?2. How does Isaiah 41:12 encourage trust in God's protection against adversaries? 3. What does "search for them but will not find them" signify? 4. How can Isaiah 41:12 strengthen your faith during personal challenges? 5. Connect Isaiah 41:12 with Romans 8:31 on God's support for believers. 6. How can you apply Isaiah 41:12 to overcome fear in daily life? 7. How does Isaiah 41:12 reflect God's promise of protection against adversaries? 8. What historical context surrounds Isaiah 41:12 and its message of divine deliverance? 9. How does Isaiah 41:12 challenge our understanding of justice and retribution? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 41? 11. Why do natural disasters harm innocent people? 12. What are the names of Jesus Christ? 13. What does 'God will reveal the hidden things' mean? 14. What does the Bible say about having a phobia? What Does Isaiah 41:12 Mean You will seek themIsaiah’s promise opens with an act of intentional looking. The covenant people would one day scan the horizon for the very enemies who had terrified them. The language invites confidence: • God Himself is certain enough of the outcome to tell Israel they will actually go searching. • This recalls Exodus 14:13-14: “Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD… The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.” The same God who drowned Pharaoh’s army guarantees a repeat performance of protection. • Psalm 27:2 echoes the idea: “When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.” Faith looks forward with such assurance that it imagines a future moment of retrospective wonder. but will not find them The search proves futile because the threat has been completely erased: • Total disappearance, not mere retreat. Like Psalm 37:35-36, where the wicked “passed away, and behold, they were no more.” • God’s victory leaves no lingering trace—no resurgence, no simmering counterattack. • 2 Kings 19:35-36 records how the Assyrian host lay dead overnight; in the morning not one soldier remained to menace Jerusalem. That historical event provides a living illustration of Isaiah’s promise. Those who wage war against you The focus shifts from Israel’s effort to the attackers’ intent: • The phrase identifies coordinated, hostile opposition—campaigns, strategies, alliances. • Isaiah 54:15 clarifies the source of ultimate authority: “If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me.” The prophet isolates the aggressors from God’s covenant purpose, exposing their plans as self-initiated rebellion. • Revelation 20:7-9 shows the pattern repeated at history’s end—nations gather against the saints, only to face instant defeat. will come to nothing The climactic verdict: • “Nothing” means zero effect, zero endurance. Psalm 33:10: “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.” • Deuteronomy 28:7 promises that enemies who rise against Israel will flee “seven ways,” reinforcing the theme of utter collapse. • Behind the statement stands God’s unchanging character: when He speaks, reality conforms. The literalness of Scripture ensures that what He declares is already settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). summary Isaiah 41:12 paints a four-step panorama of divine deliverance: (1) God’s people will deliberately look for former enemies, (2) but not locate them, because (3) every belligerent force, however organized, (4) is destined to vanish into nothingness under the Lord’s sovereign hand. The verse calls believers to rest in the absolute reliability of God’s Word, anticipating the day when past threats are not merely subdued but completely removed from view. Hebrew You will seekתְּבַקְשֵׁם֙ (tə·ḇaq·šêm) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after [them] אַנְשֵׁ֖י (’an·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person but will not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no find them. תִמְצָאֵ֔ם (ṯim·ṣā·’êm) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present Those who wage war מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ׃ (mil·ḥam·te·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4421: A battle, war against you אַנְשֵׁ֥י (’an·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person will come יִהְי֥וּ (yih·yū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be to nothing. כְאַ֛יִן (ḵə·’a·yin) Preposition-k | Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle Links Isaiah 41:12 NIVIsaiah 41:12 NLT Isaiah 41:12 ESV Isaiah 41:12 NASB Isaiah 41:12 KJV Isaiah 41:12 BibleApps.com Isaiah 41:12 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 41:12 Chinese Bible Isaiah 41:12 French Bible Isaiah 41:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 41:12 You will seek them and won't find (Isa Isi Is) |
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