Isaiah 51:6
in Isaiah 51Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
KJV
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
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This verse in Isaiah 51
Commentary
13 notes on this verseAgain, as to their malignantly asserting that if heaven is indeed the throne of God, and earth His footstool, and if it is declared that the heaven and earth shall pass away, then when these pass away the God who sitteth above must also pass away, and therefore He cannot be the God who is over all; in the first place, they are ignorant what the expression means, that heaven is [His] throne and earth [His] footstool.
This site's exposition
for a law will go out from Me
on Isaiah 51:4-6
The LORD calls His people to listen, “for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations”. Verse 6 sets the heavens and earth as passing things against the fixed thing: “My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail”.
This site's exposition
the heavens will vanish like smoke
Gill says the word for vanish means to melt like salt. Wesley and Jerome read the heavens and earth as changed for the better, the way smoke passes while its substance remains. Aben Ezra, cited by Clarke, drew from the salvation that will last forever the immortality of the soul.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
(Verse 6) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look down to the earth beneath: for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like flies. But my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be abolished. LXX: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and behold the earth beneath, for the heavens are established like smoke. But the earth will grow old like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like these things. But my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never fail. This is what the Lord speaks in the Gospel: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matt. XXIV, 35). And David sings in the psalm: In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the works of your hands are the heavens. They will perish, but you will endure, and all of them will wear out like a garment; you will wrap them up like a cloak, and they will be changed (Ps. CI, 26). From this it is shown that the destruction of heaven does not mean annihilation, but a change for the better. Of this it is said: 'There will be a new heaven and a new earth, which I will make to remain in my sight' (Apoc. XXI, 2). For if it is written of the saints: 'We shall all indeed rise again, but we shall not all be changed' (I Cor. XV, 51); and in the titles of four psalms it is said: 'For those who shall be changed'; how much more must this be believed of the heaven, the sun, and the stars, when the moon will receive the light of the sun and the sun will shine seven times brighter? And every creature groans and labors, awaiting the revelation of the sons of God, to be changed for the better (Rom. VIII). And not only the souls of humans, which are immortal, but also their bodies will be transformed into a glorified substance. […]
The Son is called "salvation" and "righteousness," as we often say, and thus his quality is declared that he has in himself, by which and in which he is Son by nature. Indeed, he is eternal and does not "wear out." Such is the difference between creator and creation, the made from the maker, which is clearly seen in this verse.
But if our opponents say, How then is it, if the universe is not destroyed, that the Lord says that "heaven and earth shall pass away," and the prophet, that "the heaven shall perish as smoke" and "the earth shall grow old as a garment"; we answer, because it is usual for the Scriptures to call the change of the world from its present condition to a better and more glorious one destruction, as its earlier form is lost in the change of all things to a state of greater splendor, for there is neither contradiction nor absurdity in the Scriptures. For not "the world" but "the fashion of this world" passes away, it is said. So it is usual for the Scriptures to call the change from an earlier form to a better and more comely state "destruction"; just as when one calls by the name of "destruction" the change from a childish form into a perfect adult, as the stature of the child is turned into mature size and beauty.
From the sky and the earth, from the things on high and those below, learn of my power. I produced these elements with great ease and, conversely, I can make them disappear. "But my salvation shall be for eternity, and my righteousness shall not fail." …
The Medieval Church1 voice
926. Lift up your eyes to heaven. Here he shows the firmness of the divine promise by comparison to the changing of creatures. Hence he first sets out the changeableness of creation: the earth shall vanish, as to shape and as to substance (1 Cor …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,.... And observe their beauty and order, the constant and regular motion of the heavenly bodies, the firmness and solidity of them: and look upon the earth beneath; how stable and well founded it is: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke; though they are so firm, and have lasted so long, and have kept their constant situation and course, yet they shall melt away like salt, as the word (k) signifies, and disappear in an instant like smoke.
The heavens - The heavens and earth shall pass away, in regard of their present state, and properties, and use, as smoak is said to vanish, tho' the substance of it be not destroyed.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
My salvation shall be for ever - Aben Ezra says, From this verse divines have learnt the immortality of the soul. Men shall perish as the earth does, because they are formed from it; but they who are filled with the salvation of God shall remain for ever. See Kimchi.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
JEROME translates, as English Version, and infers that "in like manner" as man, the heavens (that is, the sky) and earth are not to be annihilated, but changed for the better (Isa 65:17). righteousness--My faithfully fulfilled promise (see on Isa 51:5).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Lift up your eyes to the heavens - The design of directing their attention to the heavens and the earth is, probably, to impress them more deeply with a conviction of the certainty of his salvation in this manner, namely, the heavens and the earth appear firm and fixed; there is in them no apparent tendency to dissolution and decay. Yet though apparently thus fixed and determined, they will all vanish away, but the promise of God will be unfailing. For the heavens shall vanish away - The word which is rendered here ‘shall vanish away’ (מלח mâlach), occurs nowhere else in the Bible. The primary idea, according to Gesenius, is that of smoothness and softness. Then it means to glide away, to disappear. The idea here is, that the heavens would disappear, as smoke is dissipated and disappears in the air. The idea of the vanishing, or the disappearing of the heavens and the earth, is one that often occurs in the Scriptures (see the notes at Isa 34:4; compare Psa 102:26; Heb 1:11-12; 2Pe 3:10-12). The earth shall wax old ... - Shall decay, and be destroyed (see Psa 102:26). And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner - Lowth renders this, ‘Like the vilest insect.’ Noyes, ‘Like flies.’ The Vulgate, and the Septuagint, however, render it as it is in our version. Rosenmuller renders it, ‘As flies.’ Gesenius renders it, ‘Like a gnat.’ This variety of interpretation arises from the different explanation of the word כן kên, which usually means, ‘as, so, thus, in like manner, etc.’ The plural form, however, (כנים kiniym), occurs in Psa 105:31, and is rendered by the Septuagint, σκνῖφες skniphes, and by the Vulgate, sciniphes, a species of small gnats, very troublesome from their sting, which abounds in the marshy regions of Egypt; and according to this the idea is, that the most mighty inhabitants of the earth would die like gnats, or the smallest and vilest insects. […]
The words behind it
24 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שְׂאוּ֩ | seu | lift up | H5375 → | 656 times |
| לַשָּׁמַ֨יִם | lashamayim | to the heavens | H8064 → | 421 times |
| עֵֽינֵיכֶ֜ם | ʾeineikhem | eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| וְֽהַבִּ֧יטוּ | vehabitu | and look | H5027 → | 69 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָאָ֣רֶץ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִתַּ֗חַת | mitachat | <from> beneath | H8478 → | 505 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| שָׁמַ֜יִם | shamayim | [the] heavens | H8064 → | 421 times |
| כֶּעָשָׁ֤ן | keashan | like <the> smoke | H6227 → | 25 times |
| נִמְלָ֙חוּ֙ | nimlachu | they will be dispersed | H4414 → | |
| וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | vehaaretz | and the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| כַּבֶּ֣גֶד | kabeged | like <the> garment | H899 → | 217 times |
| תִּבְלֶ֔ה | tivleh | it will wear out | H1086 → | 15 times |
| וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ | veyosheveiha | and inhabitants its | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| כְּמוֹ־ | kemov- | like | H3644 → | 143 times |
| כֵ֣ן | khen | gnat[s] | H3654 → | |
| יְמוּת֑וּן | yemutun | they will die ! | H4191 → | 839 times |
| וִישֽׁוּעָתִי֙ | vishuati | and salvation my | H3444 → | 78 times |
| לְעוֹלָ֣ם | leolam | for ever | H5769 → | 438 times |
| תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה | tihyeh | it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| וְצִדְקָתִ֖י | vetzidkati | and righteousness my | H6666 → | 157 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תֵחָֽת׃ ס | techat | it will be broken | H2865 → | 52 times |
שְׂאוּ֩lift up
seuH5375 →656 times
לַשָּׁמַ֨יִםto the heavens
lashamayimH8064 →421 times
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֜םeyes your
ʾeineikhemH5869 →887 times
וְֽהַבִּ֧יטוּand look
vehabituH5027 →69 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הָאָ֣רֶץthe earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
מִתַּ֗חַת<from> beneath
mitachatH8478 →505 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
שָׁמַ֜יִם[the] heavens
shamayimH8064 →421 times
כֶּעָשָׁ֤ןlike <the> smoke
keashanH6227 →25 times
נִמְלָ֙חוּ֙they will be dispersed
nimlachuH4414 →
וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙and the earth
vehaaretzH776 →2504 times
כַּבֶּ֣גֶדlike <the> garment
kabegedH899 →217 times
תִּבְלֶ֔הit will wear out
tivlehH1086 →15 times
וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָand inhabitants its
veyosheveihaH3427 →1079 times
כְּמוֹ־like
kemov-H3644 →143 times
כֵ֣ןgnat[s]
khenH3654 →
יְמוּת֑וּןthey will die !
yemutunH4191 →839 times
וִישֽׁוּעָתִי֙and salvation my
vishuatiH3444 →78 times
לְעוֹלָ֣םfor ever
leolamH5769 →438 times
תִּֽהְיֶ֔הit will be
tihyehH1961 →3559 times
וְצִדְקָתִ֖יand righteousness my
vetzidkatiH6666 →157 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
תֵחָֽת׃ סit will be broken
techatH2865 →52 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
- 1 Peter 1:25
but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
- Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- Isaiah 55:11
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
- Matthew 5:18
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
- Isaiah 40:8
Through
Isaiah 34:4All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig…
it leads to
- Revelation 6:13–14
and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.
- Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will…
- Joel 3:15
The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
- Revelation 6:13–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
About Isaiah
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 4:5.51:6; Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapter 3), Section 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Methodius of Olympus, ON THE RESURRECTION 1:9; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:51.6 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.