Isaiah 57:15
in Isaiah 57For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
KJV
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
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This verse in Isaiah 57
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For thus saith - The design of this verse is, to furnish the assurance that the promise made to the people of God would certainly be accomplished. It was not to be presumed that he was so high and lofty, that he did not condescend to notice the affairs of people; but though he, in fact, dwelt in eternity, yet he also had his abode in the human heart. Many of the ancient pagans supposed that God was so lofty that be did not condescend to notice human affairs.
This site's exposition
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up
on Isaiah 57:15-16
The One “who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy” says, “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed”. Height and nearness stand in one sentence, and the nearness restores, “to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite”.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(Verse 15) For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. LXX: Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
The blessed prophets, when the Lord of the universe promises what is great and godly to them, were filled with much wonder at his glory and clemency and, as if responding from excitement, they run to give praise. We find the prophet doing precisely that here. The Lord says these things but has to add, "the exalted," that is, he who is by nature over and above all things that have come to be. "I dwell in the high places" means again that he is in the unshakeable upper reaches and that this divine and lofty nature is in the ineffable transcendence that is above. However, I think that this, the divine nature's dwelling in the exalted places, is forever. For it exists without change in these places by itself, and there is nothing in better conditions than it is, but rather the being that is in these conditions unchangingly exists unceasingly.
By these names the kindness of God shows that he is supreme. For those sharing in these titles have made him to be low, consorting with idols and demons. Although he is holy, these people blaspheme his name with evil desires and deeds that are …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Who dwells in the high and holy place: but you dwell in the holy place, the praise of Israel (Ps 21:4[22:3]). And as to divine love: and with a contrite and humble spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise (Ps …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Thither wentest thou up readily enough, though it was up-hill, to offer sacrifice. " Some think this bespeaks the impudence they arrived at in their idolatries; at first they had some sense of shame, when they worshipped their idols in the valleys, in obscure places; but they soon conquered that, and came to do it upon the lofty high mountains.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For thus saith the high and lofty One,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The pride and self-righteousness of the Jews were the stumbling block in the way of their acknowledging Christ. The contrition of Israel in the last days shall be attended with God's interposition in their behalf.
For thus saith the high and lofty One “For thus saith Jehovah, the high and the lofty” - A MS. adds יהוה Yehovah, after אמר amar, and edition Prag. 1518. So the Septuagint, Alex., and Arabic. An ancient MS. adds יה Yah. With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit - Twelve MSS. have את eth, without the conjunction ו vau. Pro ואת veeth, forte legendum ואראה veerah: confer Psa 113:5, et Psa 138:6. - Secker. “We should perhaps read ואראה veerah, instead of ואת veeth. See Psa 113:5, and Psa 138:6.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And he shall say, “Pave, pave” So will the prophet say in My name to My people, “Pave, pave a paved highway, clear away the evil inclination from your ways.”
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּי֩ | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֹ֨ה | khoh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַ֜ר | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| רָ֣ם | ram | [the] high [one] | H7311 → | 190 times |
| וְנִשָּׂ֗א | venisa' | and [the] exalted [one] | H5375 → | 656 times |
| שֹׁכֵ֥ן | shokhen | [the one who] dwells | H7931 → | 129 times |
| עַד֙ | ʾad | perpetuity | H5703 → | 49 times |
| וְקָד֣וֹשׁ | vekadoosh | and [is] holy | H6918 → | 116 times |
| שְׁמ֔וֹ | shemo | name his | H8034 → | 864 times |
| מָר֥וֹם | marom | a high place | H4791 → | 54 times |
| וְקָד֖וֹשׁ | vekadoosh | and a holy [place] | H6918 → | 116 times |
| אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹן | ʾeshkon | I dwell | H7931 → | 129 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and with | H854 → | 929 times |
| דַּכָּא֙ | daka' | a [person] contrite | H1793 → | |
| וּשְׁפַל־ | ushefal- | and a [person] lowly of | H8217 → | |
| ר֔וּחַ | ruach | spirit | H7307 → | 378 times |
| לְהַחֲיוֹת֙ | lehachayot | to restore | H2421 → | 282 times |
| ר֣וּחַ | ruach | [the] spirit of | H7307 → | 378 times |
| שְׁפָלִ֔ים | shefalim | lowly [people] | H8217 → | |
| וּֽלְהַחֲי֖וֹת | ulehachayot | and to restore | H2421 → | 282 times |
| לֵ֥ב | lev | [the] heart of | H3820 → | 595 times |
| נִדְכָּאִֽים׃ | nidkaim | contrite [people] | H1792 → | 18 times |
כִּי֩for
kiH3588 →4482 times
כֹ֨הthus
khohH3541 →577 times
אָמַ֜רhe says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
רָ֣ם[the] high [one]
ramH7311 →190 times
וְנִשָּׂ֗אand [the] exalted [one]
venisa'H5375 →656 times
שֹׁכֵ֥ן[the one who] dwells
shokhenH7931 →129 times
עַד֙perpetuity
ʾadH5703 →49 times
וְקָד֣וֹשׁand [is] holy
vekadooshH6918 →116 times
שְׁמ֔וֹname his
shemoH8034 →864 times
מָר֥וֹםa high place
maromH4791 →54 times
וְקָד֖וֹשׁand a holy [place]
vekadooshH6918 →116 times
אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹןI dwell
ʾeshkonH7931 →129 times
וְאֶת־and with
veetH854 →929 times
דַּכָּא֙a [person] contrite
daka'H1793 →
וּשְׁפַל־and a [person] lowly of
ushefal-H8217 →
ר֔וּחַspirit
ruachH7307 →378 times
לְהַחֲיוֹת֙to restore
lehachayotH2421 →282 times
ר֣וּחַ[the] spirit of
ruachH7307 →378 times
שְׁפָלִ֔יםlowly [people]
shefalimH8217 →
וּֽלְהַחֲי֖וֹתand to restore
ulehachayotH2421 →282 times
לֵ֥ב[the] heart of
levH3820 →595 times
נִדְכָּאִֽים׃contrite [people]
nidkaimH1792 →18 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
Psalms 34:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
it leads to
- Psalms 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- Psalms 147:3
Through
Exodus 15:11Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
it leads to
- 1 Kings 8:23
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with…
- Psalms 89:5–8
The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD— Your faithfulness as well— in the assembly of the holy ones.
- 1 Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.
- 1 Kings 8:23
Through
Psalms 147:3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
- Job 5:18
For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
- Psalms 34:18
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 5:3.57:15-16; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodore of Heraclea, FRAGMENTS ON ISAIAH and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.