Isaiah 42:13-14
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The verse depicts God as a warrior ready for battle, emphasizing His zeal. This "zeal" isn't just about passion; it carries a sense of fierce, protective indignation, akin to a guardian provoked to defend their own. It highlights God's active, even aggressive, commitment to His people and His cause against any opposition.
The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah's prophecy shifts focus here to God's direct, forceful intervention against His enemies, presenting Him as a powerful warrior roused to action. This powerful imagery serves as the foundation for the call to praise God in the preceding verses, explaining why all nations should sing a new song to the Lord. The text then moves into God's own declaration of His long-held restraint and His impending, decisive action to bring about justice and deliverance.
Have you ever felt God's anger described in such vivid, almost human terms? This verse paints a picture of divine passion that's meant to be powerful.
Isaiah uses powerful imagery here, comparing the LORD to a 'mighty man' and a 'man of war.' This isn't just about God being strong; it's about His fierce, protective zeal.
The world often tells us to fight our own battles. But what happens when God steps onto the battlefield Himself?
This passage shifts the focus from human effort to divine action. God isn't passively waiting for things to improve; He is actively intervening.
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Understand the original words
gibbor · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word denotes a warrior or a champion, often used of God to emphasize His strength, victory, and active intervention on behalf of His people against their enemies.
qin'ah · Hebrew Noun
In the Bible, zeal describes a passionate, intense, and holy devotion to God’s honor or purpose, often manifesting as divine protective anger against anything that opposes His will or His people.
oyeb · Hebrew Noun
A person or power that opposes God or His people, representing the forces of evil, idolatry, or worldly rebellion that the Lord ultimately defeats.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar II, leading to the destruction of the Temple and the deportation of a significant portion of the Judean population to Babylon. This event marks a profound crisis for the Judean people.
c. 587-538 BC
The Babylonian Exile
The Judean exiles live in communities in Babylonia, grappling with their faith and identity. During this period, religious texts are preserved, compiled, and studied, and new prophetic insights emerge.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, begins his conquests, eventually leading to the overthrow of the Babylonian Empire. His rise signals a potential shift in power and a possible opportunity for the exiled Jews.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of the Jewish exiles to Judah.
538 BC
Decree of Cyrus and Return to Jerusalem
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian Exile and the beginning of the post-exilic period.
This passage also portrays God as a mighty warrior, stating 'The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name,' which directly echoes the imagery in Isaiah 42:13.
Psalm 24:8Similar to Isaiah 42:13, this psalm describes God as 'mighty in battle,' emphasizing His power and strength when confronting His enemies.
Isaiah 27:1This verse presents a future vision of God's mighty intervention, stating 'In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish ... and he will bring them back,' showing God as the ultimate victor over His foes.
Zechariah 14:3This passage describes the Lord going forth to fight against nations, providing a prophetic parallel to the imagery of God as a warrior taking the field against His enemies.
bensonIsaiah 42:13: "The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies."
Isaiah 42:13-15 . The Lord shall go forth — Namely, to battle against his enemies. He shall stir up jealousy — His fierce indignation against the obstinate enemies of his Son and gospel. He shall cry, yea, roar — As a lion doth upon his prey, and as soldiers do when they begin the battle. I have long time held my peace — I have been…
cambridgeIsaiah 42:13: "The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies."
13 . The reason for the universal exultation; Jehovah takes the field against His enemies. The gracious side of His intervention is reserved for Isaiah 42:16 . The Lord shall go forth ] The technical expression for the initiation of a campaign ( 2 Samuel 11:1 ; Amos 5:3 &c.) as a mighty man (or, hero ) … a man of war ] Similar repre…
The verse depicts God as a warrior ready for battle, emphasizing His zeal. This "zeal" isn't just about passion; it carries a sense of fierce, protective indignation, akin to a guardian provoked to defend their own. It highlights God's active, even aggressive, commitment to His people and His cause against any opposition.
Isaiah's prophecy shifts focus here to God's direct, forceful intervention against His enemies, presenting Him as a powerful warrior roused to action. This powerful imagery serves as the foundation for the call to praise God in the preceding verses, explaining why all nations should sing a new song to the Lord. The text then moves into God's own declaration of His long-held restraint and His impending, decisive action to bring about justice and deliverance.
Isaiah's prophecy shifts focus here to God's direct, forceful intervention against His enemies, presenting Him as a powerful warrior roused to action. This powerful imagery serves as the foundation for the call to praise God in the preceding verses, explaining why all nations should sing a new song to the Lord. The text then moves into God's own declaration of His long-held restraint and His impending, decisive action to bring about justice and deliverance.
"The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and r…" — The verse depicts God as a warrior ready for battle, emphasizing His zeal. This "zeal" isn't just about passion; it carries a sense of fierce, protective indignation, akin to a guardian provoked to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
