We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet describes a people in deep distress, not just crying out, but with a specific blend of sounds: the guttural growl of a bear and the mournful coo of a dove. This combination paints a picture of their frustration mixed with a sorrowful lament, highlighting that their pleas for justice and salvation are both loud in their desperation and soft in their despair.
We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is speaking on behalf of the people of Israel, who are lamenting their dire circumstances. They've just confessed their manifold sins and the resulting injustice and darkness that plague their land. Now, they articulate their deep distress, expressing a sense of hopelessness as they cry out for deliverance that seems perpetually out of reach.
The prophet uses vivid imagery of animal sounds to describe the people's state. What do these sounds reveal about their inner turmoil and their relationship with God?
Isaiah 59:11 paints a powerful picture of a people in deep distress. They 'growl like bears' and 'moan like doves.'
Growing Like Bears
The 'growl of a bear' isn't just a loud noise; it signifies a deep, guttural sound of frustration, impatience, and perhaps even anger. Commentators suggest this could represent the people's restless discontent and their inner turmoil over their suffering. It's a sound of desperation, perhaps even a complaint against their circumstances or against God for not intervening.
Mourning Like Doves
In contrast, the 'mourning of a dove' is a soft, plaintive coo, often associated with sorrow and loneliness. This imagery suggests a quieter, more internal grief. While the bear's growl is outward and forceful, the dove's moan is a gentle, persistent expression of sadness. It speaks of a broken spirit, a quiet despair.
A United Despair
The prophet doesn't present these as separate experiences but as two facets of a collective anguish: 'We all...' These sounds aren't just individual cries; they represent the shared experience of a nation. Whether expressed loudly in discontent or softly in sorrow, the sounds all stem from a deep sense of helplessness and a longing for relief that isn't coming.
The people long for justice and salvation, but the verse states these are absent. What does this reveal about the nature of their hope and its object?
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The people in Isaiah 59:11 articulate a profound crisis: they 'hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.' This isn't just a statement of disappointment; it's a declaration of a systemic absence.
Hope Without an Object
Their 'hope' is directed towards concepts—justice and salvation. Yet, the prophetic word declares that these are not present. This suggests their hope is misplaced or perhaps directed towards an outcome that is actively being thwarted. The absence of justice and the distance of salvation point to a deep spiritual and societal brokenness.
The 'Far Off' Salvation
The phrase 'far from us' is critical. It implies not just a lack of immediate relief but a profound disconnection. Salvation, which should be God's domain and a source of security, feels impossibly distant. This distance can stem from various factors:
A Call to Repentance
This declaration of absent justice and distant salvation serves as a stark diagnosis. It implies that true hope cannot be found in the present circumstances or in their own efforts. It points to a need for a radical turning—a recognition that their current state is a result of their own actions and that genuine salvation and justice require divine intervention, which is only truly accessible through repentance and a right relationship with God.
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The legal or moral standard of God's requirements for his people, often referring to fairness in judicial settings or living in conformity to God's character. It represents the right order of society under God's rule.
teshu'ah · Hebrew Noun
The act of being saved, delivered, or rescued by God from peril, enemies, or judgment. Biblically, it emphasizes God as the only source of ultimate deliverance from sin and its consequences.
This verse captures the deep anguish and despair of a people facing severe national crisis, likely during the Assyrian or Babylonian periods, where their hopes for justice and deliverance from oppressive foreign powers seemed distant and unreachable.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the ancient Near East, expanding its territory and influence throughout the region. This geopolitical reality would have loomed large for Isaiah and his audience.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians, and its population was exiled. This event served as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This was a moment of intense crisis and fear for the people of Judah.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire began deporting segments of the Judean population, including skilled laborers and some of the nobility, to Babylon.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, marking the end of the southern kingdom of Judah and leading to a widespread exile of its people.
This passage echoes Isaiah's lament, expressing the people's yearning for deliverance and the painful absence of it amidst their suffering.
Psalm 60:11This psalm voices a similar desperation, crying out for help and acknowledging the distance of salvation, reflecting the same sense of helplessness found in Isaiah.
Luke 11:24-26Jesus' parable about an unclean spirit returning to an empty house illustrates how a state of seeking deliverance without true change can lead to a worse condition, resonating with Isaiah's description of people looking for salvation but finding none.
Romans 8:22-23This passage speaks of creation groaning in anticipation of redemption, paralleling the 'growl' and 'moan' of Isaiah's people as they await salvation.
clarkeIsaiah 59:11: "We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us."
But it is far off from us "And it is far distant from us" - The conjunction ו vau must necessarily be prefixed to the verb, as the Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate found it in their copies; ורחקה verachakah, "and far off."
pulpitIsaiah 59:11: "We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us."
Verse 11. - We roar all like bears; rather, we growl. The verb is used commonly of the "roaring" of the sea (Isaiah 17:12; Isaiah 51:15; Jeremiah 6:23; 31:45; 50:42; 51:55); but is applied also to the noise made by a dog (Psalm 59:6, 14). Here it represents the deep murmur of discontent, which alternates with the mournful tones of Israel's despo…
The prophet describes a people in deep distress, not just crying out, but with a specific blend of sounds: the guttural growl of a bear and the mournful coo of a dove. This combination paints a picture of their frustration mixed with a sorrowful lament, highlighting that their pleas for justice and salvation are both loud in their desperation and soft in their despair.
The prophet is speaking on behalf of the people of Israel, who are lamenting their dire circumstances. They've just confessed their manifold sins and the resulting injustice and darkness that plague their land. Now, they articulate their deep distress, expressing a sense of hopelessness as they cry out for deliverance that seems perpetually out of reach.
The prophet is speaking on behalf of the people of Israel, who are lamenting their dire circumstances. They've just confessed their manifold sins and the resulting injustice and darkness that plague their land. Now, they articulate their deep distress, expressing a sense of hopelessness as they cry out for deliverance that seems perpetually out of reach.
"We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us." — The prophet describes a people in deep distress, not just crying out, but with a specific blend of sounds: the guttural growl of a bear and the mournful coo of a dove. This combination paints a pictu…
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Last reviewed October 2026