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Isaiah 57 Bible study: Peace to the far and the near
In Hebrew peace comes four times in Isaiah 57, more than in any other chapter of the book: the righteous man "enters into peace" (57:2), the LORD says "Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near" (57:19), and the chapter ends "There is no peace" … "for the wicked" (57:21). And the one "who inhabits eternity" dwells "with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit" (57:15).
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“For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“Isaiah 57:2 says, "He enters into peace."”
Is that in Isaiah 57, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Peace, four times
The chapter's second verse and its last verse both have peace. Of the righteous who perish it says, "He enters into peace. They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness" (57:2) (tap peace). Near the end the LORD says, "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near" (57:19) (tap create). And the last verse is "There is no peace" … "for the wicked" (57:21). Here is what almost everyone misses: in Hebrew all four are shalom, and no other chapter of Isaiah has the word so often. The peace of "Haven’t I held my peace for a long time" (57:11) is another word (tap held my peace). The chapter on Isaiah 26 sets out the five verses of the Hebrew Bible with shalom twice in a row, among them 26:3 and 57:19, and the chapter on Isaiah 48 notes that 48:22 ends with the words of 57:21.
Where it leads to Jesus
Peace to the far and the near
Isaiah 57:19leads toEphesians 2:17
The LORD says, "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near" (Isaiah 57:19). Paul (Ephesians 1:1) writes to Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11) who were once "separate from Christ" (Ephesians 2:12): "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). Then, of Christ: "He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:17-18). Paul doesn't name Isaiah or say "it is written", so setting the two side by side is a reading. Both verses speak peace to the one far off and the one near. Some hear Isaiah 57:19 in Ephesians 2:17, so that the peace the LORD speaks to the far and the near is the peace Christ came and preached to both. Others read Ephesians 2:17 in its own letter, of the Gentiles once far off and brought near in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13), sharing some of Isaiah's words, and read Isaiah 57:19 in its own chapter, of the LORD's peace for the contrite and humble (Isaiah 57:15-18). These notes pick neither.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Isaiah 57
That was a taste
The rest of Isaiah 57 is waiting in Favor
- Your ways, and his ways
- Who inhabits eternity, and dwells with the humble
- Prepare the way, three times
- Wind, breath and spirit
- 12 questions as you read
- 14 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
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The Hebrew word behind it
שָׁלוֹםshalomsay sha-LOHM
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace". Strong's gives it as "from 7999", and among its senses, "welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace". The chapter has it four times, more than any other chapter of Isaiah in Hebrew: "He enters into peace" (57:2); "Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near" (57:19), the word twice; and "There is no peace" … "for the wicked" (57:21). Strong's 7999 is shalam, the verb of "and restore comforts to him" (57:18), the verse before the doubled peace. The peace of "Haven’t I held my peace" (57:11) is another word (tap held my peace). Isaiah has shalom 29 times in Hebrew. The chapter on Isaiah 26 sets out the five verses of the Hebrew Bible with shalom twice in a row, and the chapter on Isaiah 48 the two verses that end "There is no peace" … "for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22).
For your group
Isaiah 57 Bible study questions
- 1"The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart" (57:1). What helps you notice, and take to heart, what others pass by?
- 2"I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit" (57:15). What does it mean to you that the one "who inhabits eternity" dwells with the humble?
- 3"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace" (57:19). What does it mean to you that the chapter speaks of peace as something the LORD creates?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Isaiah 57 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home