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Isaiah 35 · a question people ask

How can one verse promise vengeance and saving?

In the text

It does, in one breath: "Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you" (35:4) (tap vengeance). In Hebrew the noun vengeance (naqam) and the verb save (yasha) stand together in one verse only here. The chapter doesn't say on whom the vengeance comes. It says to whom the saving comes: "you", those "who have a fearful heart" (35:4). The same noun is in the chapter before: "For the LORD has a day of vengeance" (Isaiah 34:8).

The verses

“Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:4 · World English Bible
“For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.”
Isaiah 34:8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 35

Isaiah 35: The Holy Way

Isaiah 35 has chapter 34's words: both have a "habitation of jackals" (34:13, 35:7) and both have streams (34:9, 35:6). In the WEB everything from 35:4's "Be strong!" to the end is what the fearful are to be told. And when Jesus said "Ephphatha!" (Mark 7:34) to a deaf man, it was said of him, "He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!" (Mark 7:37).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions