Isaiah 41:6 — Word Study
WLCאִ֥ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֖הוּ יַעְזֹ֑רוּ וּלְאָחִ֖יו יֹאמַ֥ר חֲזָֽק׃
BSA◂Each oneʼîysh [every individual, a man] helpsʻâzar▸ [assists, gives aid to] the otherrêaʻ [his neighbor, companion] and saysʼâmar▸ [speaks, declares] to his brotherʼâch [relative, close friend, fellow] Be strongchâzaq [take courage, be of good cheer]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אִ֥ישׁ | each | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| רֵעֵ֖הוּ | neighbor his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יַעְזֹ֑רוּ | they help | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וּלְאָחִ֖יו | and to brother his | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יֹאמַ֥ר | he says | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| חֲזָֽק׃ | be strong | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” |
| KJV | They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. |
| ASV | They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage. |
| YLT | Each his neighbour they help, And to his brother he saith, 'Be strong.' |
| WEB | Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!” |
| BBE | They gave help everyone to his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Take heart! |
Where they part company is in the nuances of the Hebrew words, but the core message remains consistent across the translations.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a noun phrase and a verb phrase, clearly illustrating the actions of helping and encouraging.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָזַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 41:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Encouragement Among Neighborsgenerated
Isaiah 41:6 describes a scene where individuals support one another, emphasizing the importance of community in times of fear and uncertainty. This verse highlights the human tendency to uplift each other, especially in challenging circumstances, and reflects the broader theme of God's reassurance to Israel amidst their struggles.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 40:19 | To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? |
| 2 | Isaiah 44:12 | The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 4:7–9 | the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 5:3–5 | When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. |
| 5 | Daniel 3:1–7 | King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אִישׁ, 'ishgenerated
The Hebrew word אִישׁ ('ish) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
In this verse, it emphasizes that every individual plays a role in providing support to others, highlighting the collective strength found in community.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the encouragement expressed in this verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יַעְזֹ֑רוּ (they help) governs the main action of the verse, with additional clauses providing context about who is helping and what is being said. The structure emphasizes the reciprocal nature of support among individuals.
The sentence flows from the action of helping to the encouragement given, illustrating the interconnectedness of these actions in the community.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אִישׁ as ἕκαστος (each), which conveys a similar sense of individuality while maintaining the collective context of support. This choice emphasizes the personal responsibility each person has in encouraging others.
The Greek word πλησίον for רֵעֵ֖הוּ (his neighbor) broadens the sense of community, suggesting proximity and closeness among individuals.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 41:6 shows how individuals support each other by helping and encouraging their neighbors to be strong. This verse highlights the importance of community and mutual assistance during difficult times.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Helping your neighbor means providing support, encouragement, and assistance to those around you, fostering a sense of community.
Encouragement is vital as it strengthens relationships and uplifts individuals, especially in challenging situations.
You can be a source of strength by actively listening, offering help, and speaking words of encouragement to those in need.
'Be strong' implies taking courage and finding resilience, both personally and within the support of a community.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I encourage those around me to be strong?
- How have I experienced support from my community in difficult times?
- What are some practical ways to help my neighbors or friends?
- Why is it important to remind others to take courage?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers comment on the themes of mutual support and encouragement found in this verse, reflecting on the importance of community in spiritual growth.
You, Jacob, now ponder such things, the Savior of everything did not privilege you over the salvation of other human beings but chose the things that suited you, while to the rest of the nations he announced an exchange,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 41 →
The meaning of this is as follows: They have approached and come together, no longer staying apart, not alienated from each other through sin but as if brought close through spiritually taking possession,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 41 →
Those who formerly have been in error, as soon as they have benefited from the light of the knowledge of God, cannot bear to hide his glory but call all people to participate in it.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 41 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 41:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey helped everyone his neighbour,.... By advice and counsel, by the best arguments they could make use of, to withstand the new religion, and defend the old one; to prevent the embracing the one,
Read John Gill on Isaiah 41 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. Be of good courage - Be not alarmed because of Cyrus, but make new images to secure the favour of the gods against him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 41 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey encouraged and assisted one another in their idolatrous practices.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 41 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 41:6 They helped every one his neighbour; and [every one] said to his brother, Be of good courage.Ver. 6. They helped every one his neighbour.] Thus those desperate idolaters did from the first. Eusebius telleth us, that in the seventh year of Abraham, Ninus, the founder of Nineveh, set up an image of his father Belus, which was worshipped after his death. So did other princes, by his example, not moved with God’ s mercies showed to Abraham, who worshipped the true God alone, setting up altars to him wherever he came. In Chron.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 41 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Be of good courage.—Literally, Be strong: i.e., work vigorously.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 41 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. they helped] i.e. the nations. But if the verse stood originally after Isaiah 40:19, “they” refers to the two classes of workmen there mentioned. Each helps the other, and says to his fellow, Cheer up!
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 41 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey helped every one his neighbor - The idolatrous nations. The idea is, that they formed confederations to strengthen each other, and to oppose him whom God had raised up to subdue them.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 41 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5-7. Some suppose the idolatrous party of the heathen world respond at this point. But it seems more suitable to consider Jehovah’s argument not yet ended.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 41 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!”
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
They help one another; one says to the other, ‘Be strong!’
Tyndale line
They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage.
They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
Euery man helped his neighbour, and saide to his brother, Be strong.
Strictly literal
They helped every one his neighbour, and [each] said to his brother, Take courage.
Each his neighbour they help, And to his brother he saith, 'Be strong.'
They each help his neighbor, || And to his brother he says, “Be strong.”
They help one another; and each one saith to his brother, Be strong!
Everyone helps his neighbor, and every one says to one another, 'Be encouraged.'
From the Latin
Every one shall help his neighbour, and shall say to his brother: Be of good courage.
Simplified
They all help each other, encouraging one another to “Be strong!”
They gave help everyone to his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Take heart!
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in conveying the essence of mutual support, though the Septuagint's wording differs. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial matches, indicating some restoration and editorial input, but they affirm the core message of encouragement found in the Hebrew text.
אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֖הוּ יַעְזֹ֑רוּ וּלְאָחִ֖יו יֹאמַ֥ר חֲזָֽק׃
2 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
איש את רע׳הו יעזרו [ולאחי׳ו] יאמר [חזק]
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
איש את רעי׳הו יעזורו לאחי׳הו יואמר חזק
7 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 41:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
base
H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow
7453 rea` ray'-ah
or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less
close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,
neighbour, X (an-)other.
see HEBREW for 0reya2
see HEBREW for 07462
רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.
1) friend, companion, fellow, another person
1a) friend, intimate
1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)
1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
עָזַר (azar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to help or succour. It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of surrounding or protecting. The entries indicate its use in various forms: Qal (to help), Niphal (to be helped), and Hiphil (to help). The word captures the essence of providing support or aid.
[עָזַר] 82 vb. help, succour
Qal help
Niph. I am helped
Hiph. v. Qal.
base
H5826 [עָזַר] help, succour
5826 `azar aw-zar'
a primitive root; to surround, i.e. protect or aid:--help,
succour.
עָזַר (a.zar) — to help.
1) to help, succour, support
1a) (Qal) to help
1b) (Niphal) to be helped
1c) (Hiphil) to help
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
With the sense of that which brings aid, support, or deliverance, "help" (noun and vb.) represents a large variety of words in Hebrew and Greek (noun 7, verb 16). A principal Hebrew word is `azar, "to help," with the corresponding nouns `ezer, `ezrah; a chief Greek word is boetheo (Mt 15:25; Mr 9:22,24, etc.). True help is to be sought for in Yahweh, in whom, in the Old Testament, the believer is constantly exhorted to trust, with the renouncing of all other confidences (Ps 20:2; 33:20; 42:5; 46:1; 115:9,10,11; 121:2; Isa 41:10,13,14, etc.). In Ro 8:26 it is said, "the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity," the verb here…
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
Qal
intrans. be or grow strong
transit. only strengthened him not
Pi.
make strong (physically)
strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
make strong = bold, encourage
make firm
make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
Hiph.
make strong, strengthen
make firm, the kingdom
display strength
make severe, of battle
support
= repair
prevail
esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
Hithp.
strengthen oneself
put forth strength, use one's strength
withstand
hold strongly with
base
H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong
. transit. only strengthened him not
. . make strong (physically)
. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
. make strong = bold, encourage
. make firm
. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
. . . make strong, strengthen
. make firm, the kingdom
. display strength
. make severe, of battle
. support
. = repair
. prevail
. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
. . strengthen oneself
. put forth strength, use one's strength
. withstand
. hold strongly with
2388 chazaq khaw-zak'
a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong
(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,
repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,
amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,
constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),
encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make
hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play
the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,
repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be
stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),
be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.
: strengthen/support/encourage
1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be strong, grow strong
1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon
1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
1a1c) to press, be urgent
1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
1a1e) to be severe, be grievous
1a2) to strengthen
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make strong
1b2) to restore to strength, give strength
1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
1b5) to make firm
1b6) to make rigid, make hard
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make strong, strengthen
1c2) to make firm
1c3) to display strength
1c4) to make severe
1c5) to support
1c6) to repair
1c7) to prevail, prevail upon
1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
1c9) to hold, contain
1d) (Hithpael)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms