Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon
(BBE) No instrument of war which is formed against you will be of any use; and every tongue which says evil against you will be judged false. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness comes from me, says the Lord.
(ESV) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
(GNB) But no weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have an answer for all who accuse you. I will defend my servants and give them victory.” The LORD has spoken.
(GW) No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the LORD’S servants. Their victory comes from me,” declares the LORD.
(ISV) no weapon that is forged against you will be effective. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness from me,” says the LORD.
(KJV) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Weapon – something prepared, that is, any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon): armour ([-bearer]), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever. No weapon that is formed – No instrument of war, no sword, or spear; no instrument of persecution or torture that is made by the smith, Isa. 54:16.
Formed – (through the squeezing into shape); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution): earthen, fashion, form, frame, make, potter, purpose.
Prosper – to push forward, in various senses (literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively): break out, come (mightily), go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosper (-ity, -ous, -ously). On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Isa. 52:13. The sense here is, that it shall not have final and ultimate prosperity. It might be permitted for a time to appear to prosper – as persecutors and oppressors have done; but there would not be final and complete success.
Tongue – the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water): + babbler, bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. No one shall be able to injure you by words and accusations. If a controversy shall arise; if others reproach you and accuse you of imposture and deceit, you will be able ultimately to convince them of error, and, by manifestation of the truth, to condemn them. The language here is derived probably from courts of justice (see the notes at Isa. 41:1); and the idea is, that truth and victory, in every strife of words, would be on the side of the church.
Jugdement – properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: + adversary, ceremony, charge, crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just (-ice, -ly), (manner of) law (-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, worthy, + wrong.
Condemn – to be (causatively do or declare) wrong; by implication to disturb, violate: – condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked (-ly, -ness). tongue … condemn — image from a court of justice. Those who desire to “condemn” thee thou shalt “condemn” (Exo. 11:7; Jos. 10:21; Psa. 64:8; Rom. 8:1, Rom. 8:33).
Heritage – properly something inherited, that is, (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion: – heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare H5158. The inheritance which awaits those who serve God is truth and victory. It is not the laurel won in fields of blood. But it is, the protection of God in all times of trouble; his friendship in all periods of adversity; complete victory in all contests.
And their righteousness is of me – Or rather, ‘this is the righteousness, or the justification which they obtain of me; this is that which I impart to them as their justification.’ The idea is not that their righteousness is of him, but that this justification or vindication from him is a part of their inheritance and their portion. righteousness … of me — (Isa. 45:24; Isa. 46:13). Rather, “(this is) their justification from Me.” Their enemies would “condemn” them, but I justify and vindicate them, and so they condemn their enemies.
