God’s righteousness and salvation are near to those who eagerly await His deliverance.
“My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.” (v.5) In this verse, the LORD announces that He is about to intervene on behalf of His people with a saving power that is unwavering and close at hand. His righteousness refers to His perfect standard and moral purity, while His salvation indicates deliverance from bondage and fear. The imagery of His arms conveys the strength by which He acts—an unassailable might that reassures those who trust Him, but also warns of His authority to judge. In the ancient Near East, “coastlands” or “isles” often symbolized far-off regions, implying that God’s salvation would reach peoples beyond the immediate borders of Israel, as also suggested in Isaiah 49 where the Messiah’s redemptive role would extend to Gentile nations.
When the verse says, My arms will judge the peoples, it highlights that the LORD maintains sovereign rule over all nations and has both the power and the right to execute justice. Throughout the Old Testament, the idea that God’s justice is closely tied to His salvific purpose underscores His desire to restore righteousness in all the earth. Moreover, The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly depicts an eager anticipation among distant lands for the LORD’s deliverance. This waiting suggests faith in the coming Messiah, who would one day fulfill this promise by providing spiritual rescue to every tribe and tongue, an idea echoed in Isaiah’s broader prophecies.
Taken together, Isaiah 51:5 reveals not only a promise of imminent rescue for God’s covenant people, but also intimates a universal invitation. His righteousness and salvation are not mere abstract principles; they are made manifest in real-world events that display God’s power and mercy. From the vantage point of the New Testament, believers affirm that Jesus is the ultimate expression of this prophecy, extending divine righteousness to all who trust in Him (Romans 10:9-13).
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Isaiah 51:5 meaning
“My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.” (v.5) In this verse, the LORD announces that He is about to intervene on behalf of His people with a saving power that is unwavering and close at hand. His righteousness refers to His perfect standard and moral purity, while His salvation indicates deliverance from bondage and fear. The imagery of His arms conveys the strength by which He acts—an unassailable might that reassures those who trust Him, but also warns of His authority to judge. In the ancient Near East, “coastlands” or “isles” often symbolized far-off regions, implying that God’s salvation would reach peoples beyond the immediate borders of Israel, as also suggested in Isaiah 49 where the Messiah’s redemptive role would extend to Gentile nations.
When the verse says, My arms will judge the peoples, it highlights that the LORD maintains sovereign rule over all nations and has both the power and the right to execute justice. Throughout the Old Testament, the idea that God’s justice is closely tied to His salvific purpose underscores His desire to restore righteousness in all the earth. Moreover, The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly depicts an eager anticipation among distant lands for the LORD’s deliverance. This waiting suggests faith in the coming Messiah, who would one day fulfill this promise by providing spiritual rescue to every tribe and tongue, an idea echoed in Isaiah’s broader prophecies.
Taken together, Isaiah 51:5 reveals not only a promise of imminent rescue for God’s covenant people, but also intimates a universal invitation. His righteousness and salvation are not mere abstract principles; they are made manifest in real-world events that display God’s power and mercy. From the vantage point of the New Testament, believers affirm that Jesus is the ultimate expression of this prophecy, extending divine righteousness to all who trust in Him (Romans 10:9-13).