For I will not accuse you foreverThis phrase reflects God's merciful nature and His willingness to forgive. In the context of Isaiah, God is addressing the Israelites, who have repeatedly turned away from Him. Despite their rebellion, God promises not to hold His accusations against them indefinitely. This aligns with His character as described in
Exodus 34:6-7, where He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." The temporary nature of God's accusation is a reminder of His covenantal faithfulness and His desire for restoration rather than perpetual judgment.
nor will I always be angry
God's anger is a response to sin and rebellion, yet it is not His permanent disposition. This phrase reassures the faithful that His wrath is not eternal. In the broader biblical narrative, God's anger is often depicted as a tool for correction rather than destruction, as seen in the story of Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). The temporary nature of His anger underscores His ultimate goal of reconciliation and peace, as seen in the New Testament through the work of Jesus Christ, who embodies God's love and forgiveness.
for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me
Here, the "spirit of man" refers to human frailty and the inability to withstand prolonged divine displeasure. This phrase acknowledges human limitations and the need for divine compassion. It echoesPsalm 103:14, which states that God knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. The recognition of human weakness is a call to humility and dependence on God's grace, emphasizing that without His mercy, humanity would falter under the weight of divine judgment.
the breath of life I have made
This phrase highlights God's role as the Creator, who has given life to humanity. The "breath of life" is reminiscent ofGenesis 2:7, where God breathes life into Adam, signifying the intimate and sustaining relationship between God and His creation. It underscores the value and sanctity of human life, as well as God's ongoing involvement in sustaining it. This creative act is a type of Christ, who is described inJohn 1:3-4 as the source of life, further illustrating the continuity of God's life-giving power from creation to redemption.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
GodThe speaker in this verse, expressing His nature of mercy and compassion.
2.
ManRefers to humanity, the creation of God, who is subject to His judgment and mercy.
3.
IsaiahThe prophet who conveyed God's message to the people of Israel.
4.
IsraelThe primary audience of Isaiah's prophecy, representing God's chosen people.
5.
Judgment and MercyThe overarching themes of this passage, highlighting God's balance between justice and compassion.
Teaching Points
God's Mercy and PatienceGod’s anger is not eternal; His mercy prevails, offering hope and restoration.
Human Frailty and Divine CompassionRecognize our weakness and dependence on God’s sustaining grace and mercy.
The Balance of Justice and MercyUnderstand that God’s justice is tempered by His compassion, providing a model for our interactions with others.
Repentance and RestorationEmbrace the opportunity for repentance, knowing that God’s anger is temporary and His desire is for our restoration.
The Breath of LifeAcknowledge the life-giving breath of God, which sustains us and calls us to live in accordance with His will.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 57:16?
2.How does Isaiah 57:16 reveal God's patience and mercy towards humanity?
3.What does "I will not accuse you forever" teach about God's forgiveness?
4.How can we apply God's patience in Isaiah 57:16 to our daily lives?
5.Connect Isaiah 57:16 with Psalm 103:9 on God's enduring mercy and compassion.
6.How does understanding God's restraint in Isaiah 57:16 affect our relationship with Him?
7.How does Isaiah 57:16 reflect God's patience and mercy towards humanity?
8.What does Isaiah 57:16 reveal about God's nature in relation to human sin?
9.How does Isaiah 57:16 align with the overall message of the Book of Isaiah?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 57?
11.What does 'God will not strive with man forever' mean?
12.What are the symbols of the Holy Spirit?
13.What does 'ruach' mean?
14.What does "God will not strive with man forever" mean?What Does Isaiah 57:16 Mean
For I will not accuse you foreverGod’s justice is real, yet His heart is not to keep an eternal ledger of charges against His people.
•Psalm 103:9 echoes the same assurance: “He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.”
•Micah 7:18 celebrates that He “does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion.”
•Romans 8:1 affirms that in Christ “there is now no condemnation,” showing the ultimate fulfillment of this promise.
The verse reminds us that while God confronts sin, His purpose is restoration, not endless prosecution.
nor will I always be angry;Divine anger is righteous but measured.
•Psalm 30:5 reassures, “His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.”
•Lamentations 3:31–33 highlights that “the Lord will not reject forever,” revealing His compassion even amid discipline.
•2 Peter 3:9 shows that His patience flows from a desire that none perish but all come to repentance.
The text assures weary hearts that God’s wrath is not His final word—His mercy is.
for then the spirit of man would grow weak before MeUnending judgment would crush the very ones God formed.
•Psalm 39:11 admits, “You discipline a man with punishment for iniquity; You consume like a moth what is precious to him.” Without limits, that discipline would break the human spirit.
•Psalm 90:3–10 reflects on human frailty under God’s anger, underscoring the need for measured correction.
•1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God “will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear,” revealing His constant concern for our endurance.
Here, God discloses His motive: He tempers judgment so that we are not overwhelmed but drawn back to Him.
—the breath of life I have made.Because He is Creator, He values the life He has given.
•Genesis 2:7 records that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
•Job 33:4 testifies, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
•Acts 17:25 notes that He “Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.”
God’s ownership of every life means He disciplines to preserve, not destroy, the very breath He put within us.
summaryIsaiah 57:16 paints a portrait of a holy God who confronts sin yet refuses to prosecute endlessly. His anger is real but brief, calibrated to our frailty so that our spirits do not collapse. He acts this way because He is the Creator who treasures the breath He placed in us. His ultimate intention is restoration, leading us from accusation to forgiveness, from wrath to mercy, and from weakness to renewed life in Him.
(16)
I will not contend for ever . . .--The words come as a message of comfort to the penitent who is still bearing the chastisement of his sins. The time during which God "contends" with him as an accuser and a judge has its limits. Were it not so. the souls which he had made would be utterly consumed, and His purpose in creation would be frustrated. The words seem like an echo of
Genesis 6:3;
Genesis 8:21. (Comp.
Psalm 103:9-10).
Verse 16. -
I willnot contend for ever. God "will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever" (
Psalm 103:9). If he were "extreme to mark what is done amiss," none could abide it (
Psalm 130:3). He remits somewhat, therefore, from the claims of strict justice, and is content to take lower ground. Were it otherwise, man's spirit should fail before him. Man,
i.e., would be utterly unable to justify himself, and would faint and fade away before the Divine fury. The souls which God has made would, one and all, perish. He, however, has not made them for this purpose, but that they should live (
Deuteronomy 30:19;
Ezekiel 18:31); and has therefore devised for them a way of salvation (see
Isaiah 53:5-10).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Forכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionI will notלֹ֤א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noaccuse you forever,אָרִ֔יב(’ā·rîḇ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7378:To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defendnor will Iוְלֹ֥א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noalwaysלָנֶ֖צַח(lā·ne·ṣaḥ)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5331:Eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuitybe angry;אֶקְּצ֑וֹף(’eq·qə·ṣō·wp̄)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7107:To crack off, burst out in rageforכִּי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthen the spirit [of man]ר֙וּחַ֙(rū·aḥ)Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307:Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritwould grow weakיַֽעֲט֔וֹף(ya·‘ă·ṭō·wp̄)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5848:To shroud, clothe, to languishbefore Me,מִלְּפָנַ֣י(mil·lə·p̄ā·nay)Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440:The facewith the breathוּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת(ū·nə·šā·mō·wṯ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5397:A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animalof thoseאֲנִ֥י(’ă·nî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589:II have made.עָשִֽׂיתִי׃(‘ā·śî·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213:To do, make
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 57:16 For I will not contend forever neither (Isa Isi Is) 
