Isaiah 57:12 — Word Study
WLCאֲנִ֥י אַגִּ֖יד צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ וְאֶֽת־ מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ וְלֹ֥א יוֹעִילֽוּךְ׃
BSA◂Iʼănîy [the Lord] will exposenâgad▸ [declare, make known] your righteousnesstsᵉdâqâh [virtue, justice] and your worksmaʻăseh [deeds, actions] and they will notlôʼ profit youyaʻal▸ [benefit, be valuable]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִ֥י | I | Pronoun |
| אַגִּ֖יד | I will declare | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect first person common singular |
| צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ | righteousness your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאֶֽת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ | deeds your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְלֹ֥א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| יוֹעִילֽוּךְ׃ | they will benefit you | Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. |
| KJV | I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. |
| ASV | I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee. |
| YLT | I declare thy righteousness, and thy works, And they do not profit thee. |
| WEB | I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not benefit you. |
| BBE | I will make clear what your righteousness is like and your works; you will have no profit in them. |
The translations agree on the main ideas, particularly regarding the futility of self-reliance in righteousness.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by two phrases that elaborate on the objects of the main verb.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲנִי
verbנָגַד
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 57:12
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 — The Futility of Reliance on Righteousnessgenerated
Isaiah 57:12 is part of a larger discourse where the Lord confronts the people about their misplaced trust in their own righteousness and works. This chapter emphasizes that mere actions, devoid of true faith and reliance on God, will not yield any profit or benefit. The surrounding verses highlight the consequences of forgetting the Lord and relying on idols instead.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 1:11–15 | “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. |
| 2 | Isaiah 58:2–6 | For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” |
| 3 | Isaiah 59:6–8 | Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. |
| 4 | Isaiah 64:5 | You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? |
| 5 | Isaiah 66:3–4 | Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יֹועִילֽוּךְ, yo.'i.Lukhgenerated
The verb יָעַל (ya'al) means to gain or profit. It is used here in the Hiphil form, indicating that something is made beneficial or valuable. The parsing as a third-person masculine plural verb suggests that it refers to the collective actions of the people.
In this context, the emphasis is on the futility of their actions; despite their efforts, they will not yield any real benefit when separated from a genuine relationship with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אַגִּ֖יד, I will declare, governs the entire verse, with two noun phrases as objects: צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ and מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ. The structure emphasizes the Lord's declaration about the people's righteousness and deeds.
The Hebrew word order places the subject אֲנִ֥י first for emphasis, indicating the authority of the speaker, followed by the action of declaring.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אַגִּ֖יד as ἀπαγγελῶ (apangelō), meaning 'to announce' or 'to proclaim.' This choice emphasizes the public nature of the declaration, suggesting that it is not only a private revelation but one meant for all to hear.
The translation of יֹועִילֽוּךְ as σε (se) indicates a direct address to the people, reinforcing the personal nature of the Lord's judgment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 57:12 shows that the Lord will reveal the people's righteousness and deeds, but these will not be of any benefit to them. This verse reminds us that relying on our own actions, without true faith in God, is ultimately futile.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that no matter how righteous or good their actions may seem, without a relationship with God, those actions will not bring them any real advantage or salvation.
God exposes their righteousness to show that it is insufficient for true redemption and to call them back to a genuine reliance on Him.
Our actions must be rooted in faith and obedience to God, rather than merely relying on our own understanding of righteousness.
The Lord's declaration serves as a warning and an invitation to turn back to Him, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from Him alone.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life am I relying on my own righteousness rather than on God's grace?
- How can I better align my actions with my faith to ensure they are truly beneficial?
- What does it mean for me to have my deeds exposed by the Lord?
- How can I encourage others to seek true righteousness through faith in God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, highlighting the futility of relying on one's own righteousness and the importance of true faith.
I will proclaim your righteousness, and your deeds will not benefit you. When you cry out, let your congregations deliver you. LXX: I will proclaim your righteousness and your evils, which will not benefit you.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 57 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 57:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI will declare thy righteousness, and thy works,.... For, notwithstanding all the idolatry, superstition, irreligion, and cruelty of the church of Rome, she makes large pretences to righteousness, by
Read John Gill on Isaiah 57 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. Declare thy righteousness - I will expose publicly thy (hypocritical) righteousness.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 57 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI will declare; I will no longer be silent and patient towards thee. Thy righteousness and thy works; which may be put for the righteousness of thy works, by that known figure, of which See Poole "", whereby he means their wickedness, which he calleth their righteousness, either ironically, or because it was covered with a pretence of righteousness, and they alleged that this was a just and lawful thing, when they were distressed to seek for help from their neighbours or allies. The sense is, I will discover whether thy works be righteous, as thou pretendest they are; my punishments shall manifest the wickedness of thy actions. They shall not profit thee; these actions shall do thee no…
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 57 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 57:12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.Ver. 12. I will declare thy righteousness,] i.e., Thine unrighteousness, by an irony; or, Thy righteousness secundum dici, non secundum esse, thine hypocrisy. For they shall not profit thee.] Nay, they shall undo thee. Antiphrasis ironica.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 57 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) I will declare thy righteousness . . .—Accepting the Hebrew text, we must look on the word as used ironically, the righteousness which is no righteousness. Comp. Isaiah 64:6. A slight alteration, adopted by many critics, gives “my righteousness.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 57 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. Thy righteousness - "My righteousness"] For צדקתך tsidkathech, THY righteousness, the Syriac, Septuagint, MSS. Alex. and Pachom., and I. D. II., and Marchal. and οἱΓ, and the Arabic, read צדקי tsidki, MY righteousness.
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 57 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3–13. Invective against an idolatrous party.—With regard to the reference of this obscure and difficult passage the following points have to be noticed: (1) The scenery of Isa 57:5-6 is unmistakeably Palestinian (wadis, clefts of the rock, terebinths). (2) Several of the rites specified bear the complexion of Canaanitish heathenism, and could not have been performed in Babylonia. (3) The opening words (“But ye”) seem to imply that the people addressed are distinct from those whose leaders are denounced in Isaiah 56:10-12. (4) Those spoken of are animated by contempt and hatred of the cause and people of Jehovah (Isaiah 57:4), while at the same time they advance pretensions to…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 57 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI will declare thy righteousness - This is evidently spoken ironically. The sense is, ‘you have devoted yourselves to idols, and you have sought the aid of foreigners.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 57 →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
I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.
I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not benefit you.
I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.
I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.
Tyndale line
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.
I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
I will declare thy righteousnes and thy workes, and they shall not profite thee.
Strictly literal
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; and they shall not profit thee.
I declare thy righteousness, and thy works, And they do not profit thee.
I declare your righteousness, and your works, || And they do not profit you.
I, I ever tell thee [what deeds would be] thy righteousness; but thy works—these indeed will not profit thee.
I will proclaim all your righteous acts and tell all that you have done, but they will not help you.
From the Latin
I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee.
Simplified
I'm going to let everyone know about how you're “so good” and the things you do—but they won't help you!
I will make clear what your righteousness is like and your works; you will have no profit in them.
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 and the Septuagint align closely in their wording, with the Septuagint providing a faithful rendering of the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the Masoretic Text, with minor variations in spelling and additional words supplied by editors.
אֲנִ֥י אַגִּ֖יד צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ וְאֶֽת־ מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ וְלֹ֥א יוֹעִילֽוּךְ׃
7 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.
אני אגיד צדקת׳ך ואת מעשי׳ך ולוא יועילו׳ך קובצי׳ך
8 words on the leather.
אני אגיד צדק׳ך ואת [מעשי׳ך] ולא יועלו׳ך
6 words on the leather — 1 supplied entire by an editor.
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 57:12
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.
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Pron — PronounHPp1bs
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singularHVhi1cs
צְדָקָה (tsdaqah) means 'righteousness' and encompasses various aspects such as justice, truthfulness, and ethical rightness. It can refer to God's attribute of sovereignty, righteousness in governance, and even justification or salvation. The term also implies righteous acts and has an Aramaic equivalent, צִדְקָה (tsid.qah).
צְדָקָה 157 n.f. righteousness
righteousness, in government
God's attribute as sovereign
righteousness, in a case or cause
righteousness = truthfulness
righteousness, as ethically right
righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
pl. righteous acts
base
H6666 צְדָקָה righteousness . righteousness, in government
. God's attribute as sovereign
. righteousness, in a case or cause
. righteousness = truthfulness
. righteousness, as ethically right
. righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
. pl. righteous acts
6666 tsdaqah tsed-aw-kaw'
from 6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude),
objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively
(prosperity):--justice, moderately, right(-eous)
(act, -ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 06663
צְדָקָה (tse.da.qah) — righteousness.
1) justice, righteousness
1a) righteousness (in government)
1a1) of judge, ruler, king
1a2) of law
1a3) of Davidic king Messiah
1b) righteousness (of God's attribute)
1c) righteousness (in a case or cause)
1d) righteousness, truthfulness
1e) righteousness (as ethically right)
1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation
1f1) of God
1f2) prosperity (of people)
1g) righteous acts
Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2fs
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)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma`aseh) means deed or work, encompassing a range of actions from good to bad, and includes concepts like business, labor, and products made. It can refer to specific achievements, works of God, or even customs. The entries suggest a broad application in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
מַעֲשֶׂה 233 n.m. deed, work
base
H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה deed, work
4639 ma`aseh mah-as-eh'
from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction;
abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically,
a poem) or (generally) property:--act, art, + bakemeat,
business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making,
occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, X well,
((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, - manship), wrought.
see HEBREW for 06213
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: work.
: work/product
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: custom.
: custom/manner
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2fs
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
יָעַל (ya'al) is a Hebrew verb that primarily appears in the Hiphil form, meaning to profit, benefit, or avail. It is built from a root that suggests the idea of ascending or being valuable. The lexicons emphasize its use in contexts related to gaining or being useful.
[יָעַל] vb. only Hiph. profit, avail, benefit
base
H3276 יָעַל only Hiph. profit, avail, benefit
3276 ya`al yaw-al'
a primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be
valuable (objectively: useful, subjectively: benefited):--X at
all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).
יָעַל (ya.al) — to gain.
(Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVhi3mp/Sp2fs