Isaiah 41:10 Meaning of Do Not Fear

Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Explanation and Commentary of Isaiah 41:10

Other nations fear disaster and their response is to band together to produce idols to worship with their own hands (Is 41:5-7). But God has personally called the Israelites out of the world to himself, to be his very own possession and to bless them over all the earth. They are chosen, called, and not rejected (v.8-9). So they do not need to fear the same things as the other nations. They do not need to fashion other gods to bow down and give bribes to.

God is the one who called them, and God is the one who will take care of them. If that was true for his people in the Old Testament, how much more true is it for those of us to live under a greater revelation, and a better covenant? Our hope in Christ means that we can be assured of the promises of God. Because we too are chosen, called, and will not be rejected, we have nothing to fear, we have no reason to be dismayed for we have a God in heaven who is with us. He strengthens us by his Holy Spirit and his Word. He helps us by setting his love and favor on us, and by answering when we call to him. He upholds us with his righteous right hand, Jesus Christ, who is all righteousness, who sits at the right hand of the Father (Eph 1:20) and intercedes on our behalf.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Isaiah 41:10

#1 “So…”
This verse is a response to the preceding verses. Other nations live in a fear that drives them to the deception of thinking that idols which they build with their own hands will save them. But God’s people have God’s help and his favor.

#2 “…do not fear, for I am with you;”
There are a number of things that people of the world must fear: sickness, disaster, evil, betrayal, “chance” happenings. God’s people who truly live by faith need fear nothing. Those things can still happen to you, but nothing can happen that a good, loving, and sovereign God, who created and sustains the universe, does not have control over. His plan is to use all of it for your good and your blessing.

#3 “do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
Dismay is slightly different than fear. It is to be distressed and worried. Dismay goes hand-in-hand with unbelief. When a Christian becomes dismayed, the remedy is to remember that God in heaven is our Father, his Son is our Savior, his Spirit is our Comforter. When a lapse in belief causes fear and dismay, we go to God for help.

#4 “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The result of going to the God who invites us is that he will strengthen and help us. We will literally feel stronger as he helps. As he upholds us with his righteous right hand, Jesus Christ. The truth is that he does this for us every minute of every day. It is only when we forget that we fear or become dismayed. Rehearsal of the truth will cause our feelings to line back up with reality.

Expert Overview of Isaiah 40-66

Biblical Translations of Isaiah 41:10

NIV
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

NLT
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

ESV
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

KJV
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”