Isaiah 32:17

Authorized King James Version

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And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֛ה H1961
וְהָיָ֛ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 10
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה And the work H4639
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה And the work
Strong's: H4639
Word #: 2 of 10
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
הַצְּדָקָ֔ה of righteousness H6666
הַצְּדָקָ֔ה of righteousness
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 3 of 10
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
שָׁל֑וֹם shall be peace H7965
שָׁל֑וֹם shall be peace
Strong's: H7965
Word #: 4 of 10
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
וַֽעֲבֹדַת֙ and the effect H5656
וַֽעֲבֹדַת֙ and the effect
Strong's: H5656
Word #: 5 of 10
work of any kind
הַצְּדָקָ֔ה of righteousness H6666
הַצְּדָקָ֔ה of righteousness
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 6 of 10
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
הַשְׁקֵ֥ט quietness H8252
הַשְׁקֵ֥ט quietness
Strong's: H8252
Word #: 7 of 10
to repose (usually figurative)
וָבֶ֖טַח and assurance H983
וָבֶ֖טַח and assurance
Strong's: H983
Word #: 8 of 10
properly, a place of refuge; abstract, safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb with or without preposition) safely
עַד for H5704
עַד for
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 9 of 10
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
עוֹלָֽם׃ ever H5769
עוֹלָֽם׃ ever
Strong's: H5769
Word #: 10 of 10
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

Analysis & Commentary

And the work of righteousness shall be peace (וְהָיָה מַעֲשֵׂה הַצְּדָקָה שָׁלוֹם, vehayah ma'aseh hatsedaqah shalom)—the מַעֲשֶׂה (ma'aseh, work, product, result) of צְדָקָה (tsedaqah, righteousness) is שָׁלוֹם (shalom, peace). And the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever (וַעֲבֹדַת הַצְּדָקָה הַשְׁקֵט וָבֶטַח עַד־עוֹלָם, va'avodat hatsedaqah hashqet vabetach ad-olam)—the עֲבֹדָה (avodah, service, effect) of righteousness produces הַשְׁקֵט (hashqet, quietness, tranquility) and בֶּטַח (betach, security, confidence) עַד־עוֹלָם (ad-olam, forever).

Righteousness produces peace—not as separate realities but as cause-effect. True שָׁלוֹם (shalom)—wholeness, completeness, welfare—flows from צְדָקָה (tsedaqah, righteousness). Wickedness breeds anxiety (Isaiah 57:20-21, 'the wicked are like the troubled sea... There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked'). Righteousness yields quietness (הַשְׁקֵט, hashqet)—settled tranquility—and assurance (בֶּטַח, betach)—confident security. James 3:18: 'And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.' Romans 5:1: 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God.'

Historical Context

Israel sought peace (שָׁלוֹם, shalom) through political alliances, military strength, compromises with paganism. All failed. True peace comes only through righteousness—covenant faithfulness. The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) brings righteousness that produces eternal peace. Ephesians 2:14 says Christ 'is our peace'—He reconciles Jew and Gentile, God and humanity. The new Jerusalem has no temple because God Himself dwells there (Revelation 21:22), producing perfect shalom.

Questions for Reflection

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