Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֥ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֥ה
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)
טֶֽרֶם
H2962
טֶֽרֶם
Strong's:
H2962
Word #:
2 of 10
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
יִקְרָ֖אוּ
And it shall come to pass that before they call
H7121
יִקְרָ֖אוּ
And it shall come to pass that before they call
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
3 of 10
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
אֶעֱנֶ֑ה
I will answer
H6030
אֶעֱנֶ֑ה
I will answer
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
ע֛וֹד
H5750
ע֛וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
Cross References
Daniel 10:12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.Isaiah 58:9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;Mark 11:24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.Psalms 91:15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.Psalms 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Isaiah 55:6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:Acts 4:31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.Psalms 32:5I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Historical Context
This new covenant reality reverses old covenant patterns where unanswered prayer signaled divine displeasure. Through Christ, believers have immediate access to Father who anticipates needs (Matthew 6:8). The 'before they call' promise appears in new creation context, showing prayer's ultimate fulfillment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing God answers 'before you call' change your approach to prayer?
- What does God's eagerness to respond 'while you are yet speaking' reveal about His disposition toward His children?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The stunning promise 'before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear' depicts God's anticipatory grace - answering before asking. This demonstrates omniscience (knowing needs before verbalized) and eagerness (ready to respond). The temporal language ('before...while yet') emphasizes that God doesn't wait for complete, perfect prayers but responds to incipient faith movements toward Him.