Isaiah 41:5
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
American King James Version (AKJV)
The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
American Standard Version (ASV)
The isles have seen, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble; they draw near, and come.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The sea-lands saw it, and were in fear; the ends of the earth were shaking: they came near.
Webster's Revision
The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
World English Bible
The islands have seen, and fear. The ends of the earth tremble. They approach, and come.
English Revised Version (ERV)
The isles saw, and feared; the ends of the earth trembled: they drew near, and came.
Clarke's Isaiah 41:5 Bible Commentary
Were afraid "And they were terrified" - Three MSS. have ויחרדו vaiyecheridu, adding the conjunction ו vau, which restores the second member of the sentence to its true poetical form.
Barnes's Isaiah 41:5 Bible Commentary
The isles saw it - The distant nations (see the note at Isaiah 41:1). They saw what was done in the conquests of the man whom God in this remarkable manner had raised up; and they had had demonstration, therefore, of the mighty power of Yahweh above the power of idols.
And feared - Were alarmed, and trembled. All were apprehensive that they would be subdued, and driven away as with the tempest.
The ends of the earth - Distant nations occupying the extremities of the globe (see the note at Isaiah 40:28).
Drew near, and came - Came together for the purpose of mutual alliance, and self-defense. The prophet evidently refers to what he says in the following verses, that they formed treaties; endeavored to prepare for self-defense; looked to their idol-gods, and encouraged each other in their attempts to offer a successful resistance to the victorious arms of Cyrus.
Wesley's Isaiah 41:5 Bible Commentary
41:5 The isles - Even remote countries. Saw - Discerned the mighty work of God in delivering his people, and overthrowing their enemies.Feared - Lest they should be involved in the same calamity.Came - They gathered themselves together.