"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."
— Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Isaiah 41:10 is the verse people reach for when they are afraid. This page gives the verse, where it sits in Isaiah, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about fear, Bible verses about anxiety, and Bible verses about courage. For the prophet, see Bible verses about Isaiah.
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The verse
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) reads: "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."
The King James says, "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." The Hebrew verb behind "be dismayed" is sha'ah (H8159), which carries the sense of looking around anxiously.
Where it sits in Isaiah
The verse is spoken to Israel as God's servant: "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend" (Isaiah 41:8). God reminds them, "I have chosen you and have not rejected you" (Isaiah 41:9). A few lines later the promise repeats: "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13).
What the verse is saying
Each command comes with a reason. Do not fear, because God is with you. Do not be dismayed, because he is your God. Then come three promises: he will strengthen, he will help, and he will uphold. The "right hand" is a picture of God's power and faithfulness holding his people up.
The verse does not say hard things will not come. It says God's presence is the answer to fear. For more on that, see Bible verses about God's presence and Bible verses about comfort.
Questions people ask
What does Isaiah 41:10 say?
In the NIV it says, "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."
What does dismayed mean in Isaiah 41:10?
To be dismayed is to be shaken and anxious. The Hebrew word pictures someone looking around in alarm. God's answer is "for I am your God."
Who is Isaiah 41:10 spoken to?
It is spoken to Israel, called God's servant and the descendants of Abraham (Isaiah 41:8-9). Christians also read it as a promise of God's care for his people.
What does the righteous right hand mean?
The right hand stands for strength and faithful action. God says he will hold his people up. Isaiah 41:13 says he "takes hold of your right hand."
What is a good verse to read with Isaiah 41:10?
Isaiah 40:31 speaks of renewed strength for those who hope in the LORD. For fear and love together, see Perfect love casts out fear.
