Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of good courage. He will not fail you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 41:10 is the verse many people hold onto when they are afraid. It packs five promises from God into one sentence.
Isaiah 41:10
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.
God promises His presence, His strength and His help when fear is loud.
KJVIsaiah 41:10 in context
7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10Fear 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. 11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
A prophet speaking to Israel in crisis, full of promises of comfort and of a coming Savior.
What Isaiah 41:10 means
Count the promises: I am with thee. I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. I will help thee. I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
God spoke these words through Isaiah to Israel at a frightening time, when empires were rising and the future looked uncertain. He calls Israel “my servant” and “Jacob whom I have chosen,” and the command not to fear rests entirely on who He is.
That is the pattern whenever Scripture says “fear not”: it is never “try harder to be brave,” but “look who is with you.”
Related verses
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
An honest prayer for frightening moments: when I am afraid, I will trust in You.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Fear is not from God. He gives power, love and a sound mind.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Courage is commanded because God goes with you wherever you go.
Questions people ask
What does Isaiah 41:10 mean?
That God is present with His people, and He promises to strengthen, help and hold them up, so they do not need to be ruled by fear.
Who was Isaiah 41:10 written to?
To Israel, called God’s servant, through the prophet Isaiah.
What other verses say “fear not”?
Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 56:3 and 2 Timothy 1:7 are a few of many.