What does this mean, God's righteousness sustained Him?

What does this mean, God's righteousness sustained Him?

I'm trying to figure out this passage in Isaiah. Because it talks about God seeing no justice anywhere, so what does "His own rightenousness sustained Him" mean? I'm only confused by this sentence.


Isaiah 59:15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The LORD looked and was displeased
that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm worked salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.
 
I'm trying to figure out this passage in Isaiah. Because it talks about God seeing no justice anywhere, so what does "His own rightenousness sustained Him" mean? I'm only confused by this sentence.


Isaiah 59:15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The LORD looked and was displeased
that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm worked salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.


What a cool scripture!!

It says that God laid hold of His own righteousness and braced himself on it. Leaned on it if you will...


Sustained Hebrew 'camak' meaning

1) to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon
a) (Qal)
1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against
2) to support, uphold, sustain
b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself
c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive
 
Sometimes looking at multiple translations can bring out the "flavor" of a verse:

Isa 59:16
(ASV) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.
(BBE) And he saw that there was no man, and was surprised that there was no one to take up their cause: so his arm gave salvation, and he made righteousness his support.
(Bishops) He sawe also that there was no man righteous, and he wondred that there was no man to helpe hym: wherefore he helde hym by his owne power, and he sustayned hym by his owne righteousnesse.
(CEV) It disgusted him even more to learn that no one would do a thing about it. So with his own powerful arm, he won victories for truth.
(Darby) And he saw that there was no man, and he wondered that there was no intercessor; and his arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(DRB) And he saw that there is not a man: and he stood astonished, because there is none to oppose himself: and his own arm brought salvation to him, and his own justice supported him.
(ESV) He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
(Geneva) And when he sawe that there was no man, hee wondered that none woulde offer him selfe. Therefore his arme did saue it, and his righteousnes it selfe did sustaine it.
(GNB) He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed. So he will use his own power to rescue them and to win the victory.
((GW) He sees that there's no one to help. He's astounded that there's no one to intercede. So with his own power he wins a victory. His righteousness supports him.
(HNT)​
(JPS) And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him;

(KJV) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(KJV-1611) And hee saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessour. Therefore his arme brought saluation vnto him, and his righteousnesse, it sustained him.
(KJVA) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(KJVR) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(LITV) And He saw that there was no man, and He was astonished that there was no intercessor. And His own arm saved for Him; and His righteousness sustained Him.
(MKJV) And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness sustained Him.
(RV) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.
(Vulgate) et vidit quia non est vir et aporiatus est quia non est qui occurrat et salvavit sibi brachium suum et iustitia eius ipsa confirmavit eum
(Webster) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(YLT) And He seeth that there is no man, And is astonished that there is no intercessor, And His own arm giveth salvation to Him, And His righteousness--it sustained Him.

 
What a cool scripture!!

It says that God laid hold of His own righteousness and braced himself on it. Leaned on it if you will...


Sustained Hebrew 'camak' meaning

1) to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon
a) (Qal)
1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against
2) to support, uphold, sustain
b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself
c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive


He leaned on his righteousness? What do you mean? It's a bit confusing. What good does it do to think about your own righteousness? What is the purpose of contemplating on your own righteousness and how good you are. How does it help you? How would it sustain you when you see no justice?
 
"This passage is connected with the following chapters. It is generally thought to describe the coming of the Messiah, as the Avenger and Deliverer of his church. There was none to intercede with God to turn away his wrath; none to interpose for the support of justice and truth. Yet He engaged his own strength and righteousness for his people. God will make his justice upon the enemies of his church and people plainly appear. When the enemy threatens to bear down all without control, then the Spirit of the Lord shall stop him, put him to flight. He that has delivered, will still deliver. A far more glorious salvation is promised to be wrought out by the Messiah in the fulness of time, which all the prophets had in view. The Son of God shall come to us to be our Redeemer; the Spirit of God shall come to be our Sanctifier: thus the Comforter shall abide with the church for ever, Joh 14:16. The word of Christ will always continue in the mouths of the faithful; and whatever is pretended to be the mind of the Spirit, must be tried by the Scriptures. We must lament the progress of infidelity and impiety. But the cause of the Redeemer shall gain a complete victory even on earth, and the believer will be more than conqueror when the Lord receives him to his glory in heaven." Matthew Henry

Isaiah 59:16 Bible Commentary
 
From Albert Barnes notes on the Bible:
And his righteousness, it sustained him - Sustained by the consciousness that he was doing right, he went forward against all opposition, and executed his plan. This is language derived from the mode of speaking among people, and it means that as a man who is engaged in a righteous cause is sustained amidst much opposition by the consciousness of integrity, so it is with God. The cause of redemption is the great cause of righteousness on earth. In this cause the Redeemer was sustained by the consciousness that he was engaged in that which was designed to vindicate the interests of truth and justice, and to promote righteousness throughout the universe.
 
In this cause the Redeemer was sustained by the consciousness that he was engaged in that which was designed to vindicate the interests of truth and justice, and to promote righteousness throughout the universe.

This makes sense. Thanks.

Least in the Kingdom, this is a good passage. Another interesting thing about God.
 
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