Isaiah 41:14
New International Version
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

New Living Translation
Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.’

English Standard Version
Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

King James Bible
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

New King James Version
“Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you people of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

NASB 1995
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

NASB 1977
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares Yahweh, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Amplified Bible
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel. I will help you” — this is the LORD’s declaration. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel: I will help you— this is the LORD’s declaration. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

American Standard Version
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
People of Israel, don't worry, though others may say, "Israel is only a worm!" I am the holy God of Israel, who saves and protects you.

English Revised Version
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't be afraid, Jacob, you worm. You people of Israel, I will help you," declares the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "Small and weak as you are, Israel, don't be afraid; I will help you. I, the holy God of Israel, am the one who saves you.

International Standard Version
Don't be afraid, you little worm Jacob, and you insects of Israel! I myself will help you,' declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

Majority Standard Bible
Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

NET Bible
Don't be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, men of Israel. I am helping you," says the LORD, your protector, the Holy One of Israel.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you," says the LORD, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

World English Bible
Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not fear, O worm Jacob, "" You men of Israel, "" I helped you, a declaration of YHWH, "" Even your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
Fear not, O worm Jacob, ye men of Israel, I helped thee, an affirmation of Jehovah, Even thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not fear, thou worm Jacob, ye men of Israel; I helped thee, says Jehovah, and thy redeemer the Holy One of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Fear not, thou worm of Jacob, you that are dead of Israel: I have helped thee, saith the Lord: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Fear not, O worm of Jacob, you who are dead within Israel. I have helped you, says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

New American Bible
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you maggot Israel; I will help you—oracle of the LORD; the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Fear not, O you helpless men of Jacob, O you remnant of Israel! I am your helper, says the LORD, and your Saviour, the Holy One of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You shall not fear, worm of Yaqob, and weevil of Israel. I AM your helper, says LORD JEHOVAH, and your Savior, The Holy One of Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, And ye men of Israel; I help thee, saith the LORD, And thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Fear not, Jacob, and thou Israel few in number; I have helped thee, saith thy God, he that redeems thee, O Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Help to Israel
13For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. 14Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. 15Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.…

Cross References
Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

Isaiah 44:2
This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:21
Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, and you are My servant; O Israel, I will never forget you.

Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,

Isaiah 49:26
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Isaiah 54:4
Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

Isaiah 60:16
You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 63:16
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

Exodus 3:7-8
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. / The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. / But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Psalm 72:12-14
For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. / He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed. / He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.

Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

Jeremiah 31:11
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand that had overpowered him.

Joel 3:16
The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, said the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

thou worm

Job 25:6
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Psalm 22:6
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

men.

Deuteronomy 7:7
The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

saith

Isaiah 43:14
Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

Isaiah 44:6,24
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God…

Isaiah 47:4
As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Affirmation Afraid Cause Declares Fear Help Helped Helper Holy Israel Jacob Little Redeemer Worm
Jump to Next
Affirmation Afraid Cause Declares Fear Help Helped Helper Holy Israel Jacob Little Redeemer Worm
Isaiah 41
1. God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church.
10. About his promises
21. And about the vanity of idols.














Do not fear
This phrase is a recurring divine assurance found throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's desire for His people to trust in Him rather than succumb to anxiety. The Hebrew root for "fear" is "yare," which conveys a sense of awe or reverence, but in this context, it is a command against being afraid. Historically, Israel faced numerous threats from surrounding nations, and this command is a reminder of God's sovereignty and protection.

O worm Jacob
The term "worm" here is a metaphor for humility and insignificance. In Hebrew, "worm" is "tola‘ath," which can also refer to a crimson worm used for dye, symbolizing both lowliness and transformation. Jacob, representing the nation of Israel, is reminded of their humble state without God. This imagery underscores the contrast between human frailty and divine strength.

O few men of Israel
This phrase highlights the smallness and vulnerability of Israel. The Hebrew word "mĕthim" (men) suggests a remnant or a small group. Historically, Israel was often outnumbered by its enemies, yet God frequently used a faithful remnant to accomplish His purposes, demonstrating that victory does not depend on numbers but on divine intervention.

I will help you
God's promise of assistance is central to His covenant relationship with Israel. The Hebrew root "azar" means to surround, protect, or aid. This assurance of divine help is a cornerstone of faith, encouraging believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own. Throughout biblical history, God's help is evident in the deliverance and preservation of His people.

declares the LORD
This phrase affirms the authority and certainty of the message. "LORD" in Hebrew is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. When God declares something, it is a guarantee, underscoring His faithfulness and the reliability of His promises.

Your Redeemer
The term "Redeemer" is "go'el" in Hebrew, referring to a kinsman-redeemer who restores or avenges. This concept is deeply rooted in the cultural and legal practices of ancient Israel, where a family member would redeem a relative in distress. Spiritually, it points to God's role in delivering Israel from bondage and ultimately foreshadows Christ's redemptive work.

the Holy One of Israel
This title for God emphasizes His uniqueness, purity, and covenant relationship with Israel. "Holy" in Hebrew is "qadosh," meaning set apart or sacred. The phrase "Holy One of Israel" is a reminder of God's distinctiveness and His special bond with His chosen people. It calls believers to a life of holiness in response to God's character and actions.

(14) Fear not, thou worm Jacob.--The servant of Jehovah is reminded that he has no strength of his own, but is "as a worm, and no man" (Psalm 22:6). He had not been chosen because he was a great and mighty nation, for Israel was "the fewest of all people" (Deuteronomy 7:7). As if to emphasise this, the prophet in addressing Israel passes from the masculine to the feminine, resuming the former in the second clause of Isaiah 41:15, where he speaks of its God-given strength.

Thy redeemer . . .--i.e., the Goel of Leviticus 25:48-49, the next of kin, who was the protector, the deliverer, of his brethren (Leviticus 25:43-49). Looking to the numerous traces of the influence of the Book of Job in 2 Isaiah, it seems not improbable that we have in these words an echo of the hope, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job 19:25). . . .

Verse 14. - Thou worm Jacob. Though in thyself the weakest of the weak, grovelling in the dust, a mere worm (Job 25:6; Psalm 22:6), yet thou hast no cause to fear, since God sustains thee. Ye men of Israel; rather, ye handful, Israel (Delitzsch). The term used is one of disparagement, corresponding to the "worm" of the parallel clause. Few and weak though they be, God's people need not fear. Thy Redeemer. The word goel, here used for the first time by Isaiah, is frequent throughout the later chapters (Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 44:6, 24; Isaiah 47:4; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 49:7, 26; Isaiah 54:5, 8; Isaiah 59:20; Isaiah 60:16; Isaiah 63:16). It is used for the "nearest of kin," and "avenger of blood," in the Levitical Law, but has a sense similar to that of the present passage in Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14: 78:35: 103:4; Proverbs 23:11; and Jeremiah 50:34. The sense "redeem" belongs to the verb of which goal is the participle, in Exodus 6:6; Exodus 15:13; Leviticus 25:25, 33, 48, 49; Leviticus 27:13, 19, 21, etc. The Holy One of Israel Isaiah's favourite designation of the Almighty in his covenant relationship to Israel, used eleven times in the earlier chapters (Isaiah 1:35.), once in the middle or historical portion, and thirteen times in the later chapters (Isaiah 40-66.); only used elsewhere in Psalm 71:22; Psalm 78:41; Psalm 89:18; Jeremiah 50:29; and Psalm 51:5 (see Urwick, 'Servant of Jehovah,' pp. 36, 37).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

fear,
תִּֽירְאִי֙ (tî·rə·’î)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

O worm
תּוֹלַ֣עַת (tō·w·la·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8438: The crimson-grub, of the color, from it, cloths dyed therewith

Jacob,
יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

O few men
מְתֵ֖י (mə·ṯê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4962: An adult, a man

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

I
אֲנִ֤י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will help you,
עֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙ (‘ă·zar·tîḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5826: To surround, protect, aid

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Your Redeemer
וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ (wə·ḡō·’ă·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1350: To redeem, act as kinsman

is the Holy
קְד֥וֹשׁ (qə·ḏō·wōš)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6918: Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

One of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


Links
Isaiah 41:14 NIV
Isaiah 41:14 NLT
Isaiah 41:14 ESV
Isaiah 41:14 NASB
Isaiah 41:14 KJV

Isaiah 41:14 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 41:14 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 41:14 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 41:14 French Bible
Isaiah 41:14 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 41:14 Don't be afraid you worm Jacob (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 41:13
Top of Page
Top of Page