“His Hand is Stretched out Still”

2 Ne. 19:8 through 20:4 comprises a prophetic poem. (2 Ne. 7:2; 15:25; 28:32; Jacob 6:4-5; Alma 19:36; Mosiah 16:12; 29:20; 3 Ne. 9:13-14; D&C 35:8)

“Before we leave this prophetic poem (19:8-20:4) it should be pointed out that the last clause of the four refrains (19:12, 17, 21, 20:4), ‘but his hand is stretched out still,’ is usually interpreted to mean that God’s wrath against his people is unappeasable, that Isaiah has no word of hope for his people, still unrepentant. Some commentators express the meaning of the clause in this manner: ‘But his hand is stretched out still to strike.’ I may be wrong, but I feel that Isaiah was by no means completely a prophet of doom, that he still held out to his people a note of encouragement intended to bring about their repentance (cf. Isa. 1:16-20). Let me express it this way: ‘But his hand is stretched out still if only you but change your ways.’” (Sidney Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium, p. 213)

“His arm is galactic.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Conference Report, Apr. 1976, p. 9)

“Our merciful and long-suffering Lord is ever ready to help. His ‘arm is lengthened out all the day long’ (2 Ne. 28:32), and even if His arm goes ungrasped, it was unarguably there! In the same redemptive reaching out, our desiring to improve our human relationships usually requires some long-suffering. Sometimes reaching out is like trying to pat a porcupine. Even so, the accumulated quill marks are evidence that our hands of fellowship have been stretched out, too.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 22)