Isaiah 10

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, oh no] to those who enact [decree, establish] unjust [unrighteous, wicked] statutes [laws, decrees] and issue [write, prescribe] oppressive [grievous, cruel] decrees [laws, regulations], word study 2 to deprive [turn aside, oppress] the poor [needy, weak] of fair treatment [justice, right] and withhold [take away, rob] justice [judgment] from the oppressed [afflicted, humble] of My people [nation, Amaw], to make [allow to be] widows [women without husbands] their prey [spoil, plunder] and orphans [fatherless, without fathers] their plunder [spoils, robbery]. word study 3 What [in that moment, at the point of reckoning] will you do on the day [a time of reckoning, a period of punishment] of reckoning [visitation, punishment, or inspection] when devastation [ravage, destruction, or desolation] comes from afar [a distant place, a far country]? To whom [which person, what authority] will you flee [run to, escape to] for help [aid, assistance, or rescue]? Where [in what location, to what place] will you leave [abandon, relinquish, or forsake] your wealth [riches, treasure, or glory]? word study 4 Nothing will remain but to crouch [bow down, sink low] among the captives [prisoners, those bound] or fall [be defeated, lie prostrate] among the slain [killed, destroyed]. Despite all this [in spite of everything], His anger [wrath, fierce indignation] is not turned away [does not subside, remains]; His hand [power, authority] is still [continues to be, remains] upraised [stretched out, extended]. word study 5 Woe [a lament, oh no] to Assyria [Asshur, a nation descended from the second son of Shem], the rod [a staff] of My anger [intense displeasure, indignation]; the staff [a scepter, instrument of punishment] in their hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] is My wrath [strong, fierce anger, nose or face, indicating God’s emotional response]. word study 6 I will send [dispatch, commission] him against a godless [profane, hypocritical] nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people]; I will dispatch [send, command] him against a people [nation, group of people] destined [appointed, chosen] for My [divine, righteous] rage [fury, wrath, intense anger], to take [seize, plunder] spoils [booty, plunder] and seize [take, capture] plunder [spoils, loot], and to trample [tread down, oppress] them down like [similar to, comparable with] clay [mire, mud] in the streets [outdoors, public places]. word study 7 But this is not [certainly not, by no means] his intention [plan, purpose]; this is not [in no way] his plan [design, intention]. For it is in his heart [mind, will, and emotions] to destroy [annihilate, desolate] and cut off [exterminate, eliminate] many [a large number of, not a few] nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]. word study 8 “Are not [certainly not, or is it not the case that] all my commanders [princes, rulers, or captains] kings [royal leaders, monarchs, or rulers]?” he says. word study 9 “Is not [as strong as, comparable to] Calno [a city in the Assyrian empire, Calneh] like [similar to, equivalent to] Carchemish [a major city in Syria]? Is not [as significant as, like] Hamath [a key location in Syria, Emath] like [comparable to, as] Arpad [a city in northern Syria, Arphad]? Is not [as vulnerable as, like] Samaria [the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, watch mountain] like [similar to, equivalent to] Damascus [the capital city of Syria, an important trading center]? word study 10 As my [open] hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] seized the idolatrous [worthless, false] kingdoms [domains of a ruler’s power] whose images [carved idols, false gods] surpassed [exceeded, were more numerous than] those of Jerusalem [city of peace] and Samaria [watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine], word study 11 and as I have done [in the same manner, similarly] to Samaria [the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel] and its idols [worthless images, false gods], will I not also [certainly, assuredly] do to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] and her idols [idolatrous images, objects of false worship]?” word study 12 So when the Lord [Adonay, the supreme Ruler] has completed [finished, fulfilled] all His work [deeds, actions] against Mount Zion [the city of God, the spiritual high point] and Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Palestine], He will say, “I will punish [visit, reckon with] the king of Assyria [the ruler of the Assyrian empire] for the fruit [result, consequence] of his arrogant [proud, haughty] heart [innermost being, mind and emotions] and the proud [high, lofty] look [glance, gaze] in his eyes [the windows of the soul]. word study 13 For he says: ‘By the strength [power, might] of my hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] I have done [accomplished, brought about] this, and by my wisdom [prudence, good judgment], for I am [consider myself] clever [intelligent, wise]. I have removed [taken away, wiped out] the boundaries [borders, limits] of nations [peoples, countries] and plundered [robbed, taken by force] their treasures [riches, valuable things]; like a mighty one [strong, powerful ruler] I subdued [brought down, conquered] their rulers [kings, leaders]. word study 14 My hand [like a farmer reaching into a nest] reached as into a nest [a place of safety and provision] to seize the wealth [riches, treasures] of the nations [peoples, countries]. Like one gathering [collecting, bringing together] abandoned [forsaken, left behind] eggs, I gathered [collected, brought together] all the earth [land, world]. No wing [edge, extremity] fluttered, no beak [mouth, lip] opened or chirped [whispered, made a soft sound].’” word study 15 Does an axe [a common tool, like the one used for chopping] raise itself above [exalt, magnify] the one who swings [wields, uses] it? Does a saw [a tool for cutting] boast [glorify, magnify itself] over him who saws [cuts, hews] with it? It would be like [as if, similar to] a rod [a staff] waving [moving, sprinkling] the one who lifts [exalts, holds] it, or a staff [a wooden club] lifting [exalting, raising] him who is not [certainly not, absolutely not] wood [a tree, a strong object]! word study 16 Therefore the Lord [the supreme deity, lord or master] GOD [Yehovah, the national name for God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] will send [to dispatch or depart] a wasting disease [leanness, a state of being thin or weak] among Assyria’s stout [fat, rich or fertile] warriors, and under his pomp [glory, great honor or splendor] will be kindled [to burn, to start a fire] a fire like a burning [something on fire, a flame or blaze] flame. word study 17 And the Light [divine illumination, spiritual radiance] of Israel will become a fire [purifying presence, refining flame], and its Holy One [set apart, sacred] a flame [consuming passion, zeal]. In a single [unique, solitary] day it will burn [consume, destroy] and devour [eat, destroy completely] Assyria’s thorns [thorny weeds, troublesome growths] and thistles [prickly plants, harmful things]. word study 18 The splendor [glory, great honor] of its forests [woodlands, Jaar] and orchards [plantations, fruitful fields], both soul [living being] and body [flesh, physical form], it will completely destroy [consume, waste away], as a sickness [disease, illness] consumes [weakens, melts away] a man [a person, individual]. word study 19 The remaining [surviving, a remnant] trees [strong and firm objects, like a tree or a wooden plank] of its forests [a forest or a copse of bushes, like a honeycomb] will be so few [small in number, easily counted] that a child [a young person, from infancy to adolescence] could count [write down, record] them [the number, a quantity]. word study 20 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] the remnant [surviving portion, those who remain] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] and the survivors [those who have escaped, been delivered] of the house [family, dwelling place] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah] will no longer depend [lean, trust] on him who struck [smote, hit] them, but they will truly [in truth, faithfully] rely [lean, support themselves] on the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the Holy [set apart, sacred] One of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]. word study 21 A remnant [surviving Israelites, the rest] will return [come back, turn back]—a remnant [what is left after a disaster] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah]— to [toward, in the direction of] the Mighty God [strong, powerful, having strength and power]. word study 22 Though your people, O Israel [the chosen nation, descendants of Jacob], be like the sand [numerous, countless] of the sea [the vast ocean], only a remnant [a small surviving group, a faithful few] will return [turn back, come home]. Destruction [consumption, judgment] has been decreed [determined, decided], overflowing [abundantly, completely] with righteousness [justice, moral integrity]. word study 23 For [because of this reason] the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] will carry out [make, bring to pass] the destruction [consumption, complete devastation] decreed [determined, decided] upon [in the midst of] the whole [all, entire] land [earth, territory]. word study 24 Therefore [thus, in this manner] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the supreme Master] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] says: “O My people [Amaw, a nation, a community] who dwell [sit, reside, abide] in Zion [the city of God, the mountain of His presence], do not fear [be not afraid, have no anxiety] Assyria [Asshur, the powerful nation], who strikes [smites, hits] you with a rod [a staff] and lifts [raises, exalts] his staff [a scepter] against you as [in the manner of, like] the Egyptians [the people of Egypt, a type of worldly power] did [performed, accomplished]. word study 25 For [because of this reason] in just a little while [a very short time, soon] My fury [intense anger, indignation] against you will subside [cease, come to an end], and My anger [wrath] will turn [be directed] to their destruction [the end of them, their downfall].” word study 26 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] will brandish [stir up, raise up] a whip [scourge, used for punishment] against them, as when He struck [wounded, defeated] Midian [a son of Abraham, his country, and descendants] at the rock [boulder, refuge] of Oreb [a Midianite leader]. He will raise [lift, exalt] His staff [rod] over the sea [a large body of water], as He did [in the manner of] in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 27 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] the burden [load, weight of responsibility] will be lifted from your shoulders [place of carrying responsibility], and the yoke [wooden beam] from your neck. The yoke will be broken [destroyed, shattered] because your neck will be too large [anointed with oil, strengthened by God’s presence]. word study 28 Assyria [the powerful and oppressive nation] has entered [come against, approached] Aiath [a city in Palestine, ‘heap of ruins’] and passed [crossed over, transitioned] through Migron [a place in Palestine, ‘precipice’], storing [laying up, reckoning] their supplies [baggage, utensils, articles] at Michmash [a city in ancient Palestine, ‘hidden’]. word study 29 They have crossed [gone over the pass, transitioned] at the ford [a mountain pass, a crossing place]: “We will spend the night [take up their lodging, rest] at Geba [a city in Palestine, a place of significance].” Ramah [a city of battle, a place of fear] trembles [is afraid, shaken with anxiety]; Gibeah [the birthplace of King Saul, a city of Benjamin] of Saul [the first king of Israel, a Benjamite] flees [runs away quickly, escapes from danger]. word study 30 Cry aloud [with thy voice, shout out a warning], O Daughter [female child, a woman] of Gallim [a place in Palestine, north of Jerusalem]! Listen [hearken, pay attention, prick up your ears to hear], O Laishah [a city north of Jerusalem, meaning lion]! O wretched [poor, afflicted, depressed] Anathoth [a city near Jerusalem, meaning answers to prayer]! word study 31 Madmenah [is a fugitive, has wandered away] flees; the people [inhabitants, dwellers] of Gebim [a village with a name meaning cistern] take refuge [seek safety, gather to flee, putting their goods in a safe place]. word study 32 Yet today [this very day, still] they will halt [remain, stop] at Nob [a priestly city], shaking [waving, lifting up] a fist [hand] at the mount [hill] of Daughter [figuratively, a woman, a female child] Zion [a spiritual high point, the city of God], at the hill [a small hill] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital city]. word study 33 Behold [look, see], the Lord [the sovereign Master, ʼâdôwn] GOD [Yehovah, the national name for God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] will lop off [cut down, prune] the branches [boughs, limbs] with terrifying [fearful, awful] power [strength, might]. The tall [lofty, high] trees [ones of great stature] will be cut down [hewn down, brought low], the lofty [proud, haughty] ones will be felled [brought to the ground, humbled]. word study 34 He will clear [cut down, strike] the forest [thickets of the wilderness] thickets [small groups of trees or bushes] with an axe [iron, a strong metal], and Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel, known for its white snow or limestone peaks] will fall [be defeated, come down] before the Mighty One [a great and powerful being, the Almighty]. word study