Isaiah 10 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Isaiah 10 meaning explained in AI Summary

Isaiah chapter 10 can be divided into two main sections:

1. Judgment on Arrogant Assyria (Verses 1-19)

This section pronounces God's judgment on Assyria, a powerful and ruthless empire that had been used by God to punish Israel for its sins. However, Assyria became arrogant and attributed its victories to its own strength and wisdom, forgetting that it was merely an instrument in God's hand.

Verses 1-4: Isaiah condemns the corrupt Assyrian leaders who create unjust laws and oppress the poor and vulnerable.
Verses 5-11: God declares that Assyria is merely a tool in his hand, a "rod of my anger" used to punish Israel. However, Assyria has become proud and boastful, believing it achieved its victories on its own.
Verses 12-19: God will punish Assyria for its arrogance and cruelty. He will break their power like a mighty tree felled in the forest. Despite their pride, they will be humbled and reduced to a remnant.

2. Hope and Restoration for a Remnant of Israel (Verses 20-34)

Despite the bleak pronouncements of judgment, Isaiah offers a message of hope for a faithful remnant of Israel.

Verses 20-23: A remnant of Israel will return to the Lord and trust in him, rather than relying on foreign alliances.
Verses 24-27: God will break the yoke of oppression from Assyria, just as he delivered Israel from Egypt.
Verses 28-34: Isaiah describes the destruction of Assyria using vivid imagery. He assures Jerusalem that God will protect them and defeat their enemies.

Key Themes:

God's Sovereignty: God is in control of history and uses even wicked nations to accomplish his purposes.
Judgment and Justice: God will not tolerate pride, arrogance, and injustice. He will judge both his people and their enemies.
Hope and Restoration: Even in judgment, God preserves a faithful remnant and promises future restoration.
Trust in God: True security comes from trusting in God, not in military might or political alliances.

Overall Message:

Isaiah chapter 10 serves as a warning against pride and a reminder of God's power and justice. While it pronounces judgment on Assyria, it also offers hope for a faithful remnant of Israel, emphasizing that God remains faithful even when his people are not.

Isaiah 10 bible study ai commentary

The overarching theme of Isaiah 10 is the absolute sovereignty of God over human history and empires. It presents a divine courtroom drama where God first issues a "woe" against His own unjust people (Judah) and declares He will use the pagan Assyrian empire as His "rod" of discipline. The chapter then pivots dramatically to pronounce a "woe" on Assyria itself for its arrogant pride, demonstrating that even God's chosen instruments are held accountable for their motives. The prophecy concludes with a promise of salvation for a faithful remnant and the sudden, complete destruction of the seemingly invincible oppressor, setting the stage for the messianic hope of the following chapter.

Isaiah 10 context

The historical setting is the 8th century BC, a period of Assyrian supremacy. The mighty Assyrian Empire was God's instrument to punish the Northern Kingdom of Israel for its apostasy, leading to its fall in 722 BC. The prophecy then shifts its focus to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which also faced the Assyrian threat, culminating in Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC. The chapter is a direct theological counter-narrative to Assyrian propaganda, which attributed its military victories to the power of its own gods and king. Isaiah reframes these events, asserting that Assyria's power is entirely derived from and subordinate to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 10:1-2

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

In-depth-analysis

Woe (hoy): This is not just an expression of sorrow but a prophetic declaration of impending doom, like a funeral dirge. It signals the beginning of a judgment oracle.
Iniquitous Decrees: The sin condemned is systemic and institutional. The leaders and lawmakers, the very people meant to uphold justice, are creating laws specifically designed to exploit the vulnerable.
Targeted Victims: The verse lists the classic biblical archetypes of the defenseless: the needy, the poor, widows, and the fatherless. A society's righteousness was judged by how it treated these groups. This injustice was a direct violation of God's covenant law.

Bible references

Ex 22:22-24: "You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do... my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword..." (The foundational law being violated).
Amos 5:11-12: "Therefore... you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate." (A contemporary prophet decrying the same sins in Israel).
Lk 20:46-47: "Beware of the scribes... who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers." (Jesus condemning the same hypocrisy).

Cross references

Ps 94:20 (rebuke of corrupt thrones), Jer 22:13-17 (woe for building a house by unrighteousness), Zec 7:9-10 (call for true justice), Jas 1:27 (pure religion is caring for orphans/widows).

Isaiah 10:3-4

What will you do in the day of punishment, in the ruin that comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth? Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.

In-depth-analysis

Rhetorical Questions: Isaiah forces the unjust leaders to confront their helplessness before divine judgment. Their power and wealth will be useless.
Ruin from Afar: This points directly to the invading Assyrian army, God's chosen agent of punishment.
Two Fates: The options are stark: humiliation (crouch among the prisoners) or death (fall among the slain). There is no escape.
Stretched Out Hand: This recurring refrain in Isaiah (see 5:25, 9:12, 17, 21) signifies that the judgment is not yet complete. Despite the previous waves of punishment, God's righteous anger is not satisfied because the people have not repented.

Bible references

Isa 5:25: "Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people... his hand is stretched out still." (Establishes the refrain).
Hos 10:13-14: "You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice... so the great tumult shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be spoiled." (A parallel prophecy of destruction).

Cross references

Amos 9:2-4 (no escape from God's judgment), Lk 12:20 (parable of the rich fool), Rev 6:15-17 (kings hiding from God's wrath).

Isaiah 10:5

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hand is my fury!

In-depth-analysis

Second "Woe": The oracle dramatically pivots. God, having judged His people, now turns His attention to His instrument of judgment.
Rod (shebet) / Staff (matteh): These words define Assyria's role explicitly. They are not an independent power but a tool, an extension of God's own sovereign hand, used to discipline a rebellious child (Israel/Judah). They possess no inherent authority; their power is derived and temporary.

Bible references

Jer 51:20: "You are my war club, my weapon of battle; with you I break nations in pieces, with you I destroy kingdoms." (God describes Babylon in the same instrumental terms).
Hab 1:5-6: "Look among the nations, and see... For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation." (God explicitly states He is the one who "raises up" pagan empires for His purposes).

Cross references

Ps 17:13-14 (the wicked as God's sword), Jer 25:9 (Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant").

Isaiah 10:6-11

Against a godless nation I send him... But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few... For he says, ‘Are not my commanders all kings?... Shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her images?’

In-depth-analysis

God's Intent vs. Assyria's Intent: This is the theological core of the passage. God's purpose is limited and disciplinary (to take spoil... to tread them down). Assyria's purpose is unlimited and prideful (to destroy, and to cut off nations). Assyria is held accountable not for being a rod, but for its malicious and arrogant motives while acting as one.
The Assyrian Boast: The king's monologue reveals his hubris.
- Are not my commanders all kings?: He sees his generals as equal to the kings he has conquered.
- Calno... Carchemish... Hamath... Arpad... Samaria... Damascus: He lists his victories as proof of his own might.
- Jerusalem and her idols: The fatal flaw. He equates Yahweh, the one true God, with the powerless idols of other nations he has defeated. He has no understanding of whom he is truly facing.

Bible references

2 Ki 18:33-35: "Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?... Who among all the gods... has delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" (The exact blasphemous argument made by Sennacherib's envoy, the Rabshakeh).
Gen 50:20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." (The principle of God overriding evil human intentions for His sovereign purpose).

Cross references

Dan 4:30 (Nebuchadnezzar's proud boast), Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27-28 (human evil fulfilling God's sovereign plan in Christ's crucifixion).

Polemics

The Assyrian king's boast is a direct polemic against Assyrian imperial theology. In their own inscriptions (e.g., the annals of Sennacherib), Assyrian kings claimed their conquests were mandated by and brought glory to their chief god, Ashur. Isaiah demolishes this claim, revealing that the true divine power behind Assyria's success was Yahweh, who was using them for a purpose they could not comprehend.

Isaiah 10:12-14

When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.”

In-depth-analysis

Divine Sequence: God's work has a specific order: first, discipline His people (finished all his work on Mount Zion), and then judge the instrument. The punishment is for speech (peri, fruit) and a look—sins rooted in the arrogant heart (godel lebab).
Self-Attribution: The king’s monologue continues, attributing his success to his hand, wisdom, and understanding. He believes he is a self-made man, a master of his own destiny.
Removing Boundaries: This was a hallmark of Assyrian policy. They not only conquered nations but obliterated their identities through mass deportations and relocations to prevent future rebellions, reshaping the world in their own image.

Bible references

Dan 4:30: "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (The classic parallel of a prideful king taking credit for what God gave him).
Ezek 28:2, 4-5: "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god’... by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself.’" (A parallel prophecy against the prideful king of Tyre).

Cross references

Prov 16:18 (pride goes before destruction), Zep 2:15 (Nineveh's boast), Deut 8:17-18 (warning against forgetting God gives power to get wealth).

Isaiah 10:15

Shall the axe boast itself against him who chops with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!

In-depth-analysis

Proverb of Absurdity: God uses a series of brilliant, simple analogies to expose the foolishness of Assyria's pride. A tool has no power or intelligence apart from its user. It is absurd for the creation to claim superiority over its creator or the instrument to claim credit over the agent.
who is not wood!: This final clause is emphatic. God contrasts the lifeless wooden tool (the staff) with the living, powerful agent who wields it. Assyria is mere wood; God is the living God.

Bible references

Rom 9:20-21: "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay...?" (Paul uses the same creator/creation logic to explain God's sovereignty in salvation).
Jer 10:1-5: Contrasts the living God with lifeless wooden idols that cannot speak or act. Assyria, the "rod," is fundamentally in the same category as an idol in this context: a lifeless tool.

Isaiah 10:16-19

Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of a fire... It will devour the briers and thorns, and the glory of his forest and his fruitful land, soul and body; and it will be as when a sick man wastes away. The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.

In-depth-analysis

Divine Title: the Lord, the LORD of hosts (Adon, Yahweh Tsebaoth) emphasizes God's supreme authority and command over all heavenly and earthly armies, directly confronting Assyria's military pride.
Judgment as Fire & Sickness: The judgment is described in two ways:
1. A wasting disease: A slow, internal decay that consumes from within, mocking Assyria’s "stout" (literally, "fat") warriors.
2. A consuming fire: A sudden, overwhelming destruction.
Forest Metaphor: The mighty Assyrian army is pictured as a dense, glorious forest. God's judgment will burn it down, from the insignificant briers (common soldiers) to the glorious trees (commanders).
Utter Decimation: The destruction will be so complete (so few) that a child could count and record the survivors. This is a powerful image of total military collapse.

Bible references

Isa 37:36: "And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." (The historical fulfillment of this prophecy during Sennacherib's siege).
Ezek 31:3, 12: "Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon... Therefore foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it." (Ezekiel uses the same cedar/forest metaphor for Assyria's pride and fall).

Cross references

2 Chron 32:21 (the Lord sending an angel), Zec 11:1-2 (the fall of the mighty cedars).

Isaiah 10:20-23

In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer lean on him who struck them, but will lean in truth on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel... For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.

In-depth-analysis

In That Day: A key eschatological phrase, signaling a new era inaugurated by God's judgment and salvation.
The Remnant (She'ar): A central theme in Isaiah. God never completely destroys His people; He always preserves a faithful core.
Transferred Trust: The remnant learns the great lesson: they stop leaning on fickle and treacherous human alliances (like relying on Assyria itself, as King Ahaz did in 2 Kings 16) and instead lean in truth on God. This is the definition of true repentance and faith.
Shear-jashub: This passage is a direct exposition of the meaning of Isaiah's son's name, Shear-jashub, which means "a remnant will return" (Isa 7:3).
Righteous Destruction: God's judgment is not arbitrary. It is a "decreed" and "overflowing" destruction, but one rooted in His absolute righteousness (tsedaqah).

Bible references

Rom 9:27-28: "And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.’" (The Apostle Paul quotes this exact passage to prove that God's plan for Israel has always included the principle of the remnant).
Isa 7:3: "And the LORD said to Isaiah, ‘Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son...'" (The introduction of the son whose name embodies this prophecy).

Cross references

Mic 2:12, Mic 5:7-8 (prophecies of a remnant), Zeph 3:12-13 (a humble and lowly remnant), Rom 11:5 (a remnant chosen by grace).

Isaiah 10:24-27

Therefore... O my people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they strike you with the rod... For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction... And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.

In-depth-analysis

Words of Comfort: God speaks directly to His faithful people, encouraging them not to fear the very instrument He is using. The trial will be brief and is for their ultimate good.
Historical Parallels: God promises a deliverance as miraculous as past salvations:
- The defeat of Midian at the rock of Oreb: A small, weak force (Gideon's 300) miraculously defeating a massive army (Jdg 7:25).
- The defeat of Egypt: Recalls the exodus and the parting of the Red Sea, the foundational act of God's salvation for Israel.
Breaking the Yoke: The "yoke" is a common metaphor for oppressive bondage. Its destruction signifies complete liberation.
Because of the Anointing (mippenei shamen): This is a difficult Hebrew phrase. It literally means "because of the oil/fatness." Interpretations include:
1. Because of your prosperity: Israel/Zion will grow so "fat" or strong that the yoke will burst.
2. Because of the anointed one: A reference to the Davidic king (Hezekiah) or, more ultimately, to the Messiah (the Anointed One), through whom deliverance comes. This Messianic interpretation fits the broader context of Isaiah well.

Bible references

Isa 9:4: "For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian." (Directly links the breaking of the yoke and the day of Midian to the coming of the Messianic child-king).
Jdg 7:25: "And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb..." (The historical precedent of a miraculous victory).

Cross references

Ex 14 (parting of the red sea), Isa 14:25 (breaking the Assyrian yoke), 1 Sam 2:10 (the Lord gives strength to His king/anointed).

Isaiah 10:28-32

He has come to Aiath... at Michmash he stores his baggage... “Let us cross the pass”; “Let us camp at Geba.” Ramah is trembling; Gibeah of Saul has fled. Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth!... Madmenah is in flight... This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mountain of the house of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

In-depth-analysis

Poetic War Bulletin: This section is a rapid-fire, terrifying poetic description of the Assyrian army's lightning advance on Jerusalem from the north, the traditional invasion route.
Staccato Place-Names: Isaiah lists real towns, getting progressively closer to Jerusalem, creating a breathless sense of panic and imminent doom. Anathoth, for example, was Jeremiah's hometown, only about three miles away.
Climax at Nob: The advance halts at Nob, a hill within sight of Jerusalem. From there, the Assyrian king will shake his fist—a gesture of ultimate contempt and threat—directly at Mount Zion. The tension is at its absolute peak. The enemy is at the gates, seemingly triumphant.

Polemics

Scholars debate if this describes a precise historical route of an Assyrian campaign or if it is a literary dramatization. Many see it as a stylized, rhetorical map of terror, designed to maximize the feeling of dread just before God's miraculous intervention. It serves to show the enemy at the very height of its power and arrogance, making the divine judgment in the next verses all the more stunning.

Isaiah 10:33-34

Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall.

In-depth-analysis

Sudden Reversal: At the moment of maximum threat, God intervenes. Behold introduces a sudden, dramatic turn of events.
God as the Woodsman: In a powerful reversal of verse 15, God is now the one wielding the axe (iron, symbolizing judgment). The Assyrian "forest" from verse 19 is now felled by its true master.
The Lofty Brought Low: A consistent biblical theme. The great in height and the lofty—the proud Assyrian commanders and their king—are cut down to size.
Lebanon Will Fall: Lebanon was famous for its majestic, mighty cedars, a symbol of strength and pride. By equating Assyria with the cedars of Lebanon, Isaiah signifies that no earthly power, no matter how magnificent or seemingly invincible, can stand against the LORD of hosts.

Bible references

Ezek 31:3-14: Again, the extensive parallel where Assyria is a great cedar of Lebanon, admired by all the "trees of Eden," who is then cut down and cast into the netherworld.
Isa 2:12-13: "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon everything proud and lofty... upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up." (Isaiah uses the same imagery of cutting down cedars for judgment on pride).
Isa 37:24: Through Sennacherib, You have said, ‘... I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars.’" God turns the Assyrian's own boast back on him, felling him.

Cross references

Dan 4:13-14 (Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree being cut down).

Isaiah chapter 10 analysis

Instrumental Causality: Isaiah 10 is a masterclass in the doctrine of concurrence or instrumental causality. God is the primary cause, acting sovereignly to achieve His purpose (disciplining Judah). Assyria is the secondary cause, acting according to its own will and motives (conquest and plunder). Assyria is 100% God's instrument, yet 100% accountable for its own prideful intentions. This resolves the seeming paradox between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
Literary Chiasm and Structure: The chapter has a chiastic (inverted parallel) feel. It begins with Judah's sin (v. 1-4), moves to God's purpose for Assyria (v. 5-6), details Assyria's proud sin (v. 7-14), describes Assyria's judgment (v. 15-19), and concludes with the hope for Judah's remnant (v. 20-34). The fulcrum is the clash of wills between God and the Assyrian king.
Theological Geography: The chapter's movement is significant. It moves from judgment in Zion (v.12), to a threat advancing to Zion (v. 28-32), and ends with God defending Zion and destroying the threat just outside its gates (v.33-34). God's holy city is the center of the world's spiritual and geopolitical drama.
The Felled Forest and the New Shoot (Chapter 10 to 11): There is a powerful and intentional literary link between the end of chapter 10 and the beginning of chapter 11. Chapter 10 ends with the proud, mighty forest of Assyria being violently "hewn down" and cleared away by God. Chapter 11 immediately opens with the image of a humble, new shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse. God clears away the arrogant, dead wood of human empire to make room for the new life of the humble Messianic kingdom.

Isaiah 10 summary

God pronounces doom upon the unjust leaders of Judah (v. 1-4), declaring He will use Assyria as a "rod" to discipline them (v. 5-6). However, because the king of Assyria acts with immense pride, crediting his own strength and blasphemously equating God with idols (v. 7-14), God declares that the "axe" cannot boast against its wielder (v. 15). Therefore, after He finishes disciplining Zion, God will utterly destroy the arrogant Assyrian army (v. 16-19, 33-34). This divine judgment will cause a faithful remnant of Israel to stop relying on human power and trust in the Lord alone (v. 20-23), who will break their yoke of bondage and save them (v. 24-27).

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Isaiah chapter 10 kjv

¹ Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
² To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
³ And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
⁴ Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
⁵ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
⁶ I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
⁷ Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
⁸ For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
⁹ Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
¹⁰ As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
¹¹ Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
¹² Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
¹³ For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
¹⁴ And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
¹⁵ Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
¹⁶ Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
¹⁷ And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
¹⁸ And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.
¹⁹ And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
²⁰ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
²¹ The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
²² For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
²³ For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.
²⁴ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
²⁵ For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
²⁶ And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
²⁷ And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
²⁸ He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:
²⁹ They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
³⁰ Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
³¹ Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
³² As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
³³ Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
³⁴ And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

Isaiah chapter 10 nkjv

¹ "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed
² To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.
³ What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?
⁴ Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain." For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.
⁵ "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
⁶ I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
⁷ Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations.
⁸ For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings?
⁹ Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
¹⁰ As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
¹¹ As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?' "
¹² Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."
¹³ For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
¹⁴ My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep."
¹⁵ Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!
¹⁶ Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire.
¹⁷ So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; It will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day.
¹⁸ And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, Both soul and body; And they will be as when a sick man wastes away.
¹⁹ Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them.
²⁰ And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
²¹ The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.
²² For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
²³ For the Lord GOD of hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the land.
²⁴ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt.
²⁵ For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction."
²⁶ And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt.
²⁷ It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
²⁸ He has come to Aiath, He has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment.
²⁹ They have gone along the ridge, They have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled.
³⁰ Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish? O poor Anathoth!
³¹ Madmenah has fled, The inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge.
³² As yet he will remain at Nob that day; He will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem.
³³ Behold, the Lord, The LORD of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled.
³⁴ He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

Isaiah chapter 10 niv

¹ Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
² to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
³ What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
⁴ Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
⁵ "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
⁶ I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.
⁷ But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
⁸ 'Are not my commanders all kings?' he says.
⁹ 'Has not Kalno fared like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad, and Samaria like Damascus?
¹⁰ As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols, kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria?
¹¹ shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?'?"
¹² When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.
¹³ For he says: "?'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
¹⁴ As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.'?"
¹⁵ Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
¹⁶ Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
¹⁷ The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.
¹⁸ The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away.
¹⁹ And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
²⁰ In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
²¹ A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
²² Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
²³ The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
²⁴ Therefore this is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: "My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
²⁵ Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction."
²⁶ The LORD Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt.
²⁷ In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.
²⁸ They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron; they store supplies at Mikmash.
²⁹ They go over the pass, and say, "We will camp overnight at Geba." Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.
³⁰ Cry out, Daughter Gallim! Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth!
³¹ Madmenah is in flight; the people of Gebim take cover.
³² This day they will halt at Nob; they will shake their fist at the mount of Daughter Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.
³³ See, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.
³⁴ He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Isaiah chapter 10 esv

¹ Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression,
² to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
³ What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?
⁴ Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
⁵ Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!
⁶ Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
⁷ But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;
⁸ for he says: "Are not my commanders all kings?
⁹ Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
¹⁰ As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
¹¹ shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her images?"
¹² When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.
¹³ For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.
¹⁴ My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped."
¹⁵ Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!
¹⁶ Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
¹⁷ The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.
¹⁸ The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land the LORD will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when a sick man wastes away.
¹⁹ The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.
²⁰ In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
²¹ A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
²² For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.
²³ For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.
²⁴ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did.
²⁵ For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.
²⁶ And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt.
²⁷ And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat."
²⁸ He has come to Aiath; he has passed through Migron; at Michmash he stores his baggage;
²⁹ they have crossed over the pass; at Geba they lodge for the night; Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul has fled.
³⁰ Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth!
³¹ Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
³² This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
³³ Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low.
³⁴ He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.

Isaiah chapter 10 nlt

¹ What sorrow awaits the unjust judges
and those who issue unfair laws.
² They deprive the poor of justice
and deny the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows
and take advantage of orphans.
³ What will you do when I punish you,
when I send disaster upon you from a distant land?
To whom will you turn for help?
Where will your treasures be safe?
⁴ You will stumble along as prisoners
or lie among the dead.
But even then the LORD's anger will not be satisfied.
His fist is still poised to strike.
⁵ "What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger.
I use it as a club to express my anger.
⁶ I am sending Assyria against a godless nation,
against a people with whom I am angry.
Assyria will plunder them,
trampling them like dirt beneath its feet.
⁷ But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my tool;
his mind does not work that way.
His plan is simply to destroy,
to cut down nation after nation.
⁸ He will say,
'Each of my princes will soon be a king.
⁹ We destroyed Calno just as we did Carchemish.
Hamath fell before us as Arpad did.
And we destroyed Samaria just as we did Damascus.
¹⁰ Yes, we have finished off many a kingdom
whose gods were greater than those in Jerusalem and Samaria.
¹¹ So we will defeat Jerusalem and her gods,
just as we destroyed Samaria with hers.'"
¹² After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him ? for he is proud and arrogant.
¹³ He boasts, "By my own powerful arm I have done this.
With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it.
I have broken down the defenses of nations
and carried off their treasures.
I have knocked down their kings like a bull.
¹⁴ I have robbed their nests of riches
and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs.
No one can even flap a wing against me
or utter a peep of protest."
¹⁵ But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it?
Is the saw greater than the person who saws?
Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it?
Can a wooden cane walk by itself?
¹⁶ Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
will send a plague among Assyria's proud troops,
and a flaming fire will consume its glory.
¹⁷ The LORD, the Light of Israel, will be a fire;
the Holy One will be a flame.
He will devour the thorns and briers with fire,
burning up the enemy in a single night.
¹⁸ The LORD will consume Assyria's glory
like a fire consumes a forest in a fruitful land;
it will waste away like sick people in a plague.
¹⁹ Of all that glorious forest, only a few trees will survive ?
so few that a child could count them!
²⁰ In that day the remnant left in Israel,
the survivors in the house of Jacob,
will no longer depend on allies
who seek to destroy them.
But they will faithfully trust the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel.
²¹ A remnant will return;
yes, the remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
²² But though the people of Israel are as numerous
as the sand of the seashore,
only a remnant of them will return.
The LORD has rightly decided to destroy his people.
²³ Yes, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
has already decided to destroy the entire land.
²⁴ So this is what the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, says: "O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago.
²⁵ In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them."
²⁶ The LORD of Heaven's Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the LORD's staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea.
²⁷ In that day the LORD will end the bondage of his people.
He will break the yoke of slavery
and lift it from their shoulders.
²⁸ Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath.
They are passing through Migron
and are storing their equipment at Micmash.
²⁹ They are crossing the pass
and are camping at Geba.
Fear strikes the town of Ramah.
All the people of Gibeah, the hometown of Saul,
are running for their lives.
³⁰ Scream in terror,
you people of Gallim!
Shout out a warning to Laishah.
Oh, poor Anathoth!
³¹ There go the people of Madmenah, all fleeing.
The citizens of Gebim are trying to hide.
³² The enemy stops at Nob for the rest of that day.
He shakes his fist at beautiful Mount Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem.
³³ But look! The Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great power!
He will cut down the proud.
That lofty tree will be brought down.
³⁴ He will cut down the forest trees with an ax.
Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One.