Isaiah 10 12

Isaiah 10:12 kjv

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.

Isaiah 10:12 nkjv

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."

Isaiah 10:12 niv

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.

Isaiah 10:12 esv

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.

Isaiah 10:12 nlt

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.

Isaiah 10 12 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isaiah 10:5-6Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger!... I will send it against a hypocritical nation.Divine instrument, judgment, accountability
Isaiah 14:12-14How you have fallen from heaven, morning star... I will ascend above the clouds.Arrogance, pride, defiance of God
Jeremiah 51:20You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I shatter nations.God using nations as tools
Habakkuk 1:11Then they shall be at fault; their own might is their god!Arrogance, self-reliance as sin
Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.The consequence of pride
Psalm 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain.God's sovereignty over human actions
2 Chronicles 28:5-9Though the king of Israel was defeated... the king of Assyria helped him.Historical context of Assyrian influence
Daniel 2:21He removes kings and sets up kings.God's control over rulers
Daniel 4:30-37Nebuchadnezzar's fall and restoration due to pride.Example of divine humbling for pride
Matthew 6:24No one can serve two masters.The sin of serving oneself/might
Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools.Intellectual arrogance leading to foolishness
1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?God's disdain for worldly wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.God's methods confounding human plans
2 Corinthians 10:5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.Demolishing proud thoughts
Revelation 17:12-13The ten horns you saw are ten kings... they will make war on the Lamb.Nations opposing God's purposes
Acts 12:22-23The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of man!" And immediately an angel struck him down.Divine judgment for assumed godhood
Job 41:2-4Behold, the strongest steed has teeth and is a destructive war-horse.Describing formidable power that God controls
Psalm 2:4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.God's mockery of earthly defiance
Isaiah 30:33For a pyre of old has been prepared; yes, for the king it is made ready.Divine punishment for proud kings
Psalm 94:4They ... proudly boast, all the evildoers.Connection between boasting and evildoing
2 Kings 18:33-35Did any of the gods of the nations ever deliver their land from the hand of the king of Assyria?Assyrian boastful claim of invincibility
Ezekiel 28:2-9Prophecy against the king of Tyre, a type of pride.Arrogance of wealth and power
Isaiah 10:15Shall the axe boast itself against him who wields it?Rhetorical question on wielding authority

Isaiah 10 verses

Isaiah 10 12 Meaning

The verse signifies a declaration of God's judgment upon Assyria. It reveals that because of their arrogant boasts and their perceived self-sufficiency, God will bring punishment upon them. Their military might and strategic prowess are acknowledged, but these are ultimately rendered futile against God's sovereign plan. God orchestrates events, using even sinful nations as instruments, but will hold them accountable for their actions and intentions.

Isaiah 10 12 Context

This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the judgment of Assyria. In chapter 10, Assyria is depicted as a powerful military force used by God to punish His disobedient people, Judah. However, the king of Assyria, blinded by his own success and military might, begins to boast and attribute his victories to his own power and wisdom, rather than acknowledging God's sovereignty. This verse marks a turning point where God declares that He will punish Assyria for its pride and for overstepping the bounds of its divine commission. Historically, this aligns with periods where Assyria was a dominant world power, terrorizing nations and expanding its empire. The prophecy would have resonated with Isaiah's audience as a message of hope and divine justice against a formidable oppressor.

Isaiah 10 12 Word Analysis

  • 'ēk (How / Indeed): Interrogative or exclamatory particle. Here, it expresses amazement and strong assertion about the Assyrian king's actions. It indicates disbelief or astonishment at the depth of his self-exaltation.
  • lē'mōr (to say / saying): Infinitive construct of amar (to say). It introduces direct or indirect speech, often signifying proclamation or pronouncement. In this context, it introduces the proud declaration.
  • hû' (he): Third-person masculine singular pronoun. Refers directly to the king of Assyria.
  • gā'ah (to be exalted / boast / be proud): Verb. Signifies rising up in pride, self-exaltation, and boasting. This is the core sin being addressed – attributing divine attributes to oneself.
  • rûm (to be high / lifted up / exalted): Verb. Related to 'gā'ah', reinforcing the concept of lofty pride and haughtiness.
  • śiqûy (perversion / impurity / abomination): Noun. It denotes something detestable or offensive, here describing the king's proud pronouncements as an affront to God. Some translations use "impiety" or "uncleanness."
  • qôl (voice / sound): Noun. Refers to the sound of his voice, the audible expression of his arrogant pronouncements.
  • yāʿar (forest / thicket): Noun. Used metaphorically to describe a vast number of people or forces, perhaps comparing his powerful army to a dense forest. The Assyrian king considered his army an unstoppable force.
  • ‘es (tree / wood): Noun. Often used with 'yāʿar' in the construct state. Can also refer to individual trees. Here, it emphasizes the totality of the mighty warriors like trees in a forest.

Words Group Analysis:

  • "How it is said:": This opening phrase emphasizes the vocalization of immense pride and self-reliance.
  • "he has exalted himself": This phrase highlights the core transgression of taking God's place or attributing God-like power to himself.
  • "the voice of a forest and Lebanon": This metaphorical expression conveys the immensity and strength of his army. He sees his vast host as an impenetrable forest, or as mighty cedars of Lebanon, symbolizing overwhelming military power and perceived invincibility.
  • "the sound of his thickets": Further reinforces the imagery of an overwhelming, dense, and powerful military force. It suggests a multitude of warriors that are strong and capable of overwhelming resistance.
  • "through his greatness he ascended above the river": This depicts his confidence in his military superiority and the reach of his power, suggesting he can overcome any obstacle or natural barrier.
  • "and cut down the tall cedars and the choice cypresses": This symbolizes his devastating military victories over powerful enemies, conquering even the mightiest of nations.

Isaiah 10 12 Bonus Section

This verse is crucial for understanding God's principle of judgment on pride, particularly as it relates to instruments used for His purposes. Nations or individuals might be raised up by God for a specific task, but if they inflate themselves with pride, believing their success is solely their own doing, God will turn that judgment against them. The imagery of the forest and Lebanon evokes strength and abundance, which the king perverted into a source of self-exaltation. This serves as a warning against pride in power, military might, or any human achievement, reminding believers that all strength ultimately comes from God. The "voice" here is not just speech but the powerful declaration of his actions, the roaring sound of his conquering armies.

Isaiah 10 12 Commentary

The verse condemns the Assyrian king's supreme arrogance. His immense military successes led him to believe he was self-sufficient and in control, attributing all power to his own strategy and might. This pride manifested as a declaration, a "voice" proclaiming his superiority. He viewed his vast army like an unstoppable, dense forest, capable of conquering all opposition, even the strongest nations symbolized by tall cedars and choice cypresses. God's message is that such pride and self-deification are an abomination. His immense power, his "forest," and his conquering spirit will ultimately be judged by God, who is the true sovereign over all nations and armies. This is a classic example of how human pride blinds individuals to God's ultimate authority.