Isaiah 10 17

Isaiah 10:17 kjv

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;

Isaiah 10:17 nkjv

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.

Isaiah 10:17 niv

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.

Isaiah 10:17 esv

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.

Isaiah 10:17 nlt

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.

Isaiah 10 17 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isa 10:16Therefore the Lord Almighty will send a wasting disease upon the land…Direct preceding verse
Isa 10:18He will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful orchard, from Sheath to Fruiter’s end,Consecutive verse, destruction continues
Isa 30:27Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, with His burning anger, with clouds of smoke, with His lips full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire,Divine wrath and destructive power
Jer 21:12Save them by fire! Let the wilderness and its fullness consume them.God's judgment via fire
Jer 43:11And when he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt, and with him shall be those appointed to death, to captivity, to the sword…God's judgment upon nations
Ezek 39:9Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fuels of the weapons, the shields and the bows, the hand-spears and the spears, and they will have fuel for seven years.God's victory and disposal of enemy arms
Zeph 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the LORD’s wrath.Divine judgment against material wealth
Zech 10:3I have met the leaders of Judah with anger, and I will make them my treading oxen; I will shake out from them their harness.God's control over national leaders
Mal 4:1“For behold, the day is coming, burned as an oven, when the arrogant, and every evildoer, will become stubble.Day of judgment as a burning oven
Luke 3:16John answered them all, “With water I baptize you, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the latchet of whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Baptism with fire
Acts 2:3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them.Holy Spirit descending as fire
Rev 1:14His head and his hairs were white, like white wool, like snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire,Christ's fiery eyes
Rev 19:20And the beast was seized, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.Lake of fire, final judgment
Psalm 76:7You, even you, are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once you are angry?God's formidable power
Psalm 46:6The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.God's voice causing natural phenomena
Prov 19:12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.Kingly wrath, lion imagery
Isa 5:24Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry stubble consumes the flame, their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will sprout in dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts…Destruction like consuming fire
Deut 4:24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.God as a consuming fire
Heb 12:29for our God is a consuming fire.Repetition of God's consuming nature
Nahum 1:6Who can stand before his indignation? Who can abide in the heat of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are shattered by him.God's consuming fury

Isaiah 10 verses

Isaiah 10 17 Meaning

This verse describes God's direct action against the Assyrian army, depicting them as a formidable force that will be struck down by the Lord. It speaks of a consuming fire that will destroy the remnants of the army and its leaders.

Isaiah 10 17 Context

This verse is situated within Isaiah chapter 10, which primarily addresses God's judgment upon Assyria. Assyria, a powerful and oppressive empire, had conquered many nations, including the northern kingdom of Israel. God, through the prophet Isaiah, declares that Assyria’s arrogance and cruelty will not go unpunished. This particular verse focuses on the imminent destruction of the Assyrian army itself, as a consequence of their actions and God’s sovereign will. The historical backdrop is the Assyrian threat to Judah in the 8th century BCE. Isaiah's message assures the people of Judah that God is ultimately in control and will defend them against their powerful enemies.

Isaiah 10 17 Word Analysis

  • וְהָיָה (və·hā·yāh): "and it shall be," "and it will come to pass." A common conjunctive particle, signifying a continuation or future event.
  • אוֹר (ʾōr): "light," "flame," "fire." In this context, it refers to a destructive fire or a fiery radiance, symbolizing God’s purifying and consuming judgment.
  • אֵשׁ (ʾēš): "fire." Explicitly denotes fire, emphasizing the intensity and nature of God’s destructive power.
  • אֹכֶלֶת (ʾō·ḵə·leṯ): "devouring," "consuming." A feminine active participle of the verb "to eat" or "to consume," highlighting the all-encompassing nature of the judgment.
  • וְכֹל (wə·ḵōl): "and all," "and every." Broadens the scope of the consuming fire to encompass everything.
  • קָדָשׁוֹ (qā·ḏā·šōw): "holy ones," "holy things," "His holy ones." Refers to the consecrated or set-apart people or things of God. The LXX reads "his holy mountains." In this context, it likely signifies the consecrated land of Israel, or perhaps the holy warriors of God who will be spared or instrumental in the judgment.
  • נֶצַח (ne·ṣaḥ): "eternity," "everlasting," "victory," "endurance." Combined with the preceding "until" (which is implied by the structure and context), it signifies "until the end" or "permanently."
  • בְּתוֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ): "in the midst of," "within." Indicates that the consuming fire will be in the midst of the Assyrian host.
  • קִרְיָתוֹ (qir·yā·ṯōw): "its city," "his city." Refers to the city of Assyria or the Assyrian camp.

Words Group Analysis:The phrase "an eating fire" (אֵשׁ אֹכֶלֶת - esh okhelet) strongly evokes the consuming and purifying nature of divine judgment, as seen in other prophetic passages where fire symbolizes God's wrath against sin and unrighteousness. The phrase "and all his holy ones" (וְכֹל קָדָשׁוֹ - v'chol qodashow) is interpreted variously. Some see it as referring to God’s people whom He is protecting, and the fire will consume the enemies among them. Others interpret "holy ones" here as referring to the Assyrian leaders or warriors who were in some sense "dedicated" or "set apart" for their warfare, and God will now consume them. The context points towards a judgment that will decisively end the threat.

Isaiah 10 17 Bonus Section

The imagery of God as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29) is a recurring theme in the Bible, signifying both His terrifying holiness and His power to purify and judge. While here it is directed against an external enemy, the concept of divine fire also has implications for believers, speaking to the Holy Spirit's presence which refines and purifies the heart, as seen in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire in the New Testament (Luke 3:16). This verse assures that God's ultimate faithfulness is towards His own, even as His justice is meted out against injustice and oppression. The ultimate fulfillment of this divine victory and the vanquishing of God's enemies is seen in the final judgment described in the book of Revelation.

Isaiah 10 17 Commentary

Isaiah 10:17 vividly portrays the absolute and decisive nature of God's judgment upon the Assyrian empire. It’s not a mere military defeat but a divinely ordained consumption, like a fierce, all-devouring fire. This fire represents God’s wrath and power, capable of utterly destroying those who oppose Him and oppress His people. The verse assures the people of Judah that their enemy, despite its immense power and former successes, will be completely annihilated. The mention of "holy ones" within this consuming fire likely emphasizes that even those considered mighty or consecrated to their cause will be consumed by God’s might if they stand against Him. This ultimate destruction signifies God’s sovereignty over all nations and His commitment to protecting and vindicating His people. It's a promise of ultimate victory for the righteous.