Isaiah 10:18 kjv
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.
Isaiah 10:18 nkjv
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.
Isaiah 10:18 niv
The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away.
Isaiah 10:18 esv
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.
Isaiah 10:18 nlt
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.
Isaiah 10 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10:17 | "The light of Israel will become a fire, and his holy one a flame; it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one night." | Consequence of judgment |
| Isaiah 10:19 | "The remaining trees of his forest will be so few that a child could count them." | Depletion of strength |
| Isaiah 17:14 | "At the dead of night they approach, like a destructive torrent. Before morning, they are gone." | Sudden obliteration |
| Jeremiah 50:25 | "The Lord has opened his armory and brought out the weapons of his indignation, for the Lord God of hosts has work to do in the land of the Chaldeans." | Divine instruments of wrath |
| Jeremiah 51:3 | "Let not the archer bend his bow, nor array himself in his armor." | Disarmament of the enemy |
| Jeremiah 51:20 | "You are my battle-ax, my weapon of war: with you I will shatter nations and destroy kingdoms." | God's instrumental purpose |
| Ezekiel 31:3 | "Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, . . . by whom the trees of Eden, envy him." | Symbol of grandeur destroyed |
| Ezekiel 32:7-8 | "When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light." | Divine eclipse of glory |
| Nahum 1:9 | "Whatever they plot against the Lord, he will create a complete end of it; affliction shall not rise a second time." | Finality of destruction |
| Nahum 3:12 | "Your strongest fortresses will be like fig trees with the first fruit—if you shake them, they fall into the mouth of the eater!" | Easy overthrow of defenses |
| Zephaniah 1:12 | "At that time I will search carefully in Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.’" | Judgment on complacency |
| Revelation 18:21 | "Then a mighty angel took a large stone like a millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will not be found again.’" | Symbol of utter destruction |
| Revelation 19:20 | "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who worked signs on its behalf by which he deceived those who had 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." | Violent, definitive end |
| Proverbs 11:8 | "The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked enters it instead." | Retribution |
| Psalm 37:35-36 | "I have seen a wicked person greatly p.rising, spreading himself like a green laurel tree, but he passed, and behold, he was no more." | Ephemeral wickedness |
| Romans 9:22 | "What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction." | Divine sovereignty and wrath |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:9 | "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." | Eternal punishment |
| 1 Corinthians 3:17 | "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." | God's destructive power |
| Isaiah 28:22 | "Now then do not mock, lest your bonds be made stronger; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord God of hosts upon the whole earth." | Decree of destruction |
| Psalm 9:6 | "The enemy has come to an end; he is in ruins forever. You have destroyed the enemy." | Complete destruction |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 18 Meaning
Isaiah 10:18 describes the complete destruction of a nation, depicted as the Assyrian army, emphasizing the thoroughness of their demise. It portrays their vibrant life being extinguished, leaving behind emptiness and ruin, signifying a divine judgment upon the oppressors.
Isaiah 10 18 Context
Isaiah 10:18 describes the Assyrian empire, the oppressive force that threatened ancient Israel and Judah. The prophecy here is part of a larger oracle against Assyria. The Assyrian king, typically Sennacherib, is presented as a proud and powerful entity, relying on its military might. Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, reminding them that despite Assyria's current dominance, God has the ultimate power and will judge such oppressive nations. This verse specifically focuses on the complete dismantling of the enemy's strength, both human and spiritual, leaving them utterly depleted and insignificant. It echoes God's power to bring down the proud and protect His people, a theme prevalent throughout the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 10 18 Word Analysis
וְֽ֠הָיָה (və·hā·yâ): "And it shall be," "and he became," or "and he will be." This common conjunction introduces the consequence or unfolding of events. It signifies a shift or progression in the narrative, highlighting the coming transformation.
כְּמָסִיס (kə·mā·sîs): "Like melting," "like that which wastes away," or "like a consuming sickness." This simile emphasizes a progressive weakening and disintegration. It suggests a loss of substance and structure, leading to ultimate disappearance. The root "מסס" (mws) relates to melting or dissolving.
כִּפְרֹק (kî·prōq): "Like a moth," "like a consuming pest." This refers to a destructive agent that slowly but surely consumes from within. In ancient times, moths were a significant problem for textiles and stored goods, representing a quiet but persistent destroyer. The verb "פָּרַק" (p-r-q) can relate to breaking, but here used with the common symbol of decay and destruction.
שַׂמְעוֹ (śam·‘ô): "His stoutness," "his fullness," or "his glory/splendor." This refers to the perceived strength, vigor, or perhaps the accumulated wealth and resources of the Assyrian empire. It speaks to what made them formidable and imposing. The root "שמֵע" (səməʿ) can mean to hear or to be heard, but in this context refers to substance and being heard as a mighty entity.
יֹאכַל (yō·ḵal): "It shall eat," "it shall consume." This is a powerful verb signifying consumption and destruction. It emphasizes that the 'melting' and 'moth-like' action will actively devour the essence of the enemy's strength.
וְהָיָה (wə·hā·yâ): "And it shall be." Repetition emphasizes the certainty and completeness of the described outcome.
כְּשַׁלֶּ֓חַ (kə·šal·le·aḥ): "Like a consuming fire," "like that which sends forth blight." This simile powerfully illustrates a destructive force that spreads rapidly and causes decay. It evokes the image of a wildfire or a disease that sweeps through a field. The root "שלח" (shlḥ) means to send forth, suggesting a force actively deployed to destroy.
מִקּ֧וּמוֹ (miq·qō·w·mô): "From his place," "from its standing." This phrase indicates that the enemy will be eradicated from their very position of power and existence. It signifies total removal and absence.
וְעָלָיו (wə·‘ā·lāw): "And upon him," "and over him." This prepositional phrase can indicate the direction or target of the coming destruction.
כְּזְרָע־ (kə·zə·rū·a‘-): "Like chaff," "like dust scattered by the wind." This is a stark simile for utter desolation and dispersion. Chaff is the useless husk of grain, easily blown away. It represents utter worthlessness and being swept aside. The root "זרע" (z-r-ʿ) is commonly related to sowing seed, but here in its past participle form suggests something scattered.
בָּאֵשׁ (bā·’ēš): "That is putrid," "that stinks," or "that is vile." This adjective amplifies the negative state of the dispersed enemy. It suggests not just absence but a foul and repulsive emptiness.
Isaiah 10 18 Bonus Section
The imagery of decay and dissolution in Isaiah 10:18 is significant. Moths, in ancient Israel, were notorious for their ability to destroy valuable fabrics stored away. This silent, persistent consumption is a potent metaphor for how God can bring down even the mightiest empire not just by brute force, but by a subtle, pervasive undermining of its foundations and essence. The comparison to chaff further emphasizes the complete removal of any perceived value or worth, leaving only emptiness. This verse serves as a theological assertion that national pride and military strength are ultimately insignificant when they oppose God’s will, and their dissolution will be thorough and final, leaving them as something repulsive. The cumulative effect of these metaphors is an overwhelming sense of obliteration for the oppressor.
Isaiah 10 18 Commentary
Isaiah 10:18 paints a vivid picture of God’s judgment upon the arrogant and oppressive Assyrians. Their might and pride will not just be defeated but dissolved, consumed like a moth eats through fabric or a pestilence spreads through grain. Their very substance and glory will be eaten away, leaving them to be scattered like worthless chaff from their original place of power. This isn't merely a military defeat; it's an ontological unmaking, signifying that God can dismantle what appears invincible, leaving it to a state of utter depletion and foulness. This complete annihilation is a demonstration of God's sovereignty over all earthly powers and His commitment to protecting His people from injustice. The verse also carries a spiritual application: the vanity of human pride and power when set against the Almighty, and the consequence for those who trust in worldly strength rather than God.