Isaiah 10 18

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 verses

Isaiah 10 18 meaning

Isaiah 10:18 declares that God will utterly destroy the might and prosperity of Assyria. Its glorious strength, metaphorically depicted as a dense forest and a rich, fruitful land, will be consumed by divine judgment, likened to an unstoppable fire. The destruction will be absolute, impacting every aspect of its being, from its vitality to its physical resources, signifying complete annihilation. This devastating judgment will also be akin to a lingering, debilitating sickness, gradually wasting away the once-powerful empire until nothing is left.

Isaiah 10 18 Context

Isaiah chapter 10 is primarily a prophecy concerning God's use of Assyria as an instrument of judgment against Judah due to their sin. However, it quickly shifts to pronouncing judgment upon Assyria itself for its arrogant pride, its boastful spirit, and its belief that its conquests were due to its own power and wisdom, rather than being merely a tool in God's hand (Isa 10:5-11). The preceding verses (10:16-17) already introduce the metaphor of "leanness" and "fire" coming upon Assyria. Verse 18 then builds upon this, vividly portraying the extent of this divine destruction. Historically, this aligns with the late 8th century BC, when the Assyrian Empire was at its zenith, aggressively expanding its territories and threatening Judah, eventually besieging Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah.

Isaiah 10 18 Word analysis

• וְכָל כְּבוֹד (wə-ḵōl kə-ḇōḏ): "and all the glory/splendor of".
  • כְּבוֹד (kāḇōḏ): This Hebrew word translates to "glory," "honor," "splendor," or "weight." In this context, it refers to the pride, magnificence, wealth, and power of Assyria—everything that constituted its greatness and source of boastfulness. It encapsulates their formidable military, economic strength, and imperial prestige.
• יַעֲרוֹ (yaʿrō): "its forest".
  • Symbolizes Assyria's vast and powerful army (multitudes of soldiers likened to dense trees), its military might, its leaders, and the unyielding strength of its national resources. A forest is immense and difficult to penetrate or destroy.
• וְכַרְמִלּוֹ (wə-ḵar-millō): "and its fruitful land/garden/orchard".
  • Refers to its most productive, valuable, and prosperous territories—its rich resources, fertile agricultural lands, cultivated wealth, and thriving cities. The term "Carmel" itself was synonymous with fertility and beauty, hence highlighting the choicest parts of Assyria's dominion.
• יְכַלֶּה (yə-ḵal-leh): "He will consume/destroy/make an end of".
  • A verb emphasizing completion and utter destruction. God is the active agent in bringing about this comprehensive end to Assyrian power. The same root implies bringing something to its conclusion or finishing it entirely.
• כְּבוֹד יַעְרוֹ וְכַרְמִלּוֹ יְכַלֶּה (kə-ḇōḏ yaʿrō wə-ḵar-millō yə-ḵal-leh): "the glory of its forest and its fruitful land He will consume".
  • This phrase acts as a double metaphor for the complete obliteration of Assyria's strength—both its military power (forest) and its economic prosperity (fruitful land). All that constituted its visible and substantive greatness will be brought to an end. This is a deliberate reversal of Assyria's self-proclaimed might and bounty.
• וְהָיָה כִּמְסוֹס נֹסֵס (wə-hā-yāh kim-sōs nō-sēš): "and it will be like a sick person wastes away" or "like a consuming sickness."
  • כִּמְסוֹס (kim-sōs): "like a wasting away" or "consumption," stemming from a root indicating decay or liquefaction.
  • נֹסֵס (nō-sēš): "a sick person" or "one who wastes away." The imagery evokes a slow, debilitating disease that eats away at the body, emphasizing not just sudden destruction (like fire) but a lingering, thorough, and irreversible internal decay, leaving nothing substantial. It underscores the utter enfeeblement that will follow its initial strength. This phrase speaks to the persistent and eroding effect of judgment, draining life and substance from the inside out.
• מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר (min-nefeš wə-ʿad bāśār): "from soul to body" or "from its innermost being to its outer substance".
  • נֶפֶשׁ (nefeš): "soul," "life," "person," "being." It refers to the vital essence or living being.
  • בָּשָׂר (bāśār): "flesh," "body," "meat." It refers to the physical substance or outward manifestation.
  • This is a powerful idiom indicating absolute and comprehensive destruction, covering every aspect—from the core vitality of the people and their system to their physical resources and very existence. Nothing will be left intact. It denotes completeness, leaving no part untouched or able to recover.

Isaiah 10 18 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "fire" and "wasting sickness" in depicting judgment is significant. Fire signifies sudden, visible, and devastating destruction. Sickness, particularly one that "wastes away," represents a more prolonged, internal, and debilitating decay. This combination illustrates the multifaceted nature of God's judgment: it will be both swift and complete on the external (glory consumed by fire) and will continue to internally dissolve any remnant of strength or vitality, leading to absolute desolation. This emphasizes that Assyria’s fall would be comprehensive—not just a defeat, but a complete dissolution of its power and structure, reducing it to utter insignificance. The reference to the "remnant" in subsequent verses (Isaiah 10:19-22) further underscores the thoroughness of this destruction on Assyria, where only a tiny fraction would survive, drastically contrasting its former "forest-like" multitude.

Isaiah 10 18 Commentary

This verse paints a vivid picture of God's decisive and thorough judgment on Assyria. The empire's "glory"—its celebrated military prowess and rich, abundant resources—will be utterly incinerated by divine fire, leaving no trace. The judgment isn't merely swift but also deeply debilitating, likened to a wasting disease that consumes a person "from soul to body," ensuring no vitality or substance remains. It serves as a stern reminder that even mighty nations used by God for His purposes are not above His sovereign judgment when they act with unchecked pride and presume their power is their own.