Isaiah 10 22

Isaiah 10:22 kjv

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.

Isaiah 10:22 nkjv

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.

Isaiah 10:22 niv

Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.

Isaiah 10:22 esv

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.

Isaiah 10:22 nlt

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.

Isaiah 10 verses

Isaiah 10 22 meaning

Isaiah 10:22 conveys a profound and sober message of divine judgment combined with an enduring promise of preservation. Despite God's covenant promises of making Israel innumerable, like "the sand of the sea," their disobedience has led to a decreed destruction. This destruction is not arbitrary but an act "overflowing with righteousness," a demonstration of God's perfect justice against sin. Amidst this sweeping judgment, a vital hope remains: "a remnant will return," indicating God's faithfulness to a select portion of His people who will either physically return from exile or spiritually return to Him, signaling future restoration and continuity of the covenant.

Isaiah 10 22 Context

Isaiah 10 forms part of a larger section (chapters 7-12) dealing with the Assyrian threat against Judah during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. Chapter 10 specifically describes God using Assyria as an instrument of judgment against disobedient Judah, akin to an axe in the hand of a woodcutter (Is 10:15). It condemns Assyria's arrogance and pride, even as it fulfills God's purpose. Verses 5-11 describe Assyria's intended devastation. Verses 12-19 promise Assyria's eventual downfall after completing its assigned task against Judah. It is within this grim prophecy of judgment and destruction, directed both at Israel/Judah and then at the proud instrument of judgment, that verse 22 provides a crucial turn, focusing on the future of Israel. The historical context is the looming shadow of the powerful Assyrian empire, which had already decimated the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and threatened the Southern Kingdom (Judah). The cultural context is that of God's covenant people, chosen and numerous, but now facing the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 10 22 Word analysis

• For though your people, O Israel,
  • your people (ʿam-meḵā, עַמְּךָ): Direct address to Israel, encompassing the nation, likely referring to both the Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) kingdoms in the broader covenant sense, though Judah is the primary focus of Isaiah's immediate prophecy concerning the Assyrian invasion. It signifies God's chosen, covenant people.
  • Israel (Yiśrāʾēl, יִשְׂרָאֵל): The nation founded on God's covenant with Abraham, embodying both the blessing of nationhood and the responsibility of faithfulness.
• be as the sand of the sea,
  • as the sand of the sea (kaḥôl hayām, כְּחוֹל הַיָּם): A classic Hebrew idiom for innumerable multitude (Gen 22:17). It contrasts the grand scale of God's covenant promise with the tragic reality of national diminution due to sin, highlighting the irony of a vast population facing near obliteration.
• a remnant will return;
  • remnant (šəʾār, שְׁאָר): A theologically vital term in Isaiah, denoting a small, surviving portion of a larger group that has undergone judgment. This remnant is preserved by God's grace and faithfulness, carrying the hope of future restoration. It implies divine selection amidst widespread destruction.
  • will return (yāšûḇ, יָשׁוּב): Has a double meaning here: physical return from exile/captivity (common in post-exilic prophecy) and, crucially, spiritual return to God in repentance. This verb echoes Isaiah's son's prophetic name, Shear-Jashub ("a remnant shall return").
• destruction is decreed,
  • destruction (ḵālāh, כָּלָה): Implies a complete end, consumption, or an overwhelming destruction, suggesting the severity of God's judgment.
  • decreed (neḥēraṣ, נֶחֱרָץ): From the root ḥāraṣ, meaning to cut, decide, or determine. It emphasizes that this judgment is not accidental or arbitrary but a divinely determined and sovereign decision, fixed and certain by God's immutable counsel.
• overflowing with righteousness.
  • overflowing (šôṭēf, שׁוֹטֵף): Suggests an irresistible, sweeping flood or torrent. It speaks of the unstoppable nature and full extent of the decreed destruction, covering everything in its path.
  • righteousness (ṣēḏāqâ, צְדָקָה): Here, refers to God's divine justice. The destruction itself is portrayed as an act of perfect justice against sin and covenant breaking, fully aligned with God's holy character. It indicates that the judgment is fair, merited, and executed in accordance with God's perfect moral standard.

Isaiah 10 22 Bonus section

This verse holds immense significance as it is directly quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:27-28 to illustrate God's dealing with Israel, particularly in relation to the Gentile inclusion in salvation. Paul uses Isaiah's prophecy of a remnant to explain why not all physical descendants of Abraham will be saved, but only a chosen few—a truth relevant both to Old Testament history and to the early Church. The phrase "cut short" (often translated from a slight variation in Greek LXX of the passage) highlights that God's judgment, while devastating, is also efficient and purpose-driven, not leading to utter annihilation but specifically aimed at preserving a remnant according to His plan. The "righteousness" spoken of is therefore not only the justice of the judgment itself but also the ultimate righteous outcome for the remnant and for God's redemptive history.

Isaiah 10 22 Commentary

Isaiah 10:22 serves as a pivotal summary of God's dealing with Israel: severe judgment due to sin, yet infused with an ultimate purpose of redemptive preservation. It starkly juxtaposes the magnificent scale of God's initial promise—a multitude "as the sand of the sea"—with the devastating reality of widespread national judgment. This "destruction" is divinely "decreed" and administered not out of capriciousness but as a righteous act ("overflowing with righteousness"), testifying to God's unwavering justice against rebellion. Yet, within this pronouncement of judgment, a potent and persistent thread of hope emerges: "a remnant will return." This remnant represents God's electing grace, ensuring the continuity of His covenant promises and demonstrating that His ultimate plans for Israel, though pruned and purified by judgment, will not be entirely forsaken. The verse underscores God's sovereignty over both destruction and salvation, showcasing His holiness in judging sin while remaining faithful to His chosen people.