Isaiah 10 26

Isaiah 10:26 kjv

And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

Isaiah 10:26 nkjv

And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt.

Isaiah 10:26 niv

The LORD Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt.

Isaiah 10:26 esv

And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt.

Isaiah 10:26 nlt

The LORD of Heaven's Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the LORD's staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea.

Isaiah 10 verses

Isaiah 10 26 Meaning

The Lord Almighty will sharpen His devastating scythe, as He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb, and will raise His staff over the sea, as He did to Egypt.

Isaiah 10 26 Context

This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 10, which is primarily a prophecy of judgment against the Assyrian empire. Assyria, at this time, was a formidable world power that had devastated many nations, including the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Isaiah delivers this message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, warning them of their own vulnerability and the consequences of their sin and reliance on foreign powers. The chapter highlights God's ultimate sovereignty over human empires and His intention to use nations as instruments of His wrath but also to judge those very nations when they exceed His purpose or oppress His people. Specifically, verses 5-19 describe God raising up the Assyrian as an "axe" or "rod" to punish Israel. However, verses 20-34 shift to God's subsequent judgment upon Assyria for its pride and cruelty, outlining the destruction of the oppressor. Verse 26 stands as a pivotal statement, foreshadowing God's intervention to dismantle the Assyrian threat, drawing parallels to His past mighty acts.

Isaiah 10 26 Word Analysis

• וְהֵקִים (ve-he-qim): "And he will raise up" or "and he will stir up." This is the Qal perfect form of the verb קוּם (qum), meaning to rise, stand, or be established. Here, it signifies God actively bringing something into existence or operation – a tool or agent of judgment. It implies God's intentional and forceful initiation.
• שֹׁט (shot): "Scourge" or "whip." This noun denotes a tool of punishment, discipline, or subjugation. In this context, it represents a destructive force or instrument that God will employ.
• וְיַעֲלֶה (ve-ya-a-leh): "And he will lift up" or "and he will cause to go up." This is the Hiphil imperfect form of the verb עלה (alah), meaning to go up. It conveys the sense of God elevating or bringing forth something. Here, it refers to God lifting His staff.
• מַטֶּה (maṭ-ṭeh): "Staff" or "rod." A symbol of authority, power, guidance, or in this case, judgment and smiting.
• מִשְׁפָּט (mish-pat): "Judgment" or "decision." This signifies God’s righteous action in condemning and punishing sin.
• לִשְׁבֹּר (lish-bor): "To break" or "to shatter." The infinitive construct of the verb שׁבר (shavar), emphasizing the decisive and complete destruction that will occur.
• כְּמַכַּת (ke-ma-khat): "As the slaughter" or "as the striking." This comparative particle and noun indicate the similarity or pattern of God's future action to past historical events.
• מִדְיָן (Midyān): "Midian." Refers to the nation of Midian, defeated by Gideon (Judges 7).
• בְּסֶלַע (be-se-laʿ): "At the rock" or "by the rock." Indicates the specific location.
• עוֹרֵב (Oreb): "Oreb" (meaning "raven"). One of the two Midianite princes captured and killed by the Ephraimites (Judges 7:25).
• וּכְשֵׁבֶט (u-khe-she-vet): "And as the staff." Continuation of the comparison, linking God's action against Assyria to His past action at the Red Sea.
• גָּמֶשׁ (gā-mesh): This word is not present in Isaiah 10:26. There might be a confusion with "Gēmes" or other names in different contexts.
• עַל־הַיָּם (ʿal-ha-yam): "Over the sea." Specifically referring to the Red Sea during the Exodus.
• כִּבְרָאשׁ (kib-ra-osh): "Like in Egypt" or "over Egypt."
• אָתָמּוֹ (at-mo): This appears to be a variant or scribal issue. The standard Hebrew here is often translated in relation to Egypt's deliverance. The phrase is understood as God's action "over the sea" as he did to Egypt.

Words-group analysis:

• "The LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge, as the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb": This phrase combines God's active role ("stir up") with a specific instrument of judgment ("scourge") and anchors it to a historical precedent of decisive victory over oppressors. It shows God using means but also the overwhelming nature of His divine intervention.
• "and will lift up his staff over the sea, as he did in Egypt": This builds on the previous comparison, equating the impending destruction of the Assyrians with the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt at the Red Sea. The "staff" is a symbol of God's mighty power and authority, employed to bring salvation and destruction in accordance with His plan.

Isaiah 10 26 Bonus Section

The parallels drawn between God's actions against Midian and Egypt highlight a consistent pattern in God's dealing with His people throughout Scripture.

• Midianite oppression and Gideon's victory (Judges 7): The Midianites had oppressed Israel for seven years. Gideon, through a reduced army and divine strategy, utterly routed them. The death of the princes Oreb and Zeeb signified a complete subjugation of their leadership.
• Egyptian bondage and Exodus (Exodus 14): God demonstrated His supreme power over natural forces and the mightiest empire of that era by parting the Red Sea for Israel's passage and drowning the pursuing Egyptian army.The application of these historical victories to the future destruction of Assyria signifies that God's intervention will be just as decisive and miraculous. It underscores the idea that God's "salvation" (often implying deliverance from enemies) can manifest through instruments of judgment. This passage is a clear foreshadowing of the Messiah's ultimate triumph over all forces that oppose God and His people, as later echoed in New Testament passages describing Christ's authority and judgment. The choice of "staff" is significant; it's an instrument of God's power as seen in Moses' staff and Aaron's rod.

Isaiah 10 26 Commentary

Isaiah 10:26 reveals God’s immanent and devastating judgment against oppressive powers like Assyria. It is not just a political or military event, but a demonstration of divine justice that echoes past salvific acts. The imagery of the "scourge" and the lifted "staff" powerfully conveys God's absolute authority to unleash destruction and to intervene decisively. The specific references to Midian at Oreb and Egypt at the Red Sea underscore that God remembers His covenant and will act powerfully to rescue His people and to judge their enemies, often by using one oppressive nation to discipline another, and then judging that instrument when it oversteps its bounds or becomes arrogant. This verse assures believers that even the mightiest human armies are subject to God's sovereign hand, and He is capable of delivering His people from overwhelming threats. It is a prophecy of hope for those oppressed, reminding them that God's judgment is sure and His power is absolute.