Isaiah 10:34 kjv
And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
Isaiah 10:34 nkjv
He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.
Isaiah 10:34 niv
He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
Isaiah 10:34 esv
He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.
Isaiah 10:34 nlt
He will cut down the forest trees with an ax.
Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One.
Isaiah 10 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10:34 | "He will strike her with a terrible blow, cutting down the forests of the city with iron tools, and Lebanon will fall before the mighty one." | Judgment against pride, Fall of oppressors |
| Isaiah 14:25 | "I will strike down Assyria in my land; on my mountains I will trample it. My yoke will be taken from their necks, and their burden removed from their shoulders." | God's decree against Assyria |
| Jeremiah 50:17 | "Israel is a scattered sheep, driven away by wolves. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to gnaw his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." | Historical oppression by Assyria |
| Ezekiel 31:3 | "Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, a towering tree with its top in the clouds; it towered far above the others." | Assyria compared to Lebanon cedar |
| Nahum 1:12 | "This is what the Lord says: 'Though they have ruined and thinned their ranks, yet will they be destroyed and he will pass by. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more." | God's commitment to vindicate His people |
| Nahum 2:5-6 | "The chariots [of the invaders] clash in the streets, they career wildly in the squares; their appearance is like blazing torches, like lightning streaking across the sky. He rallies his nobles, they stumble in their march; they hurry to the city walls, the formations are already prepared." | Vivid imagery of war and destruction |
| Luke 10:18 | "Jesus replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" | Metaphor for sudden, complete defeat |
| Revelation 18:10 | "'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!'" | Parallel prophecy of a powerful city's fall |
| Proverbs 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." | Principle of pride leading to downfall |
| Psalm 73:18 | "Surely you have planted them on slippery ground and made them fall into ruin." | God's power to bring down the proud |
| Isaiah 2:10 | "Go tomorrow to the rocky clefts in the ravines and to the wine vats hewn from the rock. Flee to the caves in the rocks and to the holes dug in the ground from the fleeing of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." | Call to escape divine judgment |
| Isaiah 14:12 | "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!" | Prophecy concerning the fall of a powerful entity (often applied to Babylon or Satan) |
| Isaiah 31:8 | "Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of men; a sword consuming them, but not by human sword. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor." | Divine intervention in judgment |
| Isaiah 37:36 | "Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When morning dawned, the survivors saw that they were all dead." | Historical fulfillment of God's judgment on Assyria |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." | God's method of humbling the proud |
| Romans 1:30 | "...slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty and boastful; they invent evil things, they do not obey their parents;" | Characteristics of the proud condemned by God |
| Galatians 5:26 | "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another." | Warning against pride |
| Revelation 13:7 | "It was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation." | Description of a powerful, oppressive force |
| Isaiah 10:29 | "They cross the pass, they camp at Geba. Ramah is horrified; Gibeah of Saul takes to flight." | Assyrian advance and fear in Israel |
| Isaiah 10:31 | "The inhabitants of Maena, who dwell in their settlements, are driven away." | Specific instances of devastation |
| Isaiah 10:33 | "But the Lord Almighty will bring down their insolent branches with a terrible crash, he will level their proud trees." | Directly preceding verse on destruction |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 34 Meaning
This verse vividly depicts the downfall and utter destruction of Assyria, signifying God's judgment against its arrogant might and oppression. It emphasizes that this devastation will come swiftly and decisively, leaving no refuge for its powerful armies and imposing ruler.
Isaiah 10 34 Context
Isaiah 10 focuses on God's judgment against Assyria, a superpower known for its military might and cruelty. The chapter describes Assyria as an instrument of God's wrath against idolatrous Israel, but also foretells Assyria's own ultimate destruction due to its pride and hubris. This specific verse (10:34) arrives after the pronouncement of judgment on the mighty Assyrian empire. The prophet uses powerful imagery of natural destruction to convey the absolute and unstoppable nature of God's verdict against Assyria, which, at the time of Isaiah, was a looming and terrifying threat to Israel and the surrounding nations. The verse's location within the broader narrative of Isaiah highlights the consistency of God's judgment against pride and oppression, no matter how powerful the oppressor. The image of "Lebanon" falling before a mighty "one" likely symbolizes the subjugation of natural strength and beauty to a higher, divine power that dismantles even the most imposing structures.
Isaiah 10 34 Word Analysis
- "He" (הוא - hu): Refers to God, the ultimate agent of destruction.
- "will strike" (יכה - yikkah): Future tense of the verb "to strike," "to smite," or "to smote." Denotes a forceful and decisive action.
- "her" (אותה - ota): Refers to Assyria, personified as a feminine entity or city.
- "with a terrible blow" (במכה—––- – makkeh--): "Makkeh" signifies a striking, a blow, a wound. The adjective modifying it conveys intensity and dread, suggesting a severe and crushing impact.
- "cutting down" (קצץ - katsats): This Hebrew verb means "to cut off," "to prune," or "to fell." It implies a thorough and systematic removal.
- "the forests" (את-ה—– – et-ha-): "Ha" is the definite article "the." "Sirim" can refer to thorny or prickly bushes, or more broadly to thickets or woodlands. Here it poetically represents the dense power and formidable strength of Assyria's military might.
- "of the city" (של-– – shel-): Possessive indicator, linking the forests/thickets to a city, representing the fortified and populous center of Assyrian power.
- "with iron tools" (בברזל — barzel): "Barzel" means iron. Iron tools were instruments of severe destruction, representing formidable weaponry and means of conquest.
- "and Lebanon" (ולבנון — u'levanon): "V'" is a conjunction meaning "and." "Levanon" refers to Lebanon, known for its magnificent cedar trees, symbolizing strength, beauty, and impregnability.
- "will fall" (יפל — yippol): Future tense of the verb "to fall."
- "before" (מ — m'): Preposition indicating causation or agency; falling because of or before someone/something.
- "the mighty one" (—– – gabar): "Gabar" means mighty, strong, powerful. It can refer to a mighty warrior or, in this context, the supreme power that brings down the mighty—God Himself.
Word Group Analysis
- "the forests of the city": This metaphorical language powerfully describes Assyria's vast military infrastructure, its well-organized and numerous forces that, like dense forests, posed a formidable barrier to its enemies.
- "cutting down...with iron tools": The imagery signifies a brutal and efficient dismantling. Assyria's strength, symbolized by the forests, will be utterly destroyed by powerful means, representing divine judgment executed through formidable, earthly forces, ultimately ordained by God.
- "Lebanon will fall before the mighty one": This is a heightening of the destruction. Lebanon's cedar trees were renowned for their size and resilience. Their falling before the "mighty one" emphasizes that no earthly power, however grand and seemingly unassailable, can withstand God's sovereign decree and judgment. The "mighty one" here is understood as God Himself, wielding judgment.
Isaiah 10 34 Bonus Section
The specific mention of "Lebanon" is significant due to its historical and symbolic associations. Lebanon was famed for its tall and sturdy cedar trees, which were used for constructing significant buildings, including Solomon's Temple. Thus, the felling of Lebanon symbolizes not just the destruction of a military power, but the subjugation of earthly strength and glory to the ultimate power of God. The verse echoes the principle seen in numerous biblical narratives where human pride is confronted and overcome by divine power, underscoring the theme that all authority ultimately resides with God and His purposes. This foreshadows the ultimate victory of God's kingdom over all earthly kingdoms that oppose Him.
Isaiah 10 34 Commentary
Isaiah 10:34 offers a potent image of God's retributive justice. Assyria, depicted as a destructive force, is ironically struck down by a greater force, implied to be divine intervention. The vivid imagery of felling Lebanon’s majestic cedars with iron tools speaks to the absolute nature of this judgment. It's not merely a defeat but a thorough uprooting and dismantling of Assyria's power and pride. This verse serves as a reminder that ultimate power rests with God, and human empires, no matter how dominant, are subject to His sovereign will. The prophecy highlights the pattern of divine judgment where those who exalt themselves will be brought low. The destruction foretold is absolute, indicating the end of Assyria's imperial ambitions.