Isaiah 10:5 kjv
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Isaiah 10:5 nkjv
"Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
Isaiah 10:5 niv
"Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
Isaiah 10:5 esv
Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!
Isaiah 10:5 nlt
"What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger.
I use it as a club to express my anger.
Isaiah 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10 | God's decree against Assyria | Isaiah 10:5-34 |
| Jeremiah 51 | God's judgment against Babylon | Jeremiah 51:20-24 |
| Ezekiel 38 | Gog of Magog, potentially symbolic of later oppressors | Ezekiel 38:1-23 |
| Habakkuk 1 | God uses Babylon to judge Judah | Habakkuk 1:12-17 |
| Psalm 17 | The wicked prosper, but God sees | Psalm 17:13-14 |
| Psalm 73 | Envy of the wicked’s success | Psalm 73:3, 12 |
| Proverbs 16 | God establishes kings and ordinances | Proverbs 16:4 |
| Proverbs 21 | The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord | Proverbs 21:1 |
| Matthew 6 | Trust in God, not worldly treasures | Matthew 6:19-21 |
| Matthew 26 | Jesus accepts his Father's will | Matthew 26:39 |
| Luke 1 | God’s mercy and faithfulness to Israel | Luke 1:72-73 |
| Acts 13 | God raised David as king | Acts 13:22 |
| Romans 9 | God’s sovereign choice and his use of people for his purposes | Romans 9:14-24 |
| Romans 11 | God's dealings with Israel and the Gentiles | Romans 11:25-32 |
| 1 Corinthians 10 | Israel's wilderness wanderings and warnings | 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 |
| Galatians 1 | Paul’s apostleship and authority | Galatians 1:15-16 |
| Revelation 17 | Judgment on the harlot and the beast | Revelation 17:16-17 |
| Revelation 19 | Victory of Christ and the armies of heaven | Revelation 19:11-21 |
| Zechariah 1 | Call to repentance and promise of return | Zechariah 1:1-6 |
| Zephaniah 2 | Judgment on surrounding nations and encouragement to Judah | Zephaniah 2:8-11 |
| Lamentations 4 | Description of Jerusalem's suffering | Lamentations 4:21-22 |
| Amos 1 | Prophecies against surrounding nations | Amos 1:3-15 |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 5 Meaning
The verse describes God's anger and pronouncement of judgment against Assyria, using it as an instrument for his wrath, yet intending to punish Assyria for its own arrogance and cruel actions. God deploys Assyria as a rod of his anger and a staff of his fury to chastise a sinful nation, but ultimately, the nation using the rod will itself face divine reckoning.
Isaiah 10 5 Context
This verse is situated within a larger prophecy concerning God's judgment upon Assyria, the superpower of that era. Israel (specifically the Northern Kingdom, also referred to as Ephraim) had fallen due to its sin and reliance on foreign alliances rather than God. Isaiah pronounces God’s impending judgment on the Assyrian empire, which served as God's instrument to punish Judah for its similar apostasy. Despite Assyria's brutal efficiency, it harbored arrogance and exceeded its divinely appointed role, thus inviting its own destruction. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of God’s sovereignty over nations and the consequences of pride and injustice.
Isaiah 10 5 Word analysis
"Ah": An exclamation of woe or lamentation, introducing a declaration of divine judgment.
"Assyria": The powerful Mesopotamian empire.
"the rod": A symbol of authority, punishment, or chastisement.
"of my anger": Emphasizes that Assyria is an instrument wielded by God’s righteous indignation.
"and the staff": Similar to "rod," further underscoring Assyria’s role as an implement of God's fury.
"in their hand": Denotes possession or direct control by God over Assyria.
"is": Connects the subject (Assyria) with its divinely appointed function.
"my fury": Reinforces the idea of God’s intense displeasure and active judgment being expressed through Assyria.
Group: "rod of my anger" / "staff in their hand is my fury": This idiomatic phrase highlights the concept of instrumental causality in divine justice. God uses human actions and nations, even those acting out of their own evil intentions, to accomplish His sovereign purposes and express His judgment.
Isaiah 10 5 Bonus section
The concept of God using imperfect and even wicked nations as instruments of judgment is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. Examples include the use of Babylon to punish Judah, and before that, Assyria’s role against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This doesn't mean God condones their wickedness, but rather that His sovereign plan encompasses and controls all earthly powers, even to the point of employing them for His own righteous judgments. Ultimately, all oppressors who exceed their bounds or act with unholy pride will face divine reckoning, just as Assyria eventually fell. The New Testament echoes this by showing Christ's ultimate triumph over all earthly powers and the final judgment of all nations.
Isaiah 10 5 Commentary
God declares that He uses Assyria as the instrument of His anger, a rod and a staff to punish a sinful people (in this context, likely Judah, following the Assyrian invasions). However, this is not an endorsement of Assyria's actions or intentions. Assyria itself is filled with arrogance and cruelty, driven by its own ambition and desire for conquest. Therefore, while God uses Assyria to achieve His disciplinary goals for His people, He simultaneously promises to judge Assyria for its own sin and pride once its task is completed. This principle illustrates God's supreme sovereignty, demonstrating that even the most oppressive empires are ultimately accountable to Him and are mere tools in His hand to fulfill His ultimate purposes.