Isaiah 10:8 kjv
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Isaiah 10:8 nkjv
For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings?
Isaiah 10:8 niv
'Are not my commanders all kings?' he says.
Isaiah 10:8 esv
for he says: "Are not my commanders all kings?
Isaiah 10:8 nlt
He will say,
'Each of my princes will soon be a king.
Isaiah 10 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10:8 | For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? | Assyrian arrogance and pride |
| Isaiah 10:9 | Was not Calno as Carchemish? Was not Hamath as Arpad? | Conquests framed as equal |
| Isaiah 10:10 | As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did exceed them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; | Idolatrous comparison |
| Isaiah 10:11 | Shall I not do unto Jerusalem and her idols as I have done unto Samaria and her idols? | Threat against Judah |
| 2 Kings 18:33 | Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? | Sennacherib's boast |
| 2 Kings 19:10 | Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee… | Sennacherib's message |
| Psalm 73:3 | For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the wickedness of the wicked. | Envy of the ungodly |
| Psalm 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou gird about thee. | God uses human wrath |
| Proverbs 16:4 | The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. | God's sovereignty over wicked |
| Daniel 2:21 | And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: | God's sovereign control |
| Acts 4:27 | For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, | Rulers act against Christ |
| Isaiah 14:13 | For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation… | Lucifer's pride (similar theme) |
| Jeremiah 51:24 | And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done unto Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. | God judges oppressors |
| Habakkuk 1:15 | All of them take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and are glad. | Metaphor of capture |
| Zechariah 1:15 | And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. | God's displeasure with helpers |
| Isaiah 44:28 | That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. | God uses Cyrus |
| 2 Samuel 15:31 | And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness, O LORD. | God frustrates counsel |
| Isaiah 37:29 | Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle into thy mouth, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. | God controls the proud king |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | Wisdom of world vs. God |
| Revelation 17:17 | For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to do with their minds, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. | God's will through nations |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 8 Meaning
This verse powerfully declares that the Assyrian king, who is boasting about his might, is merely an instrument in God's hands. His conquests are not a result of his own wisdom or strength but are permitted and directed by the Lord for a specific purpose.
Isaiah 10 8 Context
Chapter 10 of Isaiah deals with the impending judgment upon the Assyrian empire and, by extension, any nation that relies on its own might rather than on God. The Assyrian king, represented by the "rod of my anger," is used by God to punish the sinful nation of Israel. However, this verse highlights the king's arrogant perception of his own power. He views his victories not as divine permission but as evidence of his superior prowess, comparable to other kings he has conquered. This self-exaltation sets the stage for his eventual downfall, as God promises to punish Assyria for its pride and cruelty. The original audience, likely Judah, would have heard this message as a warning against the same kind of reliance on military strength that the Assyrian king displayed.
Isaiah 10 8 Word Analysis
- For (Hebrew: ki) - Introduces a reason or explanation for what precedes.
- he (Hebrew: hu') - Refers to the king of Assyria.
- saith (Hebrew: amar) - To say, speak, tell, utter. Indicates the king's declaration.
- Are not (Hebrew: haloh') - A particle introducing a rhetorical question, implying an affirmative answer.
- my princes (Hebrew: sarai) - My rulers, commanders, chiefs. The Assyrian king considers his subjugated rulers as his own subjects, thus enhancing his own status.
- altogether (Hebrew: gam - also, even, and; or implied in the rhetorical question structure) - This word can emphasize completeness. Here it signifies "surely," "indeed," or that his princes are kings in their own right under his dominion.
- kings (Hebrew: melek) - Kings, rulers. The king of Assyria lists his conquered nations by asserting their former kingly status to emphasize the extent of his conquests.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Are not my princes altogether kings?": This rhetorical question underscores the Assyrian king's self-aggrandizement. He believes that by controlling these kings, he is elevated above them and has achieved ultimate power, collecting kingdoms as one would collect trophies. The use of "altogether kings" signifies his view that he has incorporated their kingly status into his own expanded dominion.
Isaiah 10 8 Bonus Section
This verse illustrates a common characteristic of human pride and tyranny, where success is attributed to personal strength and strategy, erasing God from the equation. The Assyrian king’s arrogance serves as a model of worldly power unanchothered to divine authority. The rhetorical question, loaded with self-congratulation, demonstrates how the proud often frame their achievements to reinforce their perceived superiority, overlooking their utter dependence on the Creator. The emphasis on "my princes" and their former "kingship" is a linguistic maneuver to impress upon his listeners the vastness of his conquered empire, effectively making his own rule appear invincible.
Isaiah 10 8 Commentary
The king of Assyria is characterized by extreme pride and a deceptive assessment of his achievements. He boasts, comparing his conquests to a collector gathering diverse kingdoms. His statement, "Are not my princes altogether kings?", reveals his boastful heart. He lists nations by their former kingly status to magnify his own power, believing his dominion over them is absolute and attributable to his own skill. This perspective, however, blinds him to the reality that God is the ultimate sovereign. The "princes" being kings of their own lands prior to Assyrian conquest signifies the scope of his imperial ambition and execution. His claim elevates him to a god-like status, ignoring the divine hand that permits and guides all human endeavors. His ultimate purpose, however, will be thwarted by God.