Isaiah 14:30 kjv
And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.
Isaiah 14:30 nkjv
The firstborn of the poor will feed, And the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, And it will slay your remnant.
Isaiah 14:30 niv
The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.
Isaiah 14:30 esv
And the firstborn of the poor will graze, and the needy lie down in safety; but I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant it will slay.
Isaiah 14:30 nlt
I will feed the poor in my pasture;
the needy will lie down in peace.
But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine
and destroy the few who remain.
Isaiah 14 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 14:29-31 | "Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, because the staff that struck you is broken; for from the serpent’s root will come forth a viper, and its fruit will be a poisonous flying serpent. And the weakest of the flock will graze, and the needy will lie down in safety. But I will kill your root with famine, and the survivor I will kill with the sword." | Direct continuation, showing divine judgment on oppressors and deliverance for the oppressed. |
| Psa 22:26 | "The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!" | Echoes the theme of provision for the needy. |
| Psa 72:4 | "May he defend the cause of the afflicted of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!" | Connects defense of the afflicted with divine rule. |
| Psa 113:7 | "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap." | Highlights God's action of uplifting the humble. |
| Isa 25:4 | "For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; when the blast of the ruthless was like a storm beating against a wall." | Emphasizes God as a protector against oppression. |
| Isa 61:1-2 | "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to those who open their prison doors..." | Jesus' proclamation of ministry, aligning with liberating the oppressed. |
| Jer 30:10 | "But as for you, do not fear, O my servant Jacob, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid." | Promise of deliverance and peace for Israel. |
| Jer 33:14-16 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise that I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up to David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’" | Messianic prophecy of a righteous ruler bringing salvation and security. |
| Mic 4:4 | "But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken." | A picture of peace and security in the messianic age. |
| Zeph 3:12-13 | "I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity and shall not speak lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." | Directly parallels the themes of a humble remnant finding refuge and safety. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus' invitation for rest and refuge. |
| John 6:35 | "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'" | Jesus as the ultimate sustenance, fulfilling spiritual hunger. |
| John 10:9 | "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." | Jesus as the provision and security for His followers. |
| Rev 7:16 | "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat." | Describes the ultimate rest and provision in heaven. |
Isaiah 14 verses
Isaiah 14 30 Meaning
The inhabitants of the land, specifically the needy and afflicted, will find refuge and sustenance in God's provision. They will be protected from the enemy's hunger and devastation.
Isaiah 14 30 Context
Isaiah 14 prophesies the downfall of the king of Babylon, often interpreted as a type or precursor of ultimate evil, symbolized by "Lucifer." This chapter then transitions to divine judgment against nations that oppressed Israel, including the Philistines (verse 29). Verse 30 is a consequence of this judgment. While the immediate context is the liberation of Israel from Philistine threat and similar oppressions, it broadens to speak of God's unfailing care for His people. The promise of provision for the "weakest of the flock" and the "needy" extends beyond immediate circumstances to God's sustained, covenantal faithfulness towards those who are vulnerable and reliant on Him. This imagery speaks to spiritual as well as physical security, a theme amplified in later prophetic visions and fulfilled in Christ.
Isaiah 14 30 Word Analysis
- וְ֭נָשַׂא: "And he will cause to graze" or "will cause to feed". It comes from the root (n-sh-') meaning to lift, bear, carry, or feed. It suggests divine action in providing sustenance and protection.
- דַּלֵּ֥י: "the weak" or "the humble". Derived from (dal) meaning low, feeble, afflicted, needy. It points to those who are disadvantaged or oppressed.
- וְנַחְלֹו֙: "and will lie down". From (ch-l-h) meaning to lie down, to rest. This signifies peace, security, and absence of fear.
- בְּבִטְחָ֑ה: "in safety" or "with confidence". From (batach) meaning to trust, to be confident. It indicates a state of security based on trust in God.
- רֹ֖וָע: "violence" or "terrible". This term suggests destruction or alarm, the absence of which is implied by "lie down in safety".
- הֵ֥מָּה: "they". A pronoun referring back to "the weak" and "the needy".
- חָֽרְבֶ֑ךָ: "your destruction" or "your hunger". From (ch-r-b) meaning to be dry, withered; can denote drought, famine, or destruction. In context, it can also refer to the "razor" or instrument of judgment, but here contrasted with divine sustenance.
- וְאֶת־שָׁ֥אַר: "and the remnant" or "and those who are left". From (sh-'-r) meaning to leave over, a remainder.
- בַּנַּ֥עַר: "in slaughter" or "in destruction". From (na'ar) meaning to sweep away, to destroy. This word implies complete annihilation.
Isaiah 14 30 Bonus Section
The imagery of the "weakest of the flock" grazing safely while a hostile force is laid low evokes a picture of pastoral care, aligning with God's shepherding of His people. This motif is prevalent throughout scripture, from Psalm 23 to Jesus' self-description as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). The word "needy" (dal) also carries connotations of being poor in spirit or humbly dependent on God, a characteristic that Jesus blessed (Matt 5:3). The reversal of fortune depicted is a consistent theme in biblical narratives, showcasing God's faithfulness to the humble and His judgment on the proud. The "destruction" (charbekha) from the enemy is ultimately turned into a tool of God's justice, and His people are preserved.
Isaiah 14 30 Commentary
This verse portrays God's direct intervention on behalf of His vulnerable people, providing for them where their enemies would seek to starve or destroy them. The contrast is sharp: the oppressor's weapons and means of devastation ("your destruction") will ultimately be used against the remnant by God, leaving the "weakest" to feed and rest secure. It signifies a complete reversal of fortune, where those who are scattered, poor, and lacking are given sustenance and peace, assured of protection from any further harm or fear. It points to God as the ultimate Provider and Protector, His care extended to the most vulnerable, ensuring their survival and well-being in contrast to the enemy's futile attempts to eradicate them. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is in Christ, who provides spiritual nourishment and eternal rest.