Isaiah 17 14

Isaiah 17:14 kjv

And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

Isaiah 17:14 nkjv

Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.

Isaiah 17:14 niv

In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us.

Isaiah 17:14 esv

At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us.

Isaiah 17:14 nlt

In the evening Israel waits in terror,
but by dawn its enemies are dead.
This is the just reward of those who plunder us,
a fitting end for those who destroy us.

Isaiah 17 verses

Isaiah 17 14 meaning

Isaiah 17:14 declares the swift and utter destruction that will befall the enemies who plunder and oppress God's people. It dramatically contrasts a night of terror for the aggressors with their complete disappearance by dawn, portraying a sudden, divinely orchestrated reversal. This verse signifies that the seemingly powerful dominion of the wicked is momentary and their ultimate end is certain and calamitous, divinely assigned as their inescapable "portion" and "lot." It serves as both a prophecy of judgment and a comforting assurance for those oppressed, that their deliverer acts decisively.

Isaiah 17 14 Context

Isaiah 17, titled the "burden of Damascus," primarily prophesies the judgment against Syria (Aram), specifically its capital Damascus, and also against the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). This prophecy emerged during the Syro-Ephraimite War (around 735-732 BC), when King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel formed an alliance to attack Judah, aiming to force King Ahaz of Judah into their anti-Assyrian coalition. Ahaz, despite Isaiah's warning, sought help from Assyria instead of trusting the LORD (Isa 7-8). Chapters 17 and 8 both speak of the imminent destruction of Damascus and the desolation of Israel as a direct consequence of their unholy alliance and lack of faith. Verse 14 serves as a dramatic climax, emphasizing the sudden and complete end awaiting these aggressors who troubled God's people (Judah) and challenged divine sovereignty through their plundering actions.

Isaiah 17 14 Word analysis

• At evening time (בָּעֶ֥ת עֶ֛רֶב - ba-'et 'erev):
  • `ba-'et` (בָּעֶת): "At the time of." Signifies a precise, determined moment.
  • `'erev` (עֶרֶב): "Evening," "nightfall." In ancient cultures, this marked the beginning of darkness, often associated with vulnerability or a period before a significant event. Here, it sets the stage for dread.
  • Significance: It establishes the starting point of the oppressors' brief triumph, which is paradoxically also the beginning of their downfall. The period of "evening" might symbolize their moment of perceived victory or active oppression, when their power appears to hold sway.
• behold, terror! (וְהִנֵּ֖ה בְלָהָ֑ה - v'hinneh b'lahah):
  • `v'hinneh` (וְהִנֵּה): "And behold," "lo." An interjection that demands immediate attention, signifying something surprising, sudden, or immediately present. It highlights the dramatic realization.
  • `b'lahah` (בְלָהָה): "Terror," "dread," "sudden ruin" or "dismay." This is not just a feeling, but often the cause of the feeling—a destructive force or event.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the immediate, shocking experience of intense fear and overwhelming calamity that unexpectedly grips the oppressors. Their perceived might is shattered by this sudden, consuming terror.
• Before morning, it is gone! (בְּטֶ֣רֶם בֹּ֔קֶר אֵינֶֽנּוּ - b'terem boqer einenno):
  • `b'terem` (בְּטֶרֶם): "Before," "not yet." Denotes a duration preceding an event, emphasizing the speed and brevity of what follows.
  • `boqer` (בֹּקֶר): "Morning," "dawn." Symbolically represents a new day, light, and resolution. The transition from darkness to light.
  • `einenno` (אֵינֶנּוּ): "He is not," "it is not," "it ceases to exist," "gone." A strong statement of complete non-existence or disappearance.
  • Significance: This phrase is crucial for conveying the absolute and rapid nature of the judgment. The terror that arrived in the evening, along with its perpetrators, completely vanishes before the light of day. Their power is fleeting, and their destruction is total. It is a profound demonstration of God's ability to act decisively and instantly.
• This is the portion of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who rob us. (ה֤וּא חֵ֥לֶק שׁוֹלְלֵ֙נוּ֙ וְגוֹרָלָֽם וְשׂוֹסֵֽינוּ - hu cheleq sholelēnu v'goralām v'sosey):
  • `hu` (הוּא): "This," "that," "he," "it." Refers back to the swift and total destruction described.
  • `cheleq` (חֵלֶק): "Portion," "share," "inheritance," "lot." Often denotes what is divinely or legally apportioned to someone (e.g., God is my portion, or a portion of land). Here, it's their decreed recompense.
  • `sholelēnu` (שׁוֹלְלֵנוּ): "Of our plunderers/looters." From the verb shalal, "to plunder," "to strip bare." The suffix `-enu` means "us" or "our." Describes the act of violently seizing property.
  • `v'goralām` (וְגוֹרָלָֽם): "And their lot." `Goral` (גּוֹרָל) means "lot," often cast to determine fate, possession, or outcome. Reinforces the idea of a predetermined destiny or share. The suffix `-ām` means "their."
  • `v'sosey` (וְשׂוֹסֵֽינוּ): "And of our oppressors/robbers." From the verb sasah, meaning "to tread down," "to crush," "to oppress," "to rob violently." Emphasizes both economic and physical subjugation. The suffix `-enu` means "us" or "our."
  • Significance: This declarative statement underscores the justice and intentionality of God's judgment. The terrible, swift end described is not accidental but the rightful, divinely appointed "portion" and "lot" specifically assigned to those who mercilessly prey on and exploit God's people. The dual terms "plunder" and "rob" indicate comprehensive malicious action, while "us" identifies the affected party as Judah/Israel, the covenant people. It highlights retributive justice.

Isaiah 17 14 Bonus section

The motif of rapid, divinely executed judgment against the enemies of God’s people, often tied to a short, specified timeframe or an abrupt shift (like evening to morning), is a recurring theme in prophetic literature and wisdom texts. This emphasizes the stark contrast between the apparent power of evil in the moment and its ultimate, divinely ordained futility and collapse. This swiftness is a hallmark of God’s judgment, demonstrating that while He may be patient, His wrath, when expressed, is complete and unstoppable. The double imagery of "portion" and "lot" underscores the absolute certainty and divine intentionality of their doom; it is their divinely apportioned fate, akin to an unchangeable inheritance.

Isaiah 17 14 Commentary

Isaiah 17:14 serves as a powerful declaration of God's decisive intervention against the oppressors of His people. It vividly illustrates the transient nature of the wicked's power, showing that their terror, though potent, is exceptionally short-lived. What begins as a frightening night for God's adversaries – perhaps their moment of perceived victory or their most heinous acts – culminates in their absolute disappearance by the morning light, swept away by an overwhelming, divine terror. This sudden reversal is not random; it is portrayed as the precisely determined "portion" and "lot" appointed by God for those who plunder and oppress. This verse powerfully reaffirms God's sovereignty over earthly powers, offering both a stern warning to those who defy Him by harming His chosen and a profound comfort to the persecuted, assuring them that justice will swiftly and surely come from the Divine Hand. The brief span from "evening time" to "before morning" symbolizes the immediate and comprehensive nature of God's judgment.