Isaiah 17 2

Isaiah 17:2 kjv

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Isaiah 17:2 nkjv

The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid.

Isaiah 17:2 niv

The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.

Isaiah 17:2 esv

The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.

Isaiah 17:2 nlt

The towns of Aroer will be deserted.
Flocks will graze in the streets and lie down undisturbed,
with no one to chase them away.

Isaiah 17 verses

Isaiah 17 2 meaning

Isaiah 17:2 declares a state of utter desolation for the cities of Aroer. It signifies that these once-inhabited urban centers will be completely abandoned by people. Instead of human dwelling, they will become a resting place exclusively for livestock or wild animals, which will lie down undisturbed and unafraid due to the complete absence of human presence. This prophecy foretells an extreme degree of ruin, silence, and the profound loss of human activity in the specified areas.

Isaiah 17 2 Context

Isaiah 17:2 is part of an "oracle concerning Damascus," found in Isaiah chapter 17. This chapter primarily addresses the coming judgment upon Aram (Syria), particularly its capital city Damascus, and also upon the northern kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim or Samaria. Historically, Aram and Israel had formed an alliance to resist the rising power of Assyria, and they had even attacked the southern kingdom of Judah, as described in Isaiah 7 (the Syro-Ephraimite War). The prophecy in Isaiah 17 foretells the utter ruin and desolation of these two kingdoms' strongholds and territories, implying that their strategic alliances and fortified cities would be incapable of protecting them from God's predetermined judgment, often enacted through the Assyrians. The verse emphasizes that not just the core cities, but even the outlying or peripheral towns ("cities of Aroer"), would suffer the same fate of abandonment and become barren wilderness, contrasting the former human vibrancy with profound animal tranquility.

Isaiah 17 2 Word analysis

• The cities of Aroer (עָרֵי עֲרוֹעֵר - ʿārê ʿărōʿēr):

  • ʿārê (עָרֵי): Hebrew plural construct form of ʿîr, meaning "cities." It implies multiple urban settlements.
  • ʿărōʿēr (עֲרוֹעֵר): A place name. While there are several Aroers mentioned in the Bible, most notably in Transjordan (e.g., Deut 2:36), here it is generally understood to refer to a region or specific cities on the fringes or borders of Aram's (Syria's) influence, or possibly extending to the northern kingdom of Israel, implying that even these border/outlying towns would not escape the judgment directed at Damascus and Ephraim. It indicates a broad scope of desolation affecting their territory, including what might be considered less significant outposts.

• are forsaken (נֶעֱזָבוּ - neʿezavû):

  • This is a prophetic perfect, implying an event so certain it is spoken of as if already completed. The root is ʿāzav, "to abandon, to leave, to forsake." The Nifal (passive) form signifies that they are being forsaken by their inhabitants. This abandonment is a direct consequence of divine judgment, emptying the cities of people.

• they will be for flocks, which lie down, (לָעֲדָרִים וְרֹבֶצֶת - lāʿadārîm wǝ-rōveṣet):

  • lāʿadārîm (לָעֲדָרִים): "for flocks" or "for herds." Lā- is the preposition "for," and ʿadārîm (plural of ʿēder) means "flocks" or "herds" (typically sheep/goats). This imagery powerfully conveys that the human presence will be entirely replaced by pastoral or wild animal habitation.
  • wǝ-rōveṣet (וְרֹבֶצֶת): "and she lies down" (referring to a single flock or a collective). From the root rāvaṣ, "to lie down, to rest." This verb often describes animals resting undisturbed. It paints a picture of peaceful animal rest, contrasting with the human bustling that once was.

• and none will make them afraid. (וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד - wǝ-ʾên maḥarîd):

  • wǝ-ʾên (וְאֵין): "and there is no" or "and none."
  • maḥarîd (מַחֲרִיד): "one who frightens" or "one who makes afraid." This is a Hifil participle of ḥārad, "to tremble, to be terrified," or "to cause to tremble/frighten." The phrase signifies an absolute lack of human activity, disturbance, or danger to the animals, emphasizing the total absence of human life. The profound silence that follows desolation is underscored by the undisturbed rest of the animals.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The cities of Aroer are forsaken": This phrase encapsulates the central prophecy of total abandonment. It indicates that the judgment will be comprehensive, not merely targeting capital cities but reaching outlying or border settlements, highlighting the vastness of the impending destruction and emptiness.
  • "they will be for flocks, which lie down": This group vividly depicts the ecological consequence of human depopulation. It suggests a reversion to a primal, pastoral state where nature reclaims human-made spaces, with animals grazing and resting where people once lived and worked. The animals’ peaceful repose highlights the stark contrast to former human life and activity.
  • "and none will make them afraid": This final clause seals the picture of desolation. The lack of a "frightener" means not only no human inhabitants but also no human predators, farmers, or travelers to disturb the peace. It underscores the utter absence of human presence and noise, leaving behind a silence broken only by the sounds of nature, paradoxically indicating peace for the animals due to the ruin of humanity.

Isaiah 17 2 Bonus section

The mention of "Aroer" here might not refer to the well-known Transjordanian cities (e.g., in Moab or Reuben), but rather to a distinct group of border cities in the northern part of Aram's influence, or possibly the eastern limits of Ephraim's control, bordering the desert. This geographical nuance emphasizes the full extent of the desolation, demonstrating that God's judgment would reach beyond the obvious capital cities (Damascus, Samaria) to the furthest reaches and strategic points of their territories. It served as a powerful polemic against the contemporary belief in security through strategic fortifications or alliances, asserting that all such human endeavors are fragile against divine judgment. The peace that flocks find is a stark, ironic contrast to the insecurity and terror that befell the human inhabitants during the invasion. This quiet desolation is God's verdict on nations that trust in themselves rather than Him.

Isaiah 17 2 Commentary

Isaiah 17:2 succinctly pronounces a severe judgment that leads to utter desolation. The prophecy targets not just a specific city but an entire region represented by "the cities of Aroer," signaling that the periphery as well as the core of the offending nations (Aram/Israel) will be impacted. The abandonment is so complete that the bustling activity of human life is replaced by the serene yet haunting stillness where only livestock or wild animals can "lie down" unperturbed. This image is a stark metaphor for divine wrath emptying populated areas. The paradox of animals finding peace in human ruins underscores the finality of the judgment; their safety is directly proportional to human absence, illustrating a world turned upside down by God's decree. The verse stands as a powerful testament to Yahweh's sovereignty over the nations, dismantling their alliances and strongholds, revealing their trust in human strength and fortified cities to be utterly misplaced. It serves as a reminder that God's word ensures both the fall of the proud and the peace of the innocent in a land purged by divine judgment.