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 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 17:2 | That the cities of Aroer shall be forsaken | Prophecy against Damascus, highlighting desolation |
| Jer 48:12 | For it shall come to pass, that as soon as I have made it bare | Moab's judgment, sharing themes of abandonment |
| Jer 48:18 | Thou daughter of Dibon, too in this habitations shall go to destruction | Further judgment on Moab, specifically Dibon, near Aroer |
| Mic 3:12 | Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed like a field | Micah's prophecy on Zion's destruction |
| Zeph 2:4 | For Gaza shall be forsaken | Judgment on Philistine cities |
| Zeph 2:6 | And the coast shall be a pasture for shepherds | Reinforces the imagery of abandonment and animal grazing |
| Zeph 2:15 | This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly | Connects forsaken cities with past carelessness |
| Zech 10:5 | And they shall be like mighty men, which tread down their enemies | Contrasting future victory with current desolation |
| Matt 23:38 | Behold, your house is left unto you desolate | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| Luke 13:35 | Behold, your house is left unto you desolate | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| John 8:59 | Then took they up stones to cast at him | Scene in Jerusalem, eventual abandonment |
| Acts 23:3 | Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee | Paul's rebuke, prophetic judgment |
| Rev 18:22 | And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee | Judgment on Babylon, shared theme of silenced celebration |
| Rev 19:17 | And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together | Divine judgment leading to carcass disposal for birds |
| Nah 3:7 | And it shall come to pass, that all that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste | Judgment on Nineveh, emphasizing flight and waste |
| Hab 3:17-18 | Although the fig tree shall not blossom | Enduring faith through hardship |
| Deut 32:28 | For they are a nation void of counsel, and without understanding | Description of disobedient Israel |
| Lev 26:22 | I will also send the wild beasts of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children | Consequence of disobedience |
| Isa 17:13 | but it shall be rebuked by them and driven to flight | Consequence of God's intervention against enemies |
| Jer 51:62 | Also thou shalt say, O Babylon, thou shalt sit in the dust, and get thee down to the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. | Desolation of Babylon, parallels Aroer's fate |
| Psa 9:15 | They are sunk down into the pit that they made: in the net which they hid privily is their foot taken. | Divine justice and downfall of enemies |
| Prov 28:2 | For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof | Consequences of societal sin |
Isaiah 17 verses
Isaiah 17 2 Meaning
The verse declares that the city of Aroer shall be abandoned. It will be a place for flocks to lie down. No one will be there to make them tremble. This signifies utter desolation and a complete cessation of human habitation.
Isaiah 17 2 Context
This verse is part of a prophecy directed against Damascus and the surrounding region of Syria. Isaiah foresees a devastating military campaign that will leave cities desolate. Specifically, the prophecy anticipates the fall of Damascus and then expands to include other cities that would fall victim to similar judgment or be abandoned due to the repercussions of such conflicts. The mention of Aroer signifies a broader regional devastation, implying that the affliction will not be limited to one city but will affect other areas as well.
Isaiah 17 2 Word Analysis
הָעָרִ֛ים (ha‘ārîm): "the cities" (plural of
iyr- city, town). Indicates more than one urban settlement is in view, pointing to a significant area of destruction.אָר֔וֹאֵ֖ר (
ārō’ēr): "Aroer". A specific location mentioned, likely an important city or fortified town in the region. It signifies a tangible target of this prophecy.נָשׁ֧וּב (nāshūv): "shall be abandoned," "shall be forsaken," "shall be left empty." The root verb
shavav(to turn back, return) here is in the Niphal conjugation, often indicating passivity. It emphasizes the state of abandonment.לַמִּקְנֶ֑ה (lāmmíqneh): "for flocks," "for possessions." The preposition
lammed(for, to) combined withmiqneh(cattle, livestock, possessions). This highlights the repurposing of the abandoned city's land for grazing, indicating a return to a primitive state after civilization collapses.וְאֵ֖ין (wə’ên): "and there is none," "and no one." A conjunctive particle (
waw) and the negationayin. Emphasizes the complete absence of inhabitants.מַבְהִ֥יל (māḇîl): "to cause to tremble," "to terrify," "to startle." The root verb
ba'al(to be astonished, alarmed, amazed) in the Hiphil conjugation, meaning to cause or produce this state. In this context, it refers to no one being present to cause fear or panic among the livestock. This emphasizes the silence and lack of human presence.Word Group Analysis:
- "cities of Aroer shall be forsaken" (
ārîm ‘ārō’ēr nāshūv): This group emphasizes the utter depopulation and dereliction of inhabited places. The use of "cities" plural, suggests a widespread disaster impacting urban centers. - "for flocks they will lie down" (
lāmmíqneh wəhāyâ rōḇēṣ): This phrase vividly depicts the aftermath of destruction. The abandonment is so complete that domesticated animals will inhabit the ruins undisturbed. - "and there is no one causing to tremble" (
wə’ên māḇîl): This final part of the verse underlines the total absence of human fear and activity, leaving the place in a state of profound stillness and emptiness.
- "cities of Aroer shall be forsaken" (
Isaiah 17 2 Bonus Section
The specific mention of "Aroer" often appears in relation to Moab (e.g., Isaiah 15:2, Jeremiah 48:12). However, in Isaiah 17, the context seems to be a prophecy against Syria (Damascus) and Samaria (northern Israel). The inclusion of Aroer here likely signifies that the ramifications of this conflict will extend beyond Syria, affecting other regions and cities known for their historical presence or importance. It broadens the scope of the divine judgment to emphasize regional instability and the impact of warfare. The prophecy connects military defeat with economic ruin and the return to a primitive, uncultivated state for former population centers.
Isaiah 17 2 Commentary
This verse powerfully illustrates divine judgment resulting in total desolation. The abandonment of Aroer is not merely a population shift but a complete loss of habitation and security. The image of flocks lying down without anyone to disturb them underscores the extent of the depopulation. This speaks to God's sovereign power to bring down even established cities, reducing them to pasturelands. Such prophecies served as both a warning to Judah and a confirmation of God's faithfulness to His promises of judgment and restoration for His people and the nations. The verse reminds believers that ultimately, human structures and nations are subject to divine decree.