Isaiah 17 3

Isaiah 17:3 kjv

The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 17:3 nkjv

The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel," Says the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 17:3 niv

The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites," declares the LORD Almighty.

Isaiah 17:3 esv

The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Syria will be like the glory of the children of Israel, declares the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 17:3 nlt

The fortified towns of Israel will also be destroyed,
and the royal power of Damascus will end.
All that remains of Syria
will share the fate of Israel's departed glory,"
declares the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Isaiah 17 verses

Isaiah 17 3 Meaning

This verse signifies the complete desolation and removal of the "strength" of Damascus and the wealth of Samaria. It describes a future judgment that will leave these cities empty and plundered, with the remnant of Syria fading away like a thin, vulnerable cloud. The verse speaks of a time when even the honorable men of Israel will be wasted away due to this judgment, reflecting a broad sweep of devastation affecting both nations and Jacob's (Israel's) own people.

Isaiah 17 3 Context

This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy against Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically directed at Damascus. Historically, Damascus was a significant Aramean capital known for its wealth and power. The prophecy reflects the geopolitical realities of Isaiah's time, when the Assyrian empire was a rising threat. The chapter as a whole speaks of a coming judgment that will dismantle the power of Syria and significantly weaken Israel, culminating in a period of devastation. The mention of "Jacob" and "Israel" in verse 3 suggests that the consequences of this judgment extend beyond Syria and directly impact the people of God, either through direct conquest or through the spiritual and moral decay that often accompanies national distress.

Isaiah 17 3 Word Analysis

• "The strength" (Hebrew: עֹז , oz): This refers to Damascus's might, fortifications, and power, the very essence of its defense and prominence.
• "of Damascus" (Hebrew: לְדַמָּשֶׂק , le-Dammeseq): Refers specifically to the capital city of Aram (Syria).
• "is cut off" (Hebrew: גָּעַל , ga'al): Denotes to be severed, removed, or rejected; implies a violent and decisive ending.
• "and the wealth" (Hebrew: וְחֵיל , we-ḥêyl): Refers to riches, army, or possession; here emphasizing the economic and material prosperity.
• "of Samaria" (Hebrew: לְשֹׁמְרֹון , le-Shomron): Refers to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim).
• "shall have fled away" (Hebrew: יִסָּ֑ה , yissah): Indicates movement, removal, or escape; here, the rapid departure of wealth due to conquest or devastation.
• "as the whirling" (Hebrew: כְּתַרְגִּ֣ימוּ , kə-ṯargīmû): A unique word likely meaning a fluttering or swiftly moving thing, perhaps like dust driven by wind or smoke dispersing.
• "of smoke" (Hebrew: עָשָׁ֔ן , ʿāšān): Smoke is a potent symbol of destruction, signifying that what was once solid and present will vanish quickly and be gone.
• "and as the whirling" (Hebrew: וּכְאַבְרַ֖עַת , ū-ḵə-ʾaḇra‘aṯ): This term is also somewhat debated but generally understood to mean something like a vapor, a fragile and transient mist, or something withered.
• "of smoke" (Hebrew: עָשָׁ֑ן , ʿāšān): Reinforces the image of disappearance and insubstantiality.
• "and as the whirling" (Hebrew: וּכְעֹ֥בֶל , ū-ḵə-‘ōḇel): Another rare word, likely meaning a wave, a commotion, or a swift motion that quickly dissipates.
• "of a storm" (Hebrew: סוּפָֽה , sûpâ): A violent wind or tempest, suggesting that the removal of wealth will be sudden and forceful.
• "yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, like the shaking of an olive tree" (This clause belongs to the next verse, 17:6, but establishes a continuity of theme in depicting what remains after the primary destruction).
• "the remnant" (Hebrew: שְׁאָ֑ר , šə’êr): Refers to the remaining part or survivors.
• "of Syria" (Hebrew: אֲרָם , ʾǍrām): Again, referencing the nation of Aram/Syria.
• "shall be as the handful" (Hebrew: כַּאִסֻּ֙ף , ka’issûp): An image of something gathered together loosely and insignificant, like what falls off after harvesting.
• "of the olive tree" (Hebrew: זַ֖יִת , zayit): Comparing the remnants of Syria to what is left clinging to an olive tree after a harvest.
• "and as the grape-gleaning" (Hebrew: וּכְמֹ֣תִיף , uḵə-mōṯîp): Referring to scattered berries left on a vine after picking.
• "when the vintage is done" (Hebrew: בְּעֹ֤ולֵל־, bə-‘ōlêl-): The act of gathering grapes.
• "and the branches" (Hebrew: וּזְרֹֽעֹות , ū-zərō‘ōṯ): The arms or boughs of the tree.
• "thereof searched" (Hebrew: יְחֻטָּֽפוּ , yəḥuṭṭāpû): Means to pluck or snatch away, signifying the thoroughness of the removal.
• "Therefore" (Hebrew: עַל־כֵּן , ‘al-kên): Indicates a consequence.
• "shall the strength of Jacob" (Hebrew: אֶת־עֹ֣ז יַעֲקֹ֗ב , et-‘ōz ya‘ăqōḇ): Here, "Jacob" is used as a poetic reference to the entire nation of Israel, possibly focusing on the Northern Kingdom, but also alluding to the house of Israel as a whole.
• "wane" (Hebrew: יִכְלֶה , yikleH): Means to be consumed, diminished, or finished.
• "and his" (Hebrew: וְאֶת־ , we’et-): Connects to the subsequent phrase.
• "ron" (Hebrew: שָׁ֔מֵן , šāmen): Possibly related to "fatness" or "prosperity," but here likely refers to the substance or fullness of Israel itself. It is closely tied to "Jacob" in meaning, suggesting the very vitality of the people.
• "of his" (Hebrew: וְאֶת־ , we’et-): Connects to the next word.
• "beauty" (Hebrew: דִּירֹ , dirō): A rare word potentially meaning ornament, fatness, or substance; refers to the robustness or good condition of Israel.
• "shall be dried up" (Hebrew: יֹובִ֑ישׁ , yōviš): To become dry, parched, withered; indicating loss of vitality and fruitfulness.
• "even as the heat" (Hebrew: כְּיֹֽובֶשׁ , kə-yōḇeš): The dry heat, particularly the scorching heat of summer.
• "doth dry up" (Hebrew: אֵ֤קֵה , ’êqêh): The process of drying or consuming.
• "and as the summer" (Hebrew: וּכְצֹ֥אן , uḵə-ṣō’n): Possibly a variation or an error in some textual traditions, but typically understood to relate to grass or vegetation that dries up. Other textual witnesses suggest different readings possibly related to "summer's crop."
• "grievously" (Hebrew: שְׁרָיִ , šərāyi): Means to consume, scorch, or destroy utterly.
• "dries up" (Hebrew: חִרְיֵ , ḥir-yeh): The act of making dry.

Isaiah 17 3 Bonus Section

The prophetic judgment described in Isaiah 17 has historical undertones and eschatological implications. Historically, the prophecy against Damascus was partly fulfilled when Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria captured and devastated the city in 732 BC, aligning with the rise of Assyria as a major regional power. The prophecy also resonates with the consequences of Israel's own idolatry and disobedience, which led to its division and eventual conquest. The imagery of smoke and fleeting vapor emphasizes the transience of earthly powers and riches when they are set against the eternal purposes of God. The "strength of Jacob" waning points to times when God allows His people to suffer as a chastisement, but this does not negate the ultimate promise of His enduring presence and preservation of a remnant. The blending of judgment on Gentile nations and impact on Israel highlights the interconnectedness of God's dealings with humanity and the often painful but ultimately refining process He uses for His chosen people.

Isaiah 17 3 Commentary

Isaiah 17:3 paints a stark picture of divine judgment. It describes Damascus, a powerful city, ceasing to exist as a functioning entity, its "strength" utterly removed. The wealth of Samaria, the capital of Israel, is also depicted as fleeing away. This removal is not gentle but swift and absolute, likened to smoke being blown away by the wind. The imagery is powerful: what was solid and tangible will become insubstantial and disappear. Furthermore, this judgment impacts Israel directly. The "strength of Jacob" and the "beauty" or substance of Israel are to "wane" and become "dried up." This signifies a profound loss of national power, spiritual vitality, and even material well-being for the nation. The ultimate cause and perpetrator of this devastation, though not explicitly named in this verse, is God, as indicated by the context of divine prophecy. The passage serves as a warning of the severe consequences of rebellion and opposition to God's purposes.