Isaiah 27 4

Isaiah 27:4 kjv

Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

Isaiah 27:4 nkjv

Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

Isaiah 27:4 niv

I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me! I would march against them in battle; I would set them all on fire.

Isaiah 27:4 esv

I have no wrath. Would that I had thorns and briers to battle! I would march against them, I would burn them up together.

Isaiah 27:4 nlt

My anger will be gone.
If I find briers and thorns growing,
I will attack them;
I will burn them up ?

Isaiah 27 verses

Isaiah 27 4 meaning

Isaiah 27:4 expresses God's definitive change in disposition towards His redeemed people, declaring that His active "fury" or wrath against them has subsided. Concurrently, it reveals His fervent desire and resolute intention to confront and utterly consume all forces, symbolized by "briers and thorns," that stand as threats or hindrances to His flourishing vineyard – His covenant people. It is a declaration of committed protection for Israel and decisive judgment upon her adversaries.

Isaiah 27 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 27 is part of a larger prophetic section (chapters 24-27) known as the "Little Apocalypse" or "Isaiah's Apocalypse," describing the future judgment of the world and the glorious restoration of Israel. Verse 4 is nestled between God's promise of victory over the cosmic foe Leviathan (27:1) and the subsequent description of His beloved, fruitful vineyard – Israel – which He diligently watches over and waters (27:2-3). In sharp contrast to the "Song of the Vineyard" in Isa 5, where God judges Israel's unfruitfulness by allowing it to be overgrown with thorns, here the vineyard (a metaphor for His purified people) is vibrant, protected, and flourishing. The verse therefore establishes God's renewed covenant loyalty and protective stance towards His re-gathered, righteous people, against the backdrop of His impending judgment on their enemies.

Isaiah 27 4 Word analysis

• Füry (חֵמָה - ḥēmāh):
  • Meaning: Burning anger, wrath, indignation, hot displeasure. Often associated with fierce, intense emotional response.
  • Significance: This is God's fierce, judgmental anger, frequently manifested against sin and rebellion throughout scripture. In previous chapters of Isaiah (e.g., Isa 9:12, 17, 21), God's "anger is not turned away," indicating ongoing judgment on Israel. Here, the declaration "Füry is not in Me" signifies a momentous shift regarding His people.
• is not (אֵין - ʾên):
  • Meaning: There is not, no.
  • Significance: A simple negative, but it makes a powerful, unambiguous statement: His active, punitive wrath against His chosen nation has ceased. It highlights the completeness of this reversal of divine judgment toward His people.
• in Me (לִי - lî):
  • Meaning: To me, for me, belongs to me, in my possession/disposition.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the internal state and intention of God's heart regarding Israel. His anger toward them is no longer present within His disposition. This is distinct from His general attribute of being able to be wrathful towards sin or enemies.
• Would that I had (מִי יִתְּנֵנִי - mî yittēnēnî):
  • Meaning: Literally "Who would give to me?" A rhetorical expression indicating a fervent wish, a longing, or a strong, proactive readiness to deal with an issue, not a lack of power or resources.
  • Significance: Anthropomorphic language conveying God's zealous desire to act. It's not a question of Him needing actual briers and thorns, but rather a vivid declaration of His readiness and eagerness to destroy what they represent.
• briers (שָׁמִיר - shāmîr) and thorns (וָשָׁיִת - wāshāyit):
  • Meaning: General terms for thorny, unproductive, often invasive vegetation that indicates desolation, wildness, or difficulty. In ancient Israel, such plants often signified land cursed or neglected.
  • Significance: Symbolize elements detrimental to the vineyard. This could refer to literal weeds choking the fruitfulness, or more commonly in prophetic literature, rebellious people, nations hostile to Israel, or the remnants of sin within the purified people. Given the preceding mention of Leviathan, the strong interpretation points to God's external enemies.
• I would go against them in battle (אֶפְשְׂעָה בַמִּלְחָמָה - ʾefrəśaʿāh bammilḥāmāh):
  • Meaning: I would march against, I would step into battle, advance to conflict. Bammilḥāmāh specifies the context as "in war" or "in battle."
  • Significance: Portrays God as a mighty warrior actively engaging in hostile combat. It shows His direct, powerful, and unhindered intervention to protect His people. It is a divine offensive, not a defensive stand.
• I would burn them up (אֲקַדְּחֶנָּה - ʾaqaddəḥennāh):
  • Meaning: I would ignite them, set them on fire, cause them to burn completely.
  • Significance: Fire is a potent biblical symbol for complete and utterly destructive judgment. It indicates the thorough and final eradication of the "briers and thorns," leaving nothing remaining.
• together (יָחַד - yaḥad):
  • Meaning: Together, all at once, uniformly.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the totality and comprehensiveness of the destruction. All harmful elements, whoever or whatever they are, will be consumed without exception in this singular, decisive act of judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Füry is not in Me.": This declarative sentence, set within a chapter dealing with Israel's future, proclaims God's cessation of judgment towards His restored covenant people. It does not deny God's wrath in general (which exists for sin and His enemies), but specifically His wrath towards them. It reflects a turning point from a history of punishment for their idolatry and unfaithfulness towards a future of grace and restoration.
• "Would that I had briers and thorns! I would go against them in battle; I would burn them up together.": This wish-statement followed by two strong actions reveals God's zealous, protective disposition towards His redeemed. The "briers and thorns" symbolize all obstacles, enemies, or harmful elements that threaten the thriving of His vineyard. God expresses His fierce readiness to engage and utterly destroy these impediments through a swift, collective, and fiery judgment, ensuring His people's safety and prosperity.

Isaiah 27 4 Bonus section

The seemingly conditional statement "Would that I had briers and thorns!" is an anthropomorphism revealing God's absolute readiness and eager intent, rather than a lack of actual briers or thorns or a search for them. It underscores His sovereign control over all elements of creation, even those that appear chaotic or wild, making it clear that His judgment is never reactive but always deliberate. This statement contrasts with Isaiah 5, where Israel themselves are seen as the vineyard producing sour grapes and deserving desolation. Here, the restored Israel is God's delight, and the thorns are distinct, foreign elements of opposition. The reference to God's "burning up together" (אֲקַדְּחֶנָּה יָחַד - ʾaqaddəḥennāh yaḥad) of the thorns can be tied to the concept of total annihilation often depicted with fire in biblical judgment narratives, where remnants of evil or enemies are fully consumed, clearing the way for new creation or unhindered blessing.

Isaiah 27 4 Commentary

Isaiah 27:4 functions as a divine turning point, offering immense comfort and profound warning within the prophetic tapestry. "Füry is not in Me" declares God's altered relationship with His covenant people, Israel. After cycles of disobedience and divine discipline, this verse announces that His wrath for their past transgressions has subsided. It’s not an abdication of His holy judgment but a shift in its application. His "fury" has moved from correcting His people to consuming their threats.

The subsequent declaration, "Would that I had briers and thorns! I would go against them in battle; I would burn them up together," is a dramatic expression of God's zealous, protective nature. It portrays God not passively enduring harm to His "vineyard," but actively longing to engage and decisively eradicate anything that opposes or chokes His work. The "briers and thorns" symbolize all adversaries – be they oppressive nations, spiritual enemies, or even elements of ungodliness that impede His people's flourishing. This fierce resolve underscores His unwavering commitment to safeguard those whom He has now fully restored and intends to bless. This promise of thorough purgation ensures that the "vineyard of pleasantness" can grow without hindrance, protected by the sovereign Lord.

• Practical Example: For the believer, this passage affirms that if they are in Christ, God’s wrath is no longer directed at them because Christ has fully borne it (Rom 8:1). Instead, God's fervent desire is to confront and remove anything hindering their spiritual growth ("briers and thorns") and protect them from their adversaries, empowering them to bear good fruit.