Isaiah 37 27

Isaiah 37:27 kjv

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

Isaiah 37:27 nkjv

Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown.

Isaiah 37:27 niv

Their people, drained of power, are dismayed and put to shame. They are like plants in the field, like tender green shoots, like grass sprouting on the roof, scorched before it grows up.

Isaiah 37:27 esv

while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.

Isaiah 37:27 nlt

That is why their people have so little power
and are so frightened and confused.
They are as weak as grass,
as easily trampled as tender green shoots.
They are like grass sprouting on a housetop,
scorched before it can grow lush and tall.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 27 Meaning

This verse states that God sees the distress of his people and their resulting actions of opposition and ridicule against Him. It highlights God's awareness of their suffering and their ungrateful response, which provokes His divine judgment.

Isaiah 37 27 Context

This verse appears within the larger narrative of Isaiah chapter 37, which recounts King Hezekiah's prayer and God's response through the prophet Isaiah to the Assyrian king Sennacherib's threat. Sennacherib had boasted and blasphemed against the God of Israel, confident in his own power to destroy Jerusalem. God, through Isaiah, rebukes Sennacherib's pride and assures Hezekiah that the threat would be neutralized. Verse 27 reflects God's perception of Sennacherib's insolent actions and pronounces judgment, implying that Sennacherib's defiance and boasts will be met with divine retribution, which, as the subsequent verses describe, involves a swift and devastating destruction of the Assyrian army. The immediate context emphasizes God's all-seeing nature and His active engagement in the affairs of His people, responding to both their pleas and the blasphemies of their enemies.

Isaiah 37 27 Word Analysis

• וַתִּרְאֶה (wat-tir-'eh): "And you have seen." From the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning to see, behold, perceive, observe. This indicates a visual recognition and understanding of what has occurred.
• וְתָבִין (wet-av-in): "and have understood." From the root בִּין (bin), meaning to understand, discern, distinguish. It signifies a comprehension beyond mere observation, an intelligent grasp of the situation.
• וְתַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ (wet-ash-mi-'e-nu): "and made us hear" (or "and made it known to us"). From the root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning to hear, listen, obey, proclaim. In this passive sense, it suggests God's revelation of His knowledge and intentions.
• כִּי (ki): "that" or "because." A conjunction introducing the reason for or the content of what has been seen and understood.
• מֵעוֹלָם (mei-'olam): "from eternity," "from of old," "from ancient times." The preposition מִן (min) combined with עוֹלָם ('olam), signifying eternity or a very long, indefinite period.
• וְעַתָּה (we-'atah): "and now." Contrasts the past, eternal knowledge with the present circumstances.
• הֲגֵר (ha-ger): "has it come to pass?" or "has it come to this?" The interrogative particle הֲ (ha-) with the verb גָּעַל (ga'al) or similar roots meaning to arrive or come. Here, it conveys a sense of disbelief or a challenge concerning the current state of affairs as a result of perceived divine ignorance.
• לְבַעוּר (le-va-'ur): "to destroy," "to make desolate," "to ruin." From the root בָּעַר (ba'ar), meaning to burn, consume, destroy. It refers to the ruin and devastation intended against cities and fortresses.
• עָרֵי (’a-rei): "cities of." Plural form of עִיר (’ir).
• מָצוֹר (ma-tzor): "fortified place," "stronghold," "fenced city." It signifies defensive structures, implying places of strategic importance and defense.

Words Group Analysis:

• "You have seen and understood and made known to us": This phrase emphasizes God's comprehensive awareness. It’s not just about seeing an event but understanding its implications and revealing this knowledge. This aligns with God's omniscience – He knows everything, including the proud plans and blasphemous words of His enemies and the suffering of His people.
• "That from of old You knew...": This highlights God's eternal plan and foreknowledge. The present crisis is not outside His knowledge or control; it fits within His age-old designs. His understanding predates the circumstances.
• "and now You have brought this to pass, to destroy fortified cities and their walls, to make them heaps of ruins.": This speaks to God's sovereignty and His active role in history. What enemies see as their own achievement, God attributes to His power, whether in judgment or preservation. It points to His ability to bring down even the most formidable defenses.

Isaiah 37 27 Bonus Section

The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, is presented here as an epitome of human arrogance and rebellion against God's sovereignty. His boastful words recorded in the preceding verses of Isaiah 37 are contrasted with God's intimate knowledge of everything he has done and intended. The Hebrew term for "seen" (רָאָה - ra'ah) carries a sense of understanding and insightful perception, not just passive observation. Similarly, "understood" (בִּין - bin) denotes discerning judgment. God’s awareness encompasses both the physical destruction sought by Sennacherib and the underlying intent and futility of his actions. The mention of "fortified cities" represents human defenses, which ultimately are no match for divine power, a recurring theme in biblical narratives (e.g., the walls of Jericho). This verse sets the stage for God's direct and dramatic intervention, a classic example of His defense of His people against overwhelming opposition.

Isaiah 37 27 Commentary

This verse reveals God's perfect knowledge and foresight. He sees, understands, and reveals all things. He is aware of His people's distress and also of the enemy's proud and deceptive intentions. Sennacherib believed his successes were due solely to his own might, overlooking or actively disregarding God's ultimate power. However, God makes it known through Isaiah that He has been aware of all this "from of old" and now intervenes, making Sennacherib's downfall possible. This passage assures believers that God is not surprised by trials and that He acts according to His eternal plan, ultimately bringing judgment upon those who defy Him and relief to those who trust Him. It contrasts man's limited perception with God's absolute knowledge and control.