Isaiah 37 30

Isaiah 37:30 kjv

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

Isaiah 37:30 nkjv

"This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.

Isaiah 37:30 niv

"This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: "This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Isaiah 37:30 esv

"And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that. Then in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

Isaiah 37:30 nlt

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Here is the proof that what I say is true: "This year you will eat only what grows up by itself,
and next year you will eat what springs up from that.
But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them;
you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 30 Meaning

This verse is a sign from God assuring King Hezekiah that Judah will not be conquered by the Assyrian army led by Sennacherib. It signifies God's direct intervention to protect His people and His promises, even amidst overwhelming threats. The sign is described as a year and two years of natural sustenance from the land, meaning they will be able to live off the land's produce for that period.

Isaiah 37 30 Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Isaiah chapter 37, detailing King Hezekiah's confrontation with the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Sennacherib had already conquered many fortified cities of Judah and was threatening Jerusalem. Hezekiah, after receiving a threatening message from Sennacherib, turns to God in prayer and sends his officials to the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures Hezekiah that the Lord of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim, has heard his prayer and will protect Jerusalem. He then provides this specific sign, spoken through Isaiah, as a tangible confirmation of God's deliverance. The immediate historical context is the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib around 701 BC. The verse follows Isaiah's prophecy of Sennacherib's imminent defeat and retreat, attributed to the direct action of God.

Isaiah 37 30 Word Analysis

• וְזֶה־ (v'zeh): "And this" - Indicates the presentation of a specific sign or evidence.
• ־לְךָ (lecha): "unto thee" - Directed specifically to King Hezekiah.
• הַסִּימָן (hassiman): "the sign" - A miraculous or significant occurrence given as proof or assurance. It refers to a specific divine mark or token.
• כִּי־ (ki): "that" or "because" - Introduces the content of the sign.
• ־תֹּאכְלוּ (to'kelu): "ye shall eat" - Plural imperfect verb indicating a future action by the people.
• הַשָּׁנָה (hashanah): "the year" - Refers to the present year or the upcoming year.
• אֶת־ (et): Direct object marker.
• אֲשֶׁר־ (asher): "which" or "that" - Relative pronoun.
• ־יִצְמָח (yitzmach): "groweth" or "springs up" - Refers to spontaneous natural growth. From the root צמח (tsamach), meaning to sprout, bud, grow.
• מִזַּרְעָהּ (miz'ra'ah): "from its seed" - Denotes produce that comes directly from the earth's own seed, without cultivation. Literally, "from its seed."
• וּבַשָּׁנָה (uvashanah): "and in the year" - Connects to the subsequent year.
• ־הַשֵּׁנִית (hashenit): "the second" - Specifies the second year following the current one.
• ־אָכֹ֥ל (akol): "eat" - Infinitive construct form of the verb "to eat."
• כֵּן (ken): "so" or "likewise" - Indicating similarity in manner or degree.
• וּבַשָּׁנָה (uvashanah): "and in the year" - Another connective for the following year.
• הַשְּׁלִישִׁית (hashlishit): "the third" - Specifies the third year.
• אָכ֣וּ (achu): "ye did eat" or "they did eat" - Qal perfect of אכל (akal), eating. This indicates the action of eating in the third year.
• ־וְתֹאכֵ֑לוּ (v'to'kelu): "and ye shall eat" - Again, the plural imperfect, reaffirming the ongoing or future action of eating. The plural 'ye' implies the people of Judah.
• מִן־ (min): "from" or "of".
• ־הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz): "the land" - Referring to the land of Judah.
• פִּרְיָהּ (piryah): "its fruit" - The produce of the land.

Group Analysis:The structure emphasizes a three-year period: the current year ("this year"), the second year, and the third year. The initial phrase "eat this year such as groweth of itself from its seed" signifies a period where there's enough natural sustenance without human cultivation. This implies that the enemy's invasion and disruption were so severe that normal agricultural activities were impossible or at least severely hindered. The assurance of eating "likewise in the second year" reinforces the continuation of this protected state. The final clause "and eat of the land's fruit in the third year" suggests a return to normalcy or a sufficiency of provision from the land's inherent fertility. The core idea is continued provision and sustenance from the land itself, underscoring divine care.

Isaiah 37 30 Bonus Section

This sign serves as a specific prophecy of the immediate aftermath of Sennacherib's failed invasion. The rapid and inexplicable withdrawal of the Assyrian army, attributed by the Bible to a divine intervention where 185,000 Assyrians were struck down by the Angel of the Lord (Isaiah 37:36), allowed the land to remain relatively intact and capable of providing for its people through natural regrowth. The period of three years likely denotes a sufficient time for the political and military shock to subside and for the land to recover, symbolizing a period of sustained divine protection and peace after the immediate deliverance. It also emphasizes the self-sufficiency God grants when His people trust in Him, rather than in foreign alliances or human strength.

Isaiah 37 30 Commentary

This sign highlights God's miraculous provision in a time of crisis. It's not just about survival; it's about assurance from God directly to Hezekiah. The message implies that during the time of Assyrian threat, fields would not be sown by the people due to fear or destruction. Instead, God would miraculously provide from the residual seed and the natural growth of the land for three years. This would allow the people to endure and not be tempted to seek Egyptian aid, as they had in the past. It speaks to God's sovereignty over nature and His commitment to His covenant people. It reassures them that God's plans will not be thwarted by human armies. This principle of God providing even when human efforts cease is seen throughout scripture. The sign signifies the sufficiency of God's power and grace to sustain His people, even when external circumstances seem dire.