Isaiah 6 13

Isaiah 6:13 kjv

But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Isaiah 6:13 nkjv

But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump."

Isaiah 6:13 niv

And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

Isaiah 6:13 esv

And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.

Isaiah 6:13 nlt

If even a tenth ? a remnant ? survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel's stump will be a holy seed."

Isaiah 6 verses

Isaiah 6 13 Meaning

Isaiah 6:13 speaks of a devastating judgment upon Judah, where the nation will be drastically cut down and repeatedly consumed, similar to a tree felled multiple times. Yet, within this severe destruction, a tiny fraction, a "tenth," will survive. This enduring remnant, though reduced to what seems like a lifeless stump, possesses the vital "substance" – a "holy seed." This "holy seed" is God's divinely preserved remnant, through whom His covenant promises will ultimately be sustained and fulfilled, leading to future restoration. The verse powerfully combines themes of profound judgment with sovereign, miraculous preservation, emphasizing that God's ultimate plan will not be thwarted despite human unfaithfulness and widespread devastation.

Isaiah 6 13 Context

Isaiah chapter 6 recounts the prophet Isaiah's awe-inspiring vision of the Lord's glory in the temple and his commissioning. After sensing his unworthiness and being purified, Isaiah hears the Lord asking who will go. Isaiah volunteers. The Lord then delivers a sobering message of hardening the hearts of the people and foretelling widespread desolation across the land. Isaiah asks how long this destruction will last. Verse 13 provides the bleak answer of utter devastation, describing the land being entirely desolate, yet it pivots to introduce a sliver of hope through the promise of a preserved remnant. This verse sets the stage for the rest of Isaiah's prophecies, which continually oscillate between severe judgment and glorious future hope, rooted in the enduring faithfulness of God to His chosen people through a "holy seed." Historically, this points toward the impending Assyrian invasions, the Babylonian exile, and ultimately, the restoration and messianic age.

Isaiah 6 13 Word analysis

• וְעוֹד בָּהּ עֲשִׂרִיָּה (wəʿôd bāh ʿăśîriyyâ) – "But yet in it shall be a tenth":

  • וְעוֹד (wəʿôd): "But yet," "still," or "again." It signifies a continuation or a further development of what precedes. Here, despite the extensive devastation described, there's still something remaining.
  • בָּהּ (bāh): "In it," referring to the land/nation of Israel, emphasizing the internal preservation within the very place of judgment.
  • עֲשִׂרִיָּה (ʿăśîriyyâ): "Tenth part" or "tithe." This word usually denotes a tithe, a portion given to God, implying it is small but significant and set apart. Here, it is symbolic of a remnant, a small fraction preserved out of a much larger group, signifying how drastic the reduction will be. It highlights that this preservation is not due to human strength but divine prerogative.

• וְשָׁבָה וְהָיְתָה לְבָעֵר (wəšāḇâ wəhāyətâ ləḇāʿēr) – "and shall return, and shall be consumed" / "it will again be consumed":

  • וְשָׁבָה (wəšāḇâ): From shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to return," "turn back," "repent." In this context, it is best understood as "return to be" or "again become," implying a cycle or repetition of consumption/destruction, even for the tenth that remains. This emphasizes the extreme, purifying nature of the judgment. The severity is such that even the tiny portion left undergoes further purification.
  • וְהָיְתָה (wəhāyətâ): "and it shall be" or "and it will become."
  • לְבָעֵר (ləḇāʿēr): From baʿar (בָּעֵר), "to consume," "burn," "purge." It signifies being utterly burned or cleared away. This reinforces the idea of severe, purgative judgment.

• כָּאֵלָה וְכָאַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלַּכְתָּהּ אֵשְׁלָם (kaʾēlâ wəḵaʾallôn ʾăšer bəšaleketāh ʾēšelām) – "as a terebinth, and as an oak, when they cast off their leaves/are felled":

  • כָּאֵלָה (kaʾēlâ) / וְכָאַלּוֹן (wəḵaʾallôn): "Like a terebinth" (elah) and "like an oak" (allon). These were large, long-lived trees common in Israel, known for deep root systems and resilience, but also often associated with pagan worship groves. Their inclusion highlights a symbolic purging of even objects associated with idolatry.
  • אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלַּכְתָּהּ (ʾăšer bəšaleketāh): "When it casts off" or "when it is cut down/felled." While shaleket primarily means "casting off leaves," in the context of felling trees, it refers to the removal of branches or the trunk, leaving a stump. The image is of a tree stripped bare or cut down, losing its outward glory and vitality.

• מַצֶּבֶת בָּהֶם זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ מַצַּבְתָּהּ׃ (maṣṣeḇet bāhem zeraʿ qōḏeš maṣṣaḇtāh) – "whose substance is in them: so the holy seed shall be its stump.":

  • מַצֶּבֶת (maṣṣeḇet): "Stump," "pillar," "standing place." Here it specifically refers to the living part of a tree left in the ground after it has been cut down. It is the remaining, hidden source of life. This 'stump' is not just a remnant, but one that has potential for future growth.
  • בָּהֶם (bāhem): "In them" (i.e., in the terebinth and oak), indicating the life principle remaining within the stump.
  • זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ (zeraʿ qōḏeš): "Holy seed." This is the core metaphor.
    • זֶרַע (zeraʿ): "Seed," "offspring," "posterity." It signifies lineage, progeny, or the very beginning of life that has potential for full growth.
    • קֹדֶשׁ (qōḏeš): "Holy," set apart for God's purposes, sanctified, pure.
    • Together, "holy seed" signifies God's chosen, pure, and set-apart remnant—not just survivors by chance, but those divinely preserved and empowered to continue God's covenant purposes. This includes those faithful within Israel and ultimately points to the Messiah, from whom new life will spring forth.

Isaiah 6 13 Bonus section

The imagery of the terebinth and oak, which were often features of Canaanite high places and pagan worship, carries an indirect polemical message. God declares that these trees, supposedly sacred in idolatrous rituals, will be felled and burned. Yet, it is within this judgment of what humans considered powerful or divine that God’s true, hidden "substance" (His holy seed) will endure. This subtly contrasts the impotence of false gods and their symbols with the active, preserving power of the true God. The remnant is not merely lucky survivors; they are divinely maṣṣeḇet, a firmly established, divinely ordained "stump" through whom God's plan, centered on Christ, will unfold.

Isaiah 6 13 Commentary

Isaiah 6:13 is a pivotal verse in understanding the overarching prophetic message of judgment and hope in the Bible. After hearing of the complete desolation of the land and the people's hardened hearts, Isaiah asks for the duration of this devastation. The answer, as conveyed in this verse, is dire yet pregnant with hope. The nation, like a mighty terebinth or oak, will be repeatedly felled and consumed by fire—a stark image of profound divine judgment through invasions and exile. Even if a small fraction, a "tenth," manages to survive, it too will undergo further purification, symbolizing intense suffering and the near-total collapse of the old order.

However, the divine message does not end in despair. Just as a tree's stump (its maṣṣeḇet) retains hidden vitality from which new shoots can sprout, so too within the severely purged nation, there will remain a "holy seed" (zeraʿ qōḏeš). This "holy seed" represents God's faithful and chosen remnant, providentially preserved from utter annihilation. This is a promise of divine continuity: though judgment consumes the unholy and unfaithful, God's essential purposes for His covenant people will be maintained through this dedicated and divinely-selected group. This maṣṣeḇet (stump) of the "holy seed" carries the promise of future restoration, renewal, and eventually the advent of the Messiah who springs forth from this enduring lineage. The image thus communicates both the severity of God's righteous wrath against sin and the steadfastness of His covenant faithfulness and sovereign grace in preserving a righteous remnant.