Isaiah 62 8

Isaiah 62:8 kjv

The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

Isaiah 62:8 nkjv

The LORD has sworn by His right hand And by the arm of His strength: "Surely I will no longer give your grain As food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, For which you have labored.

Isaiah 62:8 niv

The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled;

Isaiah 62:8 esv

The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored;

Isaiah 62:8 nlt

The LORD has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength:
"I will never again hand you over to your enemies.
Never again will foreign warriors come
and take away your grain and new wine.

Isaiah 62 verses

Isaiah 62 8 Meaning

This verse declares a solemn and unbreakable oath by the LORD God to His people, specifically Zion (Jerusalem). He vows with absolute certainty that the produce of their land—their grain and new wine, representing their sustenance, labor, and prosperity—will never again be consumed by their enemies or foreign invaders. Instead, those who have toiled for these blessings will be the ones to enjoy them, marking a complete reversal of past oppression and a promise of secure abundance and justice under divine protection.

Isaiah 62 8 Context

Isaiah chapter 62 is a prophetic utterance of assurance and exhilaration for Jerusalem (Zion) following a period of desolation and sorrow. The chapter describes God's unwavering commitment to His people, promising their restoration, vindication, and renown among the nations. The prophet expresses deep spiritual longing and dedication to see Jerusalem become a praise in the earth (v. 1). Watchmen are set upon its walls to ceaselessly intercede until its righteousness shines forth (v. 6-7). This intense divine and prophetic resolve provides the immediate backdrop for verse 8, which presents God's own solemn vow. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people had experienced repeated cycles of invasion, particularly by Assyria and Babylon, during which their agricultural produce, the fruit of their strenuous labor, was regularly plundered and consumed by foreign armies. This verse is a direct prophetic counter-narrative, a definitive reversal of those devastating experiences, guaranteeing an end to such national humiliation and economic injustice, ensuring that their labor will yield fruit for their own sustenance and joy.

Isaiah 62 8 Word analysis

• The LORD (יְהוָ֣ה YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and self-existent nature. His oath by YHWH is of ultimate weight, distinguishing Him as the one true, sovereign God.
• has sworn (נִשְׁבַּ֤ע nishba'): Derived from a root meaning "to be seven" or "to be complete," implying something done fully or decisively. An oath in ancient Israel was a serious, binding promise, often invoked with a divine witness, or by the deity itself, as here. This emphasizes the absolute certainty and irreversibility of the declaration.
• by his right hand (בִּימִינֹו֙ biymino): In biblical culture, the right hand symbolizes power, authority, strength, and executive action. Swearing by one's right hand means swearing by one's very capability to act and enforce the oath. God uses the most powerful "part" of Himself metaphorically.
• and by his mighty arm (וּבִזְרֹ֣ועַ עֻזֹּ֔ו֙ uvizro'a uzzo): Reinforces and amplifies the imagery of the right hand. The arm signifies strength, particularly in battle and rescue. Uzzō (עֹ֔ז) means might, strength, or power. Swearing by His "mighty arm" is swearing by His unconquerable strength, ensuring that He possesses both the will and the capacity to fulfill His word.
• 'Never again' (לֹא־אֶתֵּ֨ן lo-etten): This negation coupled with the future tense, signifies an absolute and permanent cessation of a previous pattern. The divine "no more" conveys a definitive end to suffering.
• will I give (אֶתֵּ֨ן etten): God explicitly states His active role in controlling the distribution of their produce. He will not give it, meaning He has the sovereign power to prevent its transfer.
• your grain (דְּגָנֵךְ֙ deganech): Refers to cereal crops, a fundamental staple of life and symbol of basic sustenance. This signifies the provision of daily bread.
• as food (לְמַֽאֲכָל֙ lema'akhal): The specific purpose: for consumption.
• for your enemies (אֹיְבַ֜יִךְ oyevayich): The designated recipient, now explicitly barred. The enemies represent any oppressing foreign power.
• and never again (וְלֹא־יִשְׁתּ֤וּ velo-yishtû): Again, emphasizing the permanent cessation.
• foreigners (בְּנֵי־נֵכָר֙ benei nekhar): Literally "sons of the stranger" or "sons of foreigners." This phrase emphasizes their alien nature, they are outsiders who have no right to the land's produce, highlighting the injustice of their consumption.
• drink (יִשְׁתּ֤וּ yishtû): Specifically consumes by drinking.
• your new wine (תִּירֽוֹשֵׁךְ tiyroshech): Refers to freshly pressed grape juice, representing abundance, blessing, joy, and prosperity beyond mere subsistence.
• for which you have toiled (אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגַ֖עַתְּ asher yaga't): Yaga't means to labor, strive, weary oneself. This phrase underscores the injustice of their previous situation—their strenuous efforts produced nothing for themselves but became profit for their oppressors. God promises to restore the dignity and fruitfulness of their labor.

Word-groups analysis:

• "The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm": This is an unparalleled divine self-oath, highlighting God's complete and unwavering commitment. Since there is no one greater, God swears by His own sovereign power, making the promise immutable and absolutely certain (Heb 6:13). It assures His capacity and will to intervene and protect.
• "Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink your new wine": This dual negative promise emphatically reverses centuries of painful experience. Grain and new wine are essential aspects of life, representing basic needs and joyful celebrations, respectively. The promise covers both sustenance and prosperity, ensuring that all their efforts bear fruit for their own benefit and pleasure, not for plunderers.
• "for which you have toiled": This phrase addresses the deep injustice of previous oppressions. It recognizes and validates the hard work of God's people, assuring them that their efforts will no longer be in vain. Their labor will now result in blessings they can personally enjoy. This points to a restored economy where justice and righteousness prevail.

Isaiah 62 8 Bonus section

The concept of God swearing by Himself, especially by His "right hand and mighty arm," is a biblical mechanism to communicate the absolute certainty of His word when no higher authority exists by which to swear. This elevates the promise of Isaiah 62:8 to a divine decree, as unchangeable as God's very nature. It stands in contrast to the frequent biblical laments of injustice, where the toil of the righteous went unrewarded, and their harvest became fodder for their enemies (as seen in Deuteronomic curses). The assurance here is not just about physical sustenance, but a holistic restoration of dignity and sovereignty to a people who had endured significant historical subjugation. It foreshadows a Messianic kingdom where the natural order of the world will align with divine justice and faithfulness.

Isaiah 62 8 Commentary

Isaiah 62:8 is a profound declaration of God's unshakeable commitment to Zion's future restoration and security. By swearing a self-oath using the imagery of His powerful "right hand and mighty arm," God presents an unalterable, divinely guaranteed promise. He directly addresses the historic pain of His people: the injustice of foreign nations plundering their sustenance (grain) and joy (new wine), fruit of their own hard labor. This verse proclaims an end to that cycle of exploitation and national humiliation. It's a vivid picture of a world where God's people not only thrive but also enjoy the fruits of their toil in safety and peace. This promise undergirds the concept of future Messianic blessings, assuring a time of justice, prosperity, and unwavering divine protection, where their dignity and well-being are fully vindicated.