Isaiah 7 1

Isaiah 7:1 kjv

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

Isaiah 7:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it.

Isaiah 7:1 niv

When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

Isaiah 7:1 esv

In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it.

Isaiah 7:1 nlt

When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 1 Meaning

Isaiah 7:1 sets the historical stage for a critical confrontation during the Syro-Ephraimite War, circa 734 BCE. It describes how Rezin, king of Aram (Syria), and Pekah, king of Israel (Ephraim), formed an alliance to attack Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, with the intent of dethroning King Ahaz and replacing him. However, despite their efforts, they "could not prevail against it," signifying God's protective hand over Jerusalem and the Davidic line, a crucial detail that informs the subsequent prophecies of Isaiah.

Isaiah 7 1 Context

Isaiah 7:1 introduces the historical crisis that prompts God's message to King Ahaz of Judah. The setting is approximately 734-735 BCE, during the reign of King Ahaz (736-716 BCE). This verse marks the beginning of the "Book of Immanuel" (Isaiah 7-12), a pivotal section addressing Judah's fear and the Lord's promise of divine presence and deliverance.

Historically, this verse describes the onset of the Syro-Ephraimite War. The rising Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III was pressuring the smaller nations. Rezin of Aram-Damascus and Pekah of Israel, facing Assyrian aggression, formed a defensive alliance and sought to coerce Judah into joining them. When Ahaz refused, they decided to invade Judah to depose him and install a more compliant puppet ruler, the "son of Tabeel" (Isa 7:6), thus violating the Davidic covenant promise of a perpetual dynasty (2 Sam 7:16). Their siege of Jerusalem, however, failed. This initial failure, clearly stated in this verse, is crucial, as it underlines Judah's immediate security despite their terror (Isa 7:2) and sets the stage for God's prophetic encounter with Ahaz, where God challenges Ahaz to trust Him rather than rely on human alliances (like Assyria, which Ahaz eventually turned to).

Isaiah 7 1 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass: A standard narrative introductory phrase (wə-hayah - וַיְהִי), indicating the unfolding of a significant historical event, grounding the prophecy that follows in a specific historical context.
• in the days of Ahaz: Refers to the period of Ahaz's reign. Ahaz ('Achaz - אָחָז), meaning "He has grasped" or "possessor." He was known for his idolatry and lack of faith in Yahweh.
• the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah: Establishes Ahaz's royal lineage, linking him directly to the Davidic dynasty through two relatively righteous kings. Jotham (Yotam - יוֹתָם), meaning "Yahweh is perfect." Uzziah (Uziyyah - עֻזִּיָּה), meaning "My strength is Yahweh." This lineage reinforces the relevance of the Davidic covenant, central to the coming prophecy.
• king of Judah: Designates Ahaz as the monarch of the Southern Kingdom, centered in Jerusalem, emphasizing the direct threat to God's chosen city and Davidic throne. Judah (Yehudah - יְהוּדָה).
• that Rezin king of Syria: Rezin (Rᵉtsin - רְצִין) was the king of Aram-Damascus, a prominent northern neighbor and historical adversary of Israel and Judah. Syria is Aram (אֲרָם) in Hebrew, known for its powerful capital, Damascus.
• and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel: Pekah (Pekaḥ - פֶּקַח), whose patronymic Remaliah (Remalyahu - רְמַלְיָהוּ) implies "Yahweh has cared for/adorned," was the king of the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim/Israel). He was a usurper who gained power through violence.
• came up to Jerusalem: The standard direction for approaching Jerusalem (Yerushalayim - יְרוּשָׁלַיִם) due to its elevated topography, reflecting both physical ascent and symbolic importance as God's holy city. This phrasing signifies a direct military expedition.
• to make war against it: States the hostile intent of the invading coalition. The Hebrew verb implies initiating an aggressive, siege-oriented conflict.
• but could not prevail against it: This crucial phrase (wĕ-lō'- yāḵōl` - וְלֹא יָכֹל לָהּ) is a definitive statement of their failure. Despite their military might and combined forces, Jerusalem was divinely protected from immediate capture. This detail highlights God's sovereignty over earthly powers and sets the stage for Isaiah's message of comfort and the sign of Immanuel, emphasizing that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human enemies. It serves as a strong polemic against the notion that national security relies solely on military might or strategic alliances, pointing instead to reliance on Yahweh.

Isaiah 7 1 Bonus section

The failed siege, specifically mentioned as "could not prevail," is not a random outcome but a direct fulfillment of God's prior covenant with David (2 Sam 7:16). This covenant promised an eternal dynasty, meaning the Davidic line reigning in Judah would not be utterly overthrown. The very purpose of Rezin and Pekah's campaign was to violate this divine promise by removing Ahaz and installing a puppet, the "son of Tabeel." Therefore, their inability to conquer Jerusalem demonstrated Yahweh's unwavering commitment to His promises and His direct control over geopolitical events. This provides a tangible basis for Isaiah's appeal to Ahaz's faith, as Judah had already witnessed a miracle of sorts. However, Ahaz chose to rely on Assyria instead of the God who had just saved Jerusalem, leading to further consequences later in Judah's history (as prophesied in Isa 7:17-25 and Isa 8). The sequence of events underlines a significant biblical theme: God works powerfully, often counter-intuitively, to preserve His redemptive plan, sometimes despite, and even through, the unbelief of His own people.

Isaiah 7 1 Commentary

Isaiah 7:1 serves as a vital prologue, anchoring Isaiah's subsequent prophetic message within a real-time historical crisis. It details the precise threat that instigated the prophecy: the united aggression of Syria and Israel against Judah. The key declaration, "but could not prevail against it," is not merely a historical footnote but a powerful theological statement. It immediately signals God's active protection of Jerusalem and the Davidic line, despite the profound fear gripping Ahaz and Judah (as stated in the next verse). This divine intervention forms the very premise upon which Isaiah's challenge to Ahaz to trust Yahweh unfolds. The verse illustrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (e.g., Davidic dynasty) even when human leaders fail in their faith, and it sets the stage for the powerful prophecy of Immanuel – "God with us" – as the ultimate sign of divine presence and deliverance amidst the chaos and disbelief.