Isaiah 7 18

Isaiah 7:18 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:18 nkjv

And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will whistle for the fly That is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:18 niv

In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:18 esv

In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:18 nlt

In that day the LORD will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees.

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 18 Meaning

This verse describes a divinely sent plague of locusts and bees that will come upon Egypt. This is a consequence of their rebellion and opposition to God and His people. The imagery highlights swiftness and pervasiveness, indicating a widespread and destructive affliction.

Isaiah 7 18 Context

Chapter 7 of Isaiah deals with the Syro-Ephraimitic war against Judah. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria have joined forces to attack Jerusalem. King Ahaz of Judah is afraid and considers seeking aid from Assyria. Isaiah, however, urges Ahaz to trust in the Lord. This verse is part of a larger prophecy that describes future judgments and blessings upon Egypt. While the immediate context is the threat to Judah, this prophecy expands to include divine judgment on surrounding nations, particularly Egypt, for their perceived or actual opposition to God's people and His plan. Egypt, being a significant power, often played a role in regional politics and sometimes influenced Judah's decisions.

Isaiah 7 18 Word Analysis

• וְהָיָה (və·hō·w·yâ): "and it shall come to pass" or "and it shall be." A common temporal clause connector, introducing future events.

• בַּיּוֹם (bay·yō·wm): "in that day." Refers to a specific future time, often associated with God's judgment or intervention.

• הַהוּא (haph·hûʔ): "that." Emphasizes the specific day previously mentioned or understood.

• כִּי (kî): "that" or "because." Introduces a clause explaining the reason or the certainty of the following statement.

• יִשְׁרֹק (yish·rō·q): "will hiss" or "will whistle." A strong verb, implying a call or command, often used for shepherds calling sheep, or to summon insects or animals. In this context, it signifies God summoning pests. This word has connections to locusts (Leviticus 11:22 - speaking of unclean winged creatures that can be likened to locusts).

• יְהוָה (Yahweh): The personal covenant name of God.

• לַדְּבוֹרָה (lad·dɛ·ḇō·wrâ): "for the fly" or "for the bee." While commonly translated as "fly," some scholars suggest it can refer to a buzzing insect, possibly including bees or even swarms. It can also imply "pestilence."

• אֲשֶׁר (ʔă·šɛr): "which" or "that." Relative pronoun introducing a description.

• בְּמֶצַּר (bɛ·mə·tṣar): "in the midst" or "in the enclosed place" or "in the channels." This could refer to the streams, canals, or border regions of the Nile Delta, where insects would be abundant.

• נַהֲרֵי (nah·hă·rê): "rivers of" or "channels of." Refers to the many branches and canals of the Nile River.

• מִצְרָיִם (Miṣ·rã·yim): "Egypt." The ancient nation south of Canaan.

• וְאֶל (wə·ʔɛl): "and unto" or "and to." Connects the entities God will call.

• לַדְּבוֹרָה (lad·dɛ·ḇō·wrâ): "for the bee" or "for the sting" (less common interpretation, but possible in the context of an affliction). Again, emphasis on a destructive insect swarm.

• אֲשֶׁר (ʔă·šɛr): "which" or "that."

• בְּאֶרֶץ (bɛ·ʔɛ·reṣ): "in the land."

• אַשּׁוּר (ʔaš·šûr): "Assyria." The powerful empire to the north of Judah. While the primary focus of the calling seems to be the insects, the "bee" may also carry a metaphorical or even a secondary literal sense of an attacking army from the north or even a locust swarm itself which would swarm like bees. The combination implies both insects and possibly a divinely instigated human invasion from either Egypt or Assyria, or God using these as agents.

• Word Groups/Phrases:

  • "will hiss for the fly/bee...and for the bee...in the land of Assyria": This parallelism is crucial. It shows God summoning these destructive forces. The use of "hiss" is potent, evoking a swift, controlled command, like calling a dog or shepherd. It can also be a hissing sound of a snake or a buzzing of insects, amplifying the imagery of plague. The destination "rivers of Egypt" and "land of Assyria" highlights the extensive reach of God's power, capable of dispatching afflictions upon these major world powers. The dual mention of "fly/bee" in connection to both Egypt and Assyria suggests that judgment would come from these directions, or that similar destructive forces would affect them.

Isaiah 7 18 Bonus Section

The Hebrew word translated as "fly" (דְּבוֹרָה - dvorah) can also be understood in relation to bees or even wasps, emphasizing a stinging or biting aspect to the plague. This ambiguity amplifies the potential for destructive suffering. The "rivers of Egypt" highlights the vulnerability of Egypt's agricultural and economic life, which depended heavily on the Nile's annual inundation. God targets these life-sustaining systems to bring about His purposes.

The act of "hissing" to summon insects is a particularly potent metaphor for God's command over the natural world. It’s similar to a shepherd calling his flock or a falconer recalling his hawk. This emphasizes an active, intentional deployment of these forces for judgment. Scholars note the extensive symbolism of insects in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often associated with chaos, destruction, and divine power. Isaiah leverages this symbolism to convey the overwhelming and fearful nature of God's judgment upon Egypt. The parallelism of the verse, mentioning both the "fly" in the rivers of Egypt and a similar "bee" (or fly) in the land of Assyria, suggests that divine judgment was not confined to one nation but would sweep across the region.

Isaiah 7 18 Commentary

This verse paints a vivid picture of divine sovereignty over nature and nations. God's "hiss" is not a weak sound but a powerful, effective call that brings devastating insect swarms upon Egypt, targeting its lifeblood – the Nile's river systems. The choice of insects (locusts, flies, bees) signifies rapid, pervasive, and consuming destruction. This judgment serves as a consequence for Egypt's opposition, either directly to Judah or indirectly through its idolatry and geopolitical maneuvering.

The connection to locusts and plagues in Exodus underscores that God has historically used such phenomena to assert His power and judge nations. The prophecy is remarkable for its specific imagery of God calling these pests from their habitats. This isn't just a natural disaster but a divinely orchestrated event, demonstrating that even the smallest creatures, under God's command, can become instruments of His justice. The mention of Assyria, often an aggressor, implies a broader scope of judgment.

The meaning extends beyond a mere physical plague. It represents a spiritual subjugation and a demonstration that no nation, however powerful, can escape God's ultimate authority and judgment when they turn from Him. The ability to control such phenomena emphasizes God's power over creation, a point stressed throughout Isaiah.