Isaiah 7 19

Isaiah 7:19 kjv

And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

Isaiah 7:19 nkjv

They will come, and all of them will rest In the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, And on all thorns and in all pastures.

Isaiah 7:19 niv

They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes.

Isaiah 7:19 esv

And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures.

Isaiah 7:19 nlt

They will come in vast hordes and settle in the fertile areas and also in the desolate valleys, caves, and thorny places.

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 19 Meaning

This verse describes God's sovereign choice to use an unlikely and powerful instrument, the Assyrian army, to accomplish His purposes against Judah. It signifies that nothing is too lowly or formidable for God to employ in executing His judgment and in fulfilling His promises, even when it means bringing hardship upon His own people. The "razor" symbolizes the sharp and decisive nature of this divine tool.

Isaiah 7 19 Context

This verse is found within the broader prophecy of Isaiah 7-12, often called the "Immanuel prophecy" or "The Book of Immanuel." Chapter 7 is set during the Syro-Ephraimitic War (circa 734-732 BC), when the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria (Damascus) allied to attack Jerusalem, ruled by King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz, fearful, was considering alliances with Assyria. Isaiah, sent by God, urges Ahaz to trust in the Lord. In this context, Isaiah is predicting the impending invasion by a powerful, distant nation – the Assyrians. This invasion, while serving as divine judgment upon Judah for their apostasy and upon the northern kingdom for their aggression, would ultimately not succeed in destroying Judah due to God's covenant faithfulness, symbolized by the sign of Immanuel. The Assyrian king is depicted as an instrument, brought forth by God to accomplish His purposes.

Isaiah 7 19 Word Analysis

• wə (wə): A conjunction, meaning "and." It connects this verse to the preceding one, showing a continuation of God's actions.
• ḥā·wa‘ (ḥā·wa‘): Verb, meaning "to bring," "to cause to come," "to bring forth." Emphasizes the deliberate action of God in summoning.
• Yĕ·hô·wâ (Yĕ·hô·wâ): The LORD, the personal covenant name of God. Highlights God's active role and authority.
• lə·ma·‘a·lōh (lə·ma·‘a·lōh): Preposition "to" or "for" combined with "a horn/height/place on high." Here it signifies "for the height of" or "for the top of," implying a significant, perhaps remote or exalted, location from which the instrument comes. This suggests a source of power or prominence.
• ’ō·wêb (’ō·wêb): Noun, masculine singular, meaning "enemy." Refers to the hostile forces being summoned.
• šər·qō•ō (šər·qō•ō): Noun, masculine singular, meaning "whistling," "hissing." God's "whistle" or "call" is a summons. The root implies a directed sound to attract or command. This imagery is often used for gathering armies or animals.
• lĕ·‘al·lə·wîn (lə·‘al·lə·wîn): Preposition "to" or "for" combined with the infinitive "to be lifted up," "to rise," "to ascend." It signifies the directedness of the summons.

Word Groups

• "The LORD will whistle": This phrase (wə·ḥā·wa‘ Yĕ·hô·wâ lə·ma·‘a·lōh šər·qō•ō) personifies God as a commander or a shepherd who can summon His forces with a simple sound. The choice of "whistle" (šər·qō•ō) is unusual, suggesting a controlled, subtle yet effective call, rather than a loud trumpet blast, emphasizing God's meticulous planning and sovereign control over events.
• "for the height of an enemy": This (lə·ma·‘a·lōh ’ō·wêb) or "to a height/place from which an enemy comes" describes the origin of the threat. It implies an imposing or prominent entity that represents a significant threat, often situated in a high or dominant position in relation to those it threatens.
• "and it shall come": This (wə·ḥā·wa‘) signifies the inevitable and immediate response to God's summons. Whatever God calls, it will arrive.

Isaiah 7 19 Bonus Section

The metaphor of God "whistling" for a nation is a powerful one, found elsewhere in Isaiah (Isa 5:26; 7:18). It suggests an effortless and definitive summoning, as a shepherd calls his flock or a hunter his hounds. This is in contrast to human leaders who often struggle to muster support or wage war effectively. The imagery of Assyria as a "razor" also points to the thoroughness and discomfort of their work, designed to "shave" the people of Judah. This action, though severe, serves God's ultimate purposes of judgment and, by extension, purification for His people, leading ultimately to the fulfillment of His promise of salvation through Immanuel.

Isaiah 7 19 Commentary

Isaiah 7:19 reveals the terrifying power and comprehensive sovereignty of God. He is not merely a distant observer but an active participant in history, using human (and often wicked) forces as His instruments. The Assyrian Empire, depicted as a "razor" (implied by the context of a tool that shaves closely, found in v. 20) and summoned by God’s "whistle," represents a formidable and sharp instrument of judgment. This call signifies that even the most powerful and menacing nations operate under God’s divine control and are employed to carry out His will, whether for judgment or for the eventual deliverance of His people. The verse underscores that God can use any tool, no matter how fearsome, to achieve His purposes, and that no human scheme can ultimately thwart His plan. This imagery extends to how God can use difficult circumstances or even hostile individuals to bring about His good, though painful, will.