Isaiah 7:2 kjv
And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.
Isaiah 7:2 nkjv
And it was told to the house of David, saying, "Syria's forces are deployed in Ephraim." So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.
Isaiah 7:2 niv
Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
Isaiah 7:2 esv
When the house of David was told, "Syria is in league with Ephraim," the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
Isaiah 7:2 nlt
The news had come to the royal court of Judah: "Syria is allied with Israel against us!" So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.
Isaiah 7 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 7:3-9 | Then the LORD said to Isaiah... say to him... Take care and be quiet, do not fear... | Immediate context; Isaiah's reassurance to Ahaz. |
| 2 Kgs 16:5 | Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah... besieged Jerusalem. | Historical account of the Syro-Ephraimite War. |
| 2 Chr 28:5-6 | The LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram... | Another historical account of the war. |
| Matt 1:23 | "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." | Fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy in context. |
| 2 Sam 7:16 | "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me." | God's eternal covenant with David's house. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever...'" | Affirmation of the Davidic covenant. |
| Ps 125:1 | "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved..." | Contrast to the fear, faith brings stability. |
| Ps 27:1-3 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | Trust in God overcomes fear. |
| Ps 56:3-4 | When I am afraid, I put my trust in you... In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. | Faith as a remedy for fear. |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. | Danger of fearing man, security in trusting God. |
| Isa 8:12-13 | "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls conspiracy... But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor..." | Fear God, not man or conspiracies. |
| Isa 30:1-3 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine..." | Rebukes reliance on human alliances over God. |
| Jer 17:5-8 | "Cursed is the man who trusts in man... Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD." | Contrast of trust in man vs. God. |
| Ex 14:13 | "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you..." | God's command not to fear in threatening times. |
| Deut 20:8 | "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him return home..." | Fear hindering military readiness. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed..." | Command for courage and trust in God's presence. |
| 1 Chr 5:20 | They were helped against them... because they cried to God in battle... | God helps those who trust Him in distress. |
| Matt 8:26 | He said to them, "Why are you so afraid, O you of little faith?" | Rebuke for fear in the face of apparent danger. |
| Jn 14:27 | "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you... Let not your hearts be troubled..." | Christ's peace transcends worldly fear. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication... | Reassurance against anxiety and fear. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God... | Necessity of faith. |
| Rom 1:17 | The righteous shall live by faith. | Centrality of faith in Christian life. |
Isaiah 7 verses
Isaiah 7 2 Meaning
Isaiah 7:2 describes the profound alarm that gripped King Ahaz and the people of Judah upon learning of the formidable alliance between Aram (Syria) and Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom of Israel). Their hearts trembled with fear and instability, likening their anxious state to trees violently swaying in a strong wind, indicating a complete lack of security and trust. This widespread fear was a direct challenge to the Davidic covenant and the Lord’s promise to protect Judah.
Isaiah 7 2 Context
This verse is situated during a pivotal and anxious period in Judah's history, the Syro-Ephraimite War (c. 734-732 BCE). The northern kingdoms of Aram (Damascus, led by King Rezin) and Ephraim (Israel, led by King Pekah) formed a coalition against the rising Assyrian Empire. They sought to coerce Judah into joining their anti-Assyrian alliance by threatening to depose Judah's King Ahaz and install a puppet king, the "son of Tabeel" (Isa 7:6), who would be amenable to their plan. News of this impending invasion and the strong confederacy deeply unsettled Ahaz and the entire nation of Judah, challenging their reliance on God's protection. The widespread fear and disarray described in Isaiah 7:2 sets the stage for God's prophetic message delivered by Isaiah to King Ahaz, urging him to abandon his fear and trust solely in the Lord's promise to protect the Davidic dynasty.
Isaiah 7 2 Word analysis
- And it was told (וַיֻּגַּד - vayyuggad): A passive form of the verb "to tell/announce." This emphasizes that the information arrived, imposing itself upon the recipients. The news was unavoidable and undeniable.
- to the house of David (לְבֵית דָּוִיד - lĕveit David): Refers to the royal dynasty of David, specifically King Ahaz, the current heir. This term highlights the theological significance of the threat, as God had made an eternal covenant with David and his lineage (2 Sam 7). The fear of "the house of David" signifies a crisis of faith regarding God's enduring promises.
- saying (לֵאמֹר - lē'mōr): Standard introductory phrase for reported speech, signifying the precise content of the alarming message.
- Syria (אֲרָם - Aram): Refers to the kingdom of Aram-Damascus, a major northern power under King Rezin. Their alliance represented a significant military threat to Judah.
- is confederate with (נָחָה עַל - nakhah al): Literally means "rested upon" or "settled on" Ephraim. In this military-political context, it signifies that Aram has allied itself with Ephraim, consolidating their forces and objectives. This alliance was directed against Judah, aiming to overrun it. The phrase conveys a sense of burden, pressure, or hostile encampment upon Ephraim's behalf.
- Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם - Ephrayim): The largest and most prominent tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often used poetically to refer to the entire kingdom, currently under King Pekah. The alliance between Aram and Ephraim posed a unified and potent threat.
- And his heart was moved (וַיִּנַּע לְבָבוֹ - vayyinna' lĕvavo): "Moved" comes from the root nua' (נוּעַ), meaning to tremble, quake, totter, or wander. It denotes severe internal agitation, deep disquiet, and an unstable, shaking state. It’s not just mild concern but profound, unsettling fear.
- and the heart of his people (וּלְבַב עַמּוֹ - ulĕvav ammo): The king's fear quickly propagated to his subjects, indicating a national crisis of morale and faith. Leadership's state of heart impacts the nation.
- as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind (כְּנוֹעַ עֲצֵי יַעַר מִפְּנֵי רוּחַ - kĕnoa' ‘ătzē ya'ar mipnē ruakh): A powerful and vivid simile. Trees, normally sturdy, shaking uncontrollably in a storm illustrate the overwhelming, helpless, and pervasive nature of the fear. This metaphor signifies deep political instability, mental and spiritual distress, and a profound lack of rootedness or steadfastness in the Lord. It highlights the irrationality of their fear, implying they are not anchored in God’s truth.
Isaiah 7 2 Bonus section
The deep-seated fear expressed in Isaiah 7:2 points to a fundamental spiritual challenge faced by the "house of David" – namely, whether they would rely on their own strength, seek external alliances, or fully trust in the covenant promises of God. This moment was a significant test of faith for King Ahaz, representative of the entire kingdom. The trembling of the trees does not just describe an emotion, but signifies a lack of spiritual foundation. Unlike Zion, which is rooted and cannot be moved when one trusts in the Lord, Judah's heart swayed like unanchored foliage. This highlights a pervasive problem where the people of God looked to the perceived power of man rather than the absolute power of the Almighty, ultimately revealing their susceptibility to the very earthly schemes that God oversees and can turn for His purposes.
Isaiah 7 2 Commentary
Isaiah 7:2 acts as the dramatic setting for God's prophetic intervention through Isaiah. The verse masterfully paints a picture of intense national panic stemming from a formidable human alliance. King Ahaz and the people of Judah, heirs to God's promises to David, were utterly undone by the news of Aram's alliance with Ephraim. Their fear, depicted through the powerful simile of trees trembling in a strong wind, speaks volumes about their lack of faith. They viewed the situation purely from a human, geopolitical perspective, forgetting or ignoring the Lord's sovereignty and His unwavering covenant. This verse lays the groundwork for the subsequent divine call to faith from Isaiah, which directly contrasts Ahaz's fear with God's steadfastness and power, setting the stage for the significant "Immanuel" prophecy. The verse highlights how succumbing to worldly fears can paralyze God's people and lead them away from trusting in His divine provision and protection. It underscores that true peace comes from faith in God, not from a sense of security derived from human strength or alliances.