Isaiah 7 23

Isaiah 7:23 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

Isaiah 7:23 nkjv

It shall happen in that day, That wherever there could be a thousand vines Worth a thousand shekels of silver, It will be for briers and thorns.

Isaiah 7:23 niv

In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns.

Isaiah 7:23 esv

In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns.

Isaiah 7:23 nlt

In that day the lush vineyards, now worth 1,000 pieces of silver, will become patches of briers and thorns.

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 23 Meaning

This verse describes a consequence of the flourishing of the vine and the fig tree, which symbolizes peace and prosperity under King Ahaz. Instead of abundant harvests and security, the land becomes a place overrun by many wolves and sheep. This signifies a drastic shift from prosperity to peril, where those who once feasted on the bounty are now prey. The abundance itself becomes the cause of destruction.

Isaiah 7 23 Context

Isaiah chapter 7 describes King Ahaz of Judah facing a military threat from the combined forces of Syria and Israel. The prophet Isaiah is sent by God to assure Ahaz that this threat will not succeed and that both attacking kings will be overthrown. God offers Ahaz a sign, but Ahaz, distrustful and self-reliant, refuses to ask for one. God then offers a sign of His own: a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, meaning "God with us." This sign indicates God's presence and eventual deliverance. Chapter 8 continues with prophecies of judgment against Israel and Judah due to their disobedience, and foretells future deliverance and the establishment of God's kingdom. Verse 23 of chapter 7 speaks to the desolate state of the land resulting from the anticipated invasion.

Isaiah 7 23 Word Analysis

• "And it shall come to pass in that day": (וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, v'hayah bayom hahū). This phrase signifies a future event, linking it to the prophecy that precedes and follows. It emphasizes divine timing and a specific point in God's plan.
• "that the fatness of": (מִשְׁמַן, mishman). Refers to abundance, fertility, richness, and prosperity. It signifies a land that is well-nourished and productive.
• "every place": (כָּל־מָקוֹם, kol-makom). Implies generality, covering all areas of the land, highlighting the widespread nature of the desolation.
• "where there were a thousand vines": (אֶלֶף גְּפָנִים, elef gəpānīm). Represents the vine as a symbol of prosperity, fertility, and security in ancient Israel, often associated with peace and abundance. The number "thousand" signifies a great quantity.
• "worth a thousand shekels of silver": (בְּאֶלֶף כֶּסֶף, bə'elef késeph). Quantifies the immense value and productivity of the land. "Shekel" was a standard unit of currency.
• "shall even be for briers": (לְחֹוחִים, ləḥoḥīm). The word "ḥoḥīm" means thorns or briers. This word represents a sharp, painful, and unproductive growth, directly contrasting with the cultivated vine.
• "and thistles": (וְקִּיץ, wəqīṣ). "Qīṣ" refers to nettles or prickly plants, also indicating barrenness and disregard.
• "With bows": (בַּחֲצָצִים, baḥaṣāṣīm). The word "ḥaṣōṣāh" refers to an arrow. This imagery signifies the land becoming a place for archery practice, meaning it would be occupied by hostile forces using weapons.
• "and with arrows": (וּבַקָּשֶׁת, ūvaqqāšeth). "Qāšet" is a bow. The pairing of bows and arrows indicates military activity and warfare, making the fertile land a hunting ground or battlefield.
• "they shall go": (יֵלְכוּ, yēl·ḵū). Refers to people entering and moving through the land.
• "and all the land": (כָּל־הָאָרֶץ, kol-hā'āreṣ). Reiteration of the extent of the desolation.
• "shall be for briers": (לְחֹוחִים, ləḥoḥīm). Again emphasizes the transformation into thorny, barren wilderness.
• "and thistles": (וְקִּיץ, wəqīṣ). Reinforces the image of useless and thorny growth.

Words-group by words-group Analysis

• "Thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver": This phrase poetically represents the peak of agricultural prosperity and economic value. The repetition of "thousand" amplifies the sense of abundance, highlighting what will be lost. It underscores the dramatic reversal from a land of immense wealth to one of utter ruin.
• "Shall even be for briers and thistles": This sharp contrast portrays the desolation vividly. The cultivated, valuable vine is replaced by useless, thorny weeds. This signifies a return to a wild, uncultivated state, reflecting divine judgment.
• "With bows and with arrows they shall go": This phrase shifts the focus from vegetation to human activity. The fertile land, once cherished for its produce, will be trodden by soldiers practicing archery and hunting. This signifies occupation by foreign invaders and the desecration of what was once sacred and productive.

Isaiah 7 23 Bonus Section

The imagery of the vine in the Old Testament is consistently used to represent Israel, often God's beloved and fruitful vineyard (Psalm 80:8-11; Jeremiah 2:21; Song of Solomon 8:11-12). Jesus himself uses the vine as a metaphor for himself and his followers in John 15, emphasizing interconnectedness and fruitful abiding in him. Isaiah's prophecy in 7:23 foretells the undoing of this fruitful relationship, where the once-protected and productive vineyard becomes a wild thicket for hostile forces, reflecting a departure from God's intended blessing. The profuse growth of thorns and thistles can also symbolize spiritual barrenness and the natural consequence of turning away from the Source of true life and growth.

Isaiah 7 23 Commentary

This verse presents a stark consequence of disobedience and impending judgment upon Judah. The very land blessed with fertility and the bounty symbolized by vineyards and figs (Isa 7:22) will be transformed into a desolate, thorny wasteland. This desolation will be so profound that it will become a place for enemy soldiers to practice archery. It signifies a complete reversal of fortune – a land that yielded wealth will yield only thorns and distress. This prophecy underlines that God's blessings are conditional upon faithfulness, and His judgment, while severe, is often a direct consequence of apostasy. The "thousand vines worth a thousand shekels" represents what will be lost due to their lack of faith and reliance on foreign powers.