Isaiah 7 4

Isaiah 7:4 kjv

And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:4 nkjv

and say to him: 'Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:4 niv

Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood?because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:4 esv

And say to him, 'Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:4 nlt

Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn't need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 4 Meaning

Isaiah 7:4 conveys God's direct command to King Ahaz of Judah during the Syro-Ephraimite War (c. 735 BC). Ahaz was consumed by fear as Syria (Aram) and Northern Israel (Ephraim) plotted against Jerusalem. The Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, instructs Ahaz to "Take heed, be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted." This tripartite command emphasizes active alertness, internal calm, and courageous faith in God rather than succumbing to panic. The core message is that the threat posed by Rezin of Syria and Pekah, the "son of Remaliah," king of Israel, is entirely insignificant. They are reduced to "two smoldering stumps of firebrands," signifying their power is already diminished, nearly extinguished, and incapable of inflicting real harm on God's chosen city. Despite their "fierce anger," their plans would utterly fail because God reigns sovereign over all nations.

Isaiah 7 4 Context

Isaiah 7:4 is delivered by the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah during the tumultuous period of the Syro-Ephraimite War (c. 735-734 BC). At this time, Aram (Syria), led by King Rezin, and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), led by King Pekah (the "son of Remaliah"), had formed an alliance. Their aim was to invade Judah, overthrow King Ahaz, and install a puppet king from the house of Tabeel, forcing Judah into their anti-Assyrian coalition. Ahaz and his people were consumed with terror, as described in Isaiah 7:2. Instead of turning to God for deliverance, Ahaz was contemplating making an alliance with the mighty Assyrian empire for protection, a strategy contrary to God's will and a demonstration of lack of faith. God sent Isaiah, accompanied by his son Shear-jashub (whose name means "A remnant shall return," carrying both a warning of judgment and a promise of restoration), to meet Ahaz at a critical point near Jerusalem's water supply system. The verse immediately follows the description of Ahaz's intense fear and serves as God's direct and potent word of reassurance, intended to prevent Judah from making a disastrous human-centered alliance. It sets the stage for God's offer of a sign, the Immanuel prophecy, in Isaiah 7:10-14, which highlights God's constant presence and ultimate plan.

Isaiah 7 4 Word analysis

• Take heed (שְׁמֹר - shamor): This is an imperative verb, meaning "watch, guard, be careful, pay close attention." It conveys a divine instruction for King Ahaz to consciously maintain vigilance over his inner state and focus, not on the visible enemy, but on God's truth. It implies guarding his heart from fear and trusting God's word.
• be quiet (הַשְׁקֵט - hashket): Also an imperative, meaning "be still, be calm, stop agitation, cause to be quiet." It commands a cessation of panicked activity, frenzied strategic plotting, and inner turmoil. It's a call to find rest and tranquility in God's presence, indicating that true security lies in internal composure and faith, not frantic human effort.
• do not fear (אַל-תִּירָא - al-tira): A strong negative command, literally "do not be afraid." This phrase frequently appears in Scripture as a divine reassurance and an encouragement to trust God in intimidating circumstances. It targets the primary emotional state consuming Ahaz.
• or be fainthearted (וְלֵבָב אַל-יֵרַךְ - v'levav al-yerakh): Literally, "and let not your heart become tender/soft/weak." "Fainthearted" refers to the weakening of one's inner resolve, courage, and moral fiber. The "heart" (לֵבָב - levav) in Hebrew thought represents the totality of one's inner being—mind, will, and emotions. God warns against allowing fear to cripple Ahaz's decision-making and spirit.

• two smoldering stumps of firebrands (שְׁנֵי זַנְבוֹת הָאוּדִים הָעֲשֵׁנִים - shnei zanvotov ha-udim ha-ashenim): This vivid and highly derogatory metaphor describes the kings of Syria and Israel.
  • firebrands (הָאוּדִים - ha-udim): Refers to a partially burned log or stick, still capable of emitting some heat or smoke but no longer a raging fire. It signifies something that once held power and destructive potential but is now spent.
  • smoldering stumps (זַנְבוֹת הָעֲשֵׁנִים - zanvotov ha-ashenim): "Tails of smoking things." "Stumps" or "tails" suggest the weakest, least significant, and trailing end of something. "Smoldering" and "smoking" mean the fire is all but extinguished, merely producing smoke—a sign of irritation, but not real threat. The implication is that these "kings" are no longer raging infernos that consume, but mere smoking remnants of wood, quickly cooling and producing only an offensive but harmless smoke.
  • Significance: This metaphor contemptuously dismisses Rezin and Pekah as inconsequential. It asserts God's ultimate control over the nations and the emptiness of their apparent power compared to His sovereignty. Their "fierce anger" is therefore futile and their threat hollow.
• for the fierce anger (חֳרִי אַף - chori af): Refers to "burning anger" or "hot anger." While their anger is intense, God presents it as ultimately inconsequential and futile, having no effect on His predetermined will.
• Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah: Explicitly identifies the two leaders of the invading coalition: King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and Pekah, King of Israel. Referring to Pekah as "the son of Remaliah" is a demeaning way to highlight his mortal, human lineage and status, contrasting him implicitly with the divine King and God's sovereign plan.

Isaiah 7 4 Bonus section

• The specific meeting place: Isaiah met King Ahaz at "the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field" (Is 7:3). This detail suggests Ahaz was inspecting Jerusalem's defenses and water supply, likely formulating human military strategies rather than seeking divine counsel.
• The significance of Shear-jashub: Isaiah’s son, Shear-jashub, accompanied him. His name means "A remnant shall return." This name was itself a prophetic sign, subtly communicating both a future judgment upon Judah (reducing it to a remnant) and the promise of a faithful return and restoration. His presence amplified the message delivered in 7:4, highlighting God's plan amidst chaos.
• The principle of trust: This verse lays the groundwork for Isaiah 7:9b: "If you will not believe, surely you will not be established." Ahaz's refusal to heed God's direct command for faith in 7:4 led to his subsequent rejection of God's offer of a sign (Is 7:10-12), and eventually, his reliance on Assyria, which brought Judah into greater trouble (2 Ki 16:7-9; 2 Chr 28:16-21).
• God's patient love: Despite Ahaz's fear and evident lack of faith, God did not abandon him. Instead, He extended a direct word of comfort and even offered a sign (Is 7:10-11) to solidify Ahaz's trust, demonstrating divine patience and willingness to rescue Judah, even from its own faithlessness.

Isaiah 7 4 Commentary

Isaiah 7:4 is a divine antidote to King Ahaz's terror, offering profound reassurance amidst political and military crisis. God's threefold command—to take heed, be quiet, and not fear—directly confronts Ahaz's panicked and faithless response to the Syro-Ephraimite alliance. The central point is that Ahaz’s enemies are not a threat, metaphorically diminished to "two smoldering stumps of firebrands." This vivid image conveys their utter powerlessness and ultimate doom, portraying their "fierce anger" as impotent smoke rather than destructive flame. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations, revealing that He had already decided their fate, and their malicious intent was nothing against His divine decree. It was a call to profound trust: God wished for Ahaz to rest in His protective promise, rather than resorting to human political maneuvers or military alliances with Assyria, which would ultimately prove disastrous. This principle remains a vital truth for believers today: our perception of earthly threats should be calibrated by God's eternal perspective and His unyielding control over all circumstances.