Isaiah 7 5

Isaiah 7:5 kjv

Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

Isaiah 7:5 nkjv

Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,

Isaiah 7:5 niv

Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying,

Isaiah 7:5 esv

Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying,

Isaiah 7:5 nlt

Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying,

Isaiah 7 verses

Isaiah 7 5 meaning

Isaiah 7:5 conveys the divine awareness of the hostile intentions of Aram (Syria) and Ephraim (Northern Israel) against the kingdom of Judah. It specifically highlights their concerted plan, spearheaded by the "son of Remaliah" (King Pekah of Israel), to inflict harm and destabilize Judah. The verse sets the stage for God's reassuring message through Isaiah, revealing that while a plot exists, it will ultimately fail.

Isaiah 7 5 Context

Chapter Context: Isaiah 7 opens with the crisis facing King Ahaz of Judah. The combined forces of King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and King Pekah of Ephraim (Israel's Northern Kingdom) had advanced to attack Jerusalem. Their objective, revealed in verse 6, was to conquer Judah, dethrone Ahaz, and install a puppet king, the "son of Tabeel." Amidst Ahaz's fear and the people's anxiety, the prophet Isaiah is commanded by God to meet Ahaz and deliver a message of reassurance: the siege would fail, and the two hostile kings' plans would not succeed. Verse 5 specifically articulates the very plot that God declares will come to nothing, serving as the immediate backdrop for the miraculous sign of Immanuel.

Historical and Cultural Context: This event, known as the Syro-Ephraimite War (c. 734-732 BCE), unfolded during a tumultuous period in the Near East. The rising power of Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser III was a major geopolitical factor. Aram and Ephraim formed an anti-Assyrian coalition and sought to force Judah into joining their alliance. When Ahaz refused, they decided to invade and replace him with a more compliant ruler. This move aimed to strengthen their coalition against Assyria. Judah was a small kingdom caught between powerful neighbors, making the threat of the combined Aramaean and Israelite forces particularly terrifying. The historical accounts in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28 provide a broader understanding of Ahaz's response—his decision to appeal to Assyria for help instead of trusting God, leading to disastrous long-term consequences for Judah. Culturally, the people of Judah, like Ahaz, were susceptible to trusting in political alliances and human might rather than the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh. The prophet Isaiah directly confronted this lack of faith, highlighting a central polemic: relying on human strategy or foreign powers is futile when compared to the sovereign power and promised protection of God.

Isaiah 7 5 Word analysis

• Because (כִּ֣י, ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the divine message that follows (i.e., God's assurance in v.7). It denotes cause or justification, linking the enemy's conspiracy to God's response. In biblical Hebrew, ki is very versatile, often marking emphasis or providing a causal link.
• Aram (אֲרָ֔ם, 'Aram): Refers to the kingdom of Syria, specifically its capital, Damascus. Historically, Aram was a formidable entity, often in conflict with Israel and Judah. Its inclusion here identifies one of the primary antagonists.
• and Ephraim (וְאֶפְרַ֕יִם, we'Ephrayim): Ephraim frequently serves as a metonym for the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel due to it being the most populous and influential tribe within that kingdom. This specifies the other key antagonist, indicating the combined threat. The prefix waw (וְ) acts as "and," joining the two nations.
• and the son of Remaliah (וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ, uven-Remalyahu): This is a contemptuous way of referring to King Pekah of Israel. Instead of using his royal title, the prophet uses his patronymic, likely to diminish his stature and implicitly deny his legitimate authority from God's perspective. It emphasizes Pekah as a central figure in the conspiracy. "Ben" means "son of." "Remaliah" (רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ) means "Yahweh has uplifted" or "Yahweh has established," a name ironic given Pekah's plotting against God's chosen line of David.
• have plotted (יָעֲצ֥וּ, ya'atsu): This verb, from the root י-ע-ץ (y.ʿ.ṣ), means "to counsel," "to advise," "to plan," or "to conspire." Here, it specifically implies a deliberate, malicious planning. It highlights the intentionality behind the enemies' actions.
• evil (רָעָֽה, ra'ah): This noun signifies wickedness, harm, misfortune, or calamity. In this context, it refers to the malevolent intent of Aram and Ephraim to attack Jerusalem, depose Ahaz, and install a foreign king, bringing ruin upon Judah.
• against you (עָלַ֔יִךְ, 'alayikh): The preposition "against" (עַל, al) combined with the feminine singular suffix (יִךְ, yikh) explicitly identifies the target as Judah or Jerusalem. This directly connects the plot to Ahaz and his kingdom. The feminine singular refers to Judah as a corporate entity or Jerusalem as its capital.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Because Aram and Ephraim and the son of Remaliah: This phrase vividly depicts the unholy alliance of three hostile parties. "Aram" (Syria) and "Ephraim" (Northern Israel) were the main forces, with "the son of Remaliah" (Pekah) representing Ephraim's leadership, underscored with prophetic disdain to convey his lack of true legitimacy in God's eyes. This grouping clearly identifies the source and leaders of the imminent threat.
• have plotted evil against you: This emphasizes the intentionality and malevolent nature of their combined counsel. The Hebrew verb ya'atsu (plotted) and noun ra'ah (evil) are tightly coupled, leaving no doubt about their destructive design. The divine communication immediately makes clear the scope of their malicious plan against Judah, yet crucially, it does so in preparation for a declaration of its failure.

Isaiah 7 5 Bonus section

The phrase "the son of Remaliah" being used instead of Pekah's royal title carries a strong polemic against the Northern Kingdom and its succession. It often signaled a prophet's or historian's judgment on a king's unworthiness or the illegitimacy of their reign from God's perspective, especially when contrasted with the divinely ordained Davidic dynasty in Judah. This nuanced wording subtly undermines Pekah's authority even as his plot is revealed, foreshadowing God's eventual judgment upon him and Ephraim. Furthermore, the divine disclosure of the enemy's precise plans, including their specific objective (v.6), underscores the theme of God's perfect omniscience. He is not surprised by human actions but is fully aware, which reinforces the trustworthiness of His subsequent promise of protection and the ultimate futility of the enemies' schemes (v.7). This direct confrontation between human will and divine sovereignty is a recurring theme in Isaiah, setting the stage for future pronouncements concerning God's control over world history.

Isaiah 7 5 Commentary

Isaiah 7:5 serves as the prelude to God's profound assurance to King Ahaz. It unveils the full extent of the enemy's calculated conspiracy against Judah, demonstrating God's complete foreknowledge of human plots, even those made in secret. By specifying "Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah," the verse highlights the formidable, unified front of hostile nations while subtly diminishing Pekah through the omission of his royal title, already hinting at the fragility of his power. The deliberate use of "plotted evil" leaves no ambiguity about their intent: they sought to destroy the Davidic kingdom. However, God reveals this plot not to instill fear, but to prepare for the subsequent divine declaration (v.7) that these meticulously laid human plans would ultimately come to nothing. This establishes a core biblical truth: while enemies may conspire and execute their designs, God's sovereign will ultimately prevails over all human machinations. It’s a divine exposition of a worldly crisis, positioning God as the true authority, whose decrees cannot be overturned by the schemes of kings and nations.Practical usage example: In moments of great anxiety caused by overwhelming challenges or perceived threats, remembering this verse can reassure us that God sees and knows every "plot" against us. He not only foresees, but also has the power to declare their futility, urging us to trust in His sovereign will rather than our fears or human strategies.