Isaiah 7:8 kjv
For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
Isaiah 7:8 nkjv
For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, So that it will not be a people.
Isaiah 7:8 niv
for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
Isaiah 7:8 esv
For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.
Isaiah 7:8 nlt
for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus,
and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin.
As for Israel, within sixty-five years
it will be crushed and completely destroyed.
Isaiah 7 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 7:8 | For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. | Syria united with Ephraim (Israel) |
| 2 Kings 15:29 | And Jeroboam reigned; and the cities of Samaria were taken by Tiglath-pileser. | Tiglath-pileser's invasion |
| 2 Kings 16:5-6 | Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war against it... | Syrian-Israelite alliance |
| Isaiah 8:5-6 | Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah... therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory. | Assyria's future threat |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed also of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. | Dependence on foreign powers |
| Jeremiah 50:2 | Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. | Nations brought low |
| Jeremiah 51:20 | Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms. | God uses nations as tools |
| Ezekiel 28:12-13 | Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty... Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God... | Pride and downfall |
| Daniel 4:30 | The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have put by the house of my kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? | Pride and divine judgment |
| Romans 11:17-18 | And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them... | Gentiles grafted in |
| Revelation 17:1-2 | And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials... and talked with me, saying... | Judgment on nations |
| Isaiah 9:1 | Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation... | Hope amidst oppression |
| Isaiah 11:1 | And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: | Messiah's lineage |
| Matthew 1:1 | The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. | Jesus' lineage |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... | Incarnation of Christ |
| Isaiah 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. | Prophecy of Immanuel |
| Isaiah 8:8 | He shall pass over through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. | Judah's deliverance |
| Zechariah 11:16 | For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their hoofs in pieces. | False shepherds |
| Isaiah 44:28 | That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. | Cyrus as shepherd |
| Psalm 2:4 | He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall hold them in derision. | God's sovereignty over rulers |
Isaiah 7 verses
Isaiah 7 8 Meaning
The verse declares that the head of Aram (Syria) is Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel). This signifies the political and military unity of these two nations against Judah. It emphasizes their leader's ultimate weakness, setting the stage for God's intervention.
Isaiah 7 8 Context
This verse is situated within the context of the Syro-Ephraimitic war, where the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) allied with Syria (Aram) to attack Judah. King Ahaz of Judah was fearful of this impending invasion. The prophet Isaiah is sent by God to reassure Ahaz and the house of David, proclaiming that this alliance would ultimately fail. The statement about the head of Syria and Damascus highlights the strength and current leadership of the attacking coalition. However, the verse also contains a subtle foreshadowing of the eventual judgment and limitations of these earthly powers.
Isaiah 7 8 Word Analysis
ki (כִּי): "for," "because," "but," "that." Introduces a reason or explanation.
rosh (רֹאשׁ): "head," "chief," "leader," "beginning." Refers to the principal part or ruler.
suryan (שׂוּרִיָן): "Syrian," referring to the people of Aram.
Damascus ( דִּמֶּשֶׂק): The capital city of Syria, a prominent political and military center.
wehēd (וְחֶד): "and head," "and chief." Connects Damascus to Rezin.
reṣîn (רְצִין): The king of Aram (Syria) at the time of Isaiah's prophecy.
reṣîn (רְצִין) / 'eprayim (אֶפְרָיִם): While "Ephraim" often refers to the northern kingdom of Israel as a whole, in this context, it is contrasted with "Syria" and specifically linked to "head" and "Damascus," indicating a close association, likely meaning Rezin, the king of Syria, was considered the primary leader of this particular alliance against Judah, and by extension, his dominance over or control of the coalition including Ephraim.
Group analysis: The phrase "head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin" emphasizes the consolidation of power and leadership within the Syrian kingdom. This points to the strategic and political might that Judah was facing. The subsequent comparison and linking of this leadership to "Ephraim" (Israel) signifies the united front these two nations presented. It's a statement of their combined strength as perceived by the prophet, while also setting up the irony of their ultimate downfall.
Isaiah 7 8 Bonus Section
The strategic importance of Damascus in ancient Near Eastern politics cannot be overstated. As the capital of Aram, it was a vital economic and military hub. The inclusion of Ephraim (Israel) in the phrase "and the head of Ephraim" suggests that while Rezin was the Syrian king, he may have been considered the dominant or instigating force within this specific alliance against Judah. This verse serves as a foundational statement for the entire chapter, highlighting the imminent danger but also setting the stage for Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel as a sign of God's intervention and ultimate deliverance for Judah, not through earthly alliances but through divine action.
Isaiah 7 8 Commentary
This verse establishes the immediate military threat to Judah by identifying the leader of the opposing forces: Rezin, king of Syria, whose power base was Damascus. The alliance with Ephraim (Israel) makes this threat formidable. However, this political unity and leadership, while potent in the earthly realm, is presented as ultimately subject to God's sovereignty. It underscores that no human alliance, however powerful, can ultimately thwart God's plans or stand against His chosen lineage in David. The focus on Rezin as the "head" foreshadows the subsequent prophecies of judgment against leaders and nations that oppose God's people.