Isaiah 9:12 kjv
The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 9:12 nkjv
The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 9:12 niv
Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Isaiah 9:12 esv
The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 9:12 nlt
The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west
will bare their fangs and devour Israel.
But even then the LORD's anger will not be satisfied.
His fist is still poised to strike.
Isaiah 9 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 9:12 | "The Arameans to the east and the Philistines to the west confront and devour Israel with full khẩu." | Provoked conflict, Oppression, Enemies |
| Isaiah 9:11 | "Yahweh raised adversaries against Rezin; he provoked his enemies to action." | Divine judgment, Enemies stirred up |
| 2 Kings 15:29 | "In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria." | Assyrian conquest, Captivity |
| Amos 1:3 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron.'" | Divine judgment on Damascus, Cruelty |
| Jeremiah 21:13-14 | "And you, O inhabitants of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the LORD, you who say, ‘Who will come down against us? Who will enter our fortresses?’ I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the LORD; I will kindle a fire in her wood, and it shall devour all round her.” | Judgment on Jerusalem, Fierce attack |
| Jeremiah 49:26-27 | "So her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be cut off in that day, declares the LORD of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the walls of Damascus, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.” | Judgment on Damascus, Destruction |
| Luke 10:34 | "He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him." | Good Samaritan (contrast of compassion vs cruelty) |
| Revelation 6:4 | "When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come.” Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword." | War and bloodshed, Calamity |
| Deuteronomy 28:50 | "a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you do not understand," | Foreign invaders, Incomprehensible enemy |
| Deuteronomy 28:64 | "The LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, made of wood and stone." | Exile, Dispersion, Idolatry in exile |
| Hosea 5:10 | "When Ephraim’s punishment is published, among the tribes of Israel, I made known what is sure." | Warning of judgment, Israel's sin |
| Psalm 42:3 | "My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?'" | Despair, Suffering, Absence of God (accusation) |
| Isaiah 3:8 | "For Jerusalem stumbles, and Judah falls, because their talk and their deeds are against the LORD, provoking his glorious eyes." | Judah's downfall, Provoking God |
| Isaiah 5:7 | "For the choicest valleys were sown with vines, and they sang of the harvest. But drought and ruin have devoured them." | Destruction of the land, Barrenness |
| Isaiah 21:2 | "A harsh vision has been shown to me; the traitor treachery, and the destroyer destruction. Go up, Elam; lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the moaning she has caused." | Vision of destruction, Enemies' actions |
| Micah 1:7 | "And all her carved images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste; for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them, and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return." | Idolatry, Destruction of idols |
| Matthew 24:7 | "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." | Signs of the end times, Tribulation |
| Acts 7:52 | "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the just one, from your own families you delivered him up and murdered him." | Persecution of prophets, Rejection of righteousness |
| Galatians 1:18 | "then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days." | Journey, Building relationships (contrast) |
| 1 Peter 2:20 | "For what credit is it if when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure it, this is a gråce with God." | Enduring suffering, Grace |
Isaiah 9 verses
Isaiah 9 12 Meaning
The verse describes the oppressive actions of Syria against Israel, highlighting their cruelty and destructive nature. It points to the ruling powers of that time who unjustly seized land and subjugated people, causing widespread suffering and fear.
Isaiah 9 12 Context
Isaiah 9:12 is situated within a broader prophecy in Isaiah chapters 8 and 9. The prophet Isaiah is addressing the kingdom of Judah during a period of intense threat. The northern kingdom of Israel, allied with Syria, is pressuring Judah. King Ahaz of Judah, facing this immediate danger, made a strategic error by seeking the aid of Assyria, an increasingly powerful empire. Isaiah's prophecy contrasts the present affliction with a future hope of restoration and a coming ruler. Specifically, verse 12 highlights the immediate, oppressive actions of Israel and Syria against their own people and neighboring lands as a consequence of their wickedness and defiance of God's covenant. This verse serves to underscore the pervasive corruption and the immediate dangers faced by Judah, setting the stage for the powerful Messianic prophecy that follows in the later verses of chapter 9. The historical backdrop involves the Syro-Ephraimite War.
Isaiah 9 12 Word Analysis
וְגַם (wə-gam): "And also" or "and furthermore." This conjunction connects this verse with the preceding one, reinforcing the message of continued judgment and impending danger.
לְאֹמִים (lĕ-’ô-mîm): "Nations" or "peoples." It refers to foreign nations or groups of people, emphasizing that the opposition comes from outside the covenant people.
נָשָׂא (nā-sā): "Lifted up" or "raised." In this context, it implies God allowing or actively causing these nations to rise up in opposition against Israel.
עָלָיו (’ā-lāw): "Against him" or "upon him." Refers back to Israel.
וְהֵמָּה (wə-hêm-māh): "And they." A plural pronoun referring to the nations.
יְשַׁסּוּ (yə-šas-sū): "Shall plunder," "shall prey upon," "shall spoil." This verb carries a strong sense of ruthless and greedy exploitation.
מִצָּפוֹן (mif-fā-qön): "From the north." Points to the direction from which many of the encroaching enemies originated, a common theme in prophetic literature referring to the Mesopotamian powers and later Assyria and Babylon.
אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל (’et-yis-rā-’ēl): "Israel." The direct object of the plundering, the northern kingdom of Israel.
וּלְאָמִים (u-lə-’ô-mîm): "And nations." Reiteration or amplification, indicating multiple peoples were involved in the oppression or that the oppression itself was characteristic of nations.
אָכָלוּ (’ā-kā-lū): "Shall devour," "shall eat up." A more forceful term than "plunder," suggesting complete consumption, devastation, and destruction, leaving nothing behind.
Groups of words/phrases:
- "נָשָׂא עָלָיו לְאֹמִים" (nā-sā ‘ā-lāw lə-’ô-mîm): "Nations have lifted up against him" - signifying that the enemy forces were raised up by God as an instrument of judgment.
- "וְהֵמָּה יְשַׁסּוּ מִצָּפוֹן" (wə-hêm-māh yə-šas-sū mif-fā-qön): "And they from the north shall plunder" - a clear reference to hostile northern powers like Assyria that threatened Israel.
- "וּלְאָמִים אָכָלוּ" (u-lə-’ô-mîm ’ā-kā-lū): "And nations shall devour" - expressing the extreme destructiveness of the enemy, a total annihilation.
Isaiah 9 12 Bonus Section
The imagery of nations "plundering" and "devouring" is a common prophetic motif used to depict divine judgment. This language underscores the severity of sin and its consequences. It reflects a breakdown of social order and international stability. The "north" often symbolized encroaching gentile powers throughout Old Testament prophecy. The collective sin of the people invited such hostile forces. This verse contrasts sharply with the peaceful reign of the promised Messiah, who is called the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) and who will ultimately subdue all nations and bring lasting security. The context also sets up the lament found in the subsequent verses (e.g., "Yet his people will not turn to him who strikes them, nor seek the LORD of hosts." Isaiah 9:13).
Isaiah 9 12 Commentary
This verse vividly describes a state of severe national distress and oppression faced by Israel. The terms "plunder" and "devour" emphasize the ruthlessness of the enemy, suggesting not just economic exploitation but also a complete subjugation and destruction of the land and its people. The enemies are identified as "nations," implying both internal strife (different factions within Israel possibly turning on each other) and external invasion from northern powers like Syria and Assyria. This picture of devastation is a direct consequence of Israel's disobedience and sin, as God uses foreign nations as instruments of His judgment. However, this dire description also serves as a prelude to the hope found later in chapter 9, pointing towards a future deliverer who will bring true peace and justice, a stark contrast to the current suffering.