Isaiah 9 20

Isaiah 9:20 kjv

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Isaiah 9:20 nkjv

And he shall snatch on the right hand And be hungry; He shall devour on the left hand And not be satisfied; Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.

Isaiah 9:20 niv

On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:

Isaiah 9:20 esv

They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm,

Isaiah 9:20 nlt

They will attack their neighbor on the right
but will still be hungry.
They will devour their neighbor on the left
but will not be satisfied.
In the end they will even eat their own children.

Isaiah 9 verses

Isaiah 9 20 Meaning

Isaiah 9:20 describes a desperate act of consuming one's own flesh in a time of extreme famine and siege. It highlights the horrific consequences of rebellion against God, leading to judgment and devastation. This verse paints a picture of societal breakdown where even basic human relationships and societal norms are abandoned due to dire circumstances.

Isaiah 9 20 Context

Isaiah 9 is a prophecy of hope and restoration, primarily directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim or Samaria) which had suffered under Assyrian oppression. The chapter begins with a promise of light and deliverance through a future king. However, before this ultimate redemption, Isaiah pronounces judgment upon the people for their persistent sin and rebellion. Verse 20, therefore, serves as a stark depiction of the extreme suffering and societal collapse that will result from this judgment, foreshadowing the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Historically, this message would have resonated deeply during periods of conflict and siege faced by Israel.

Isaiah 9 20 Word Analysis

• וְהָאִישׁ (v'ha'ish) - "And the man" - Emphasizes the individual experiencing this horror.

• יֹאכַל (yo'chal) - "shall eat" - Active verb indicating the action.

• שְׂמֹאול (s'mol) - "left hand" - Often represents a lesser portion, or the opposite of strength. Here it's a part of one's own body being consumed.

• וּמִיָּמִין (uvayamín) - "and from the right hand" - The opposite hand, encompassing the totality of the self.

• יֹאכֵל (yo'chel) - "shall eat" - Repeated verb stressing the act of consumption.

• אֹת־בְּשָׂרוֹ (ot-b'saro) - "his flesh" - Graphic and horrifying imagery of cannibalism, self-consumption.

• יֹאכַל (yo'chel) - "shall eat" - The repetition reinforces the inevitability and brutality.

• בֶּן־בְּאִמּוֹ (ben-b'immo) - "his son against his mother" - Perversion of the most basic filial relationship.

• בְּנוֹ (b'no) - "his son"

• אִמּוֹ (immo) - "his mother"

• וּבְנִיו (uvniv) - "and his sons" - Plural, showing a wider societal breakdown.

• וּבְנוֹתָיו (uvnotav) - "and his daughters" - Again, plural, encompassing the community.

• יֹאכֵל (yo'chel) - "shall eat" - The relentless repetition hammers home the severity.

• בְּשָׂרָם (b'sarám) - "their flesh" - Further emphasis on the consumption of kin.

• Group analysis of the repetitive structure: The triple use of "יֹאכֵל" (shall eat) with the horrific objects (his own flesh, son against mother, sons and daughters) amplifies the impact of the verse. It creates a sense of relentless and pervasive doom. The specific mention of eating one's own flesh and then immediately broadening to family members (mother, sons, daughters) shows a complete dissolution of human bonds and the deepest, most sacred familial affections turned into acts of survival desperation.

Isaiah 9 20 Bonus Section

The prophetic mechanism of using extreme, even shocking, imagery was common among Old Testament prophets like Isaiah. These vivid pictures were meant to shock the audience into recognizing the gravity of sin and the certainty of God's judgment, even if the literal fulfillment wasn't always in the form described. This verse is often seen as a literary foreshadowing of the conditions described during the siege of Samaria by the Assyrians or the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, where accounts of such extreme famine were reported. Jesus also referenced similar eschatological signs of distress, including famine and societal upheaval, in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24, Luke 21).

Isaiah 9 20 Commentary

This verse vividly depicts the ultimate consequence of forsaking God: utter societal collapse and primal survival instincts overriding all familial and human ties. The imagery of cannibalism, even self-cannibalism, is a hyperbole intended to convey the absolute extremity of the judgment. It’s a warning that when God withdraws His protection due to persistent disobedience, the results are not just external conquest but internal fragmentation and self-destruction. The natural order is inverted, and humanity devours itself. This passage serves as a somber reminder that true security and well-being are dependent on covenant faithfulness.