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Friday, October 4th, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Isaiah 51:23

But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Drunkenness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Humbled, Israel;   Israel;   Israel-The Jews;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jews, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Affliction;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Micah, Book of;   Righteousness;   Servant of the Lord;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Isa'iah, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Drunkenness;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
I will set it into the hand of those who cause you grief,Who have said to you, ‘Lie down that we may walk over you.'You have even set your back down like the groundAnd like the street for those who walk over it."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, Who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground And like the street for those who walk over it."
Bible in Basic English
And I will put it into the hand of your cruel masters, and of those whose yoke has been hard on you; who have said to your soul, Down on your face! so that we may go over you: and you have given your backs like the earth, even like the street, for them to go over.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But I wil put it into their hande that trouble thee, which haue spoken to thy soule, Stoupe downe, that we may go ouer thee, make thy body euen with the grounde, and as the streete to go vpon.
Darby Translation
and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street to them that went over.
New King James Version
23 But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you,Who have said to you, [fn] 'Lie down, that we may walk over you.'And you have laid your body like the ground,And as the street, for those who walk over."
Literal Translation
But I will put it into the hand of those oppressing you, who have said to your soul, Bow down that we may cross, and, Put your back to the ground, and as the street to those who cross.
Easy-to-Read Version
I will now use my anger to punish the people who hurt you. They tried to kill you. They told you, ‘Bow down before us, and we will walk on you.' They forced you to bow down before them, and then they walked on your back like dirt. You were like a road for them to walk on."
World English Bible
and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and you have laid your back as the ground, and as the street, to those who go over.
King James Version (1611)
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee: which haue said to thy soule, Bow downe that wee may goe ouer: and thou hast laide thy body as the ground, and as the streete to them that went ouer.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& wil put it i their hode that trouble the: which haue spoken to thy soule: stoupe downe, that we maye go ouer the: make thy body eaue with the grounde, and as the strete to go vpon.
Amplified Bible
"I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, Who have said to you, 'Lie down so that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground And like the street for those who walk over it."
American Standard Version
and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee, that have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.
Update Bible Version
and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you and those who oppress you, that have said to your soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and you have laid your back as the ground, and as the street, to those that go over.
Webster's Bible Translation
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said to thy soul, Prostrate thyself, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
New Century Version
I will now give that cup of punishment to those who gave you pain, who told you, ‘Bow down so we can walk over you.' They made your back like dirt for them to walk on; you were like a street for them to travel on."
New English Translation
I will put it into the hand of your tormentors who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you.' You made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walked over you."
Contemporary English Version
Instead I will give it to your brutal enemies, who treated you like dirt and walked all over you."
Complete Jewish Bible
I will put it in the hands of your tormentors, who said to you, ‘Bend down, so we can trample you,' and you flattened your back on the ground like a street for them to walk on."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But I will put it into their hande that spoile thee: which haue said to thy soule, Bowe downe, that wee may goe ouer, and thou hast layde thy bodie as the grounde, and as the streete to them that went ouer.
George Lamsa Translation
But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, Bow down that we may go over you; and you have made your people like the ground and like the street to them that passed by.
Hebrew Names Version
and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and you have laid your back as the ground, and as the street, to those who go over.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; that have said to thy soul: 'Bow down, that we may go over'; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.
New Living Translation
Instead, I will hand that cup to your tormentors, those who said, ‘We will trample you into the dust and walk on your backs.'"
New Life Bible
I will put it into the hand of those who make it hard for you, who have said to you, ‘Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to walk over."
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will give it into the hands of them that injured thee, and them that afflicted thee; who said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may pass over: and thou didst level thy body with the ground to them passing by without.
English Revised Version
and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.
Berean Standard Bible
I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: 'Lie down, so we can walk over you.' And you made your back like the ground, and like a street to be traversed.
New Revised Standard
And I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, "Bow down, that we may walk on you"; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to walk on.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But I will put it into the hand of thy tormentors, Who said to thy soul, Bow down thus we may pass over, - And so thou didst place as the ground, thy back, Yea as the street to such as were passing along.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will put it in the hand of them that have oppressed thee, and have said to thy soul: Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as a way to them that went over.
Lexham English Bible
And I will put it in the hand of your tormenters, who have said to you, ‘Bow down that we may pass over you!' And you have made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who pass over you."
English Standard Version
and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Bow down, that we may pass over'; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over."
New American Standard Bible
"I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, Who have said to you, 'Lie down so that we may walk over you.' You have also made your back like the ground, And like the street for those who walk over it."
Good News Translation
I will give it to those who oppressed you, to those who made you lie down in the streets and trampled on you as if you were dirt."
Christian Standard Bible®
I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you: Lie down, so we can walk over you. You made your back like the ground, and like a street for those who walk on it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y schal sette it in the hond of hem that maden thee low, and seiden to thi soule, Be thou bowid that we passe; and thou hast set thi bodi as erthe, and as a weye to hem that goen forth.
Revised Standard Version
and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Bow down, that we may pass over'; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over."
Young's Literal Translation
And I have put it into the hand of those afflicting thee, Who have said to thy soul, Bow down, and we pass over, And thou makest as the earth thy body, And as the street to those passing by!'

Contextual Overview

17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. 19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the Lord , the rebuke of thy God. 21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: 22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord , and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I will: Isaiah 49:25, Isaiah 49:26, Proverbs 11:8, Proverbs 21:18, Jeremiah 25:17-29, Zechariah 12:2, Revelation 17:6-8, Revelation 17:18

Bow: Joshua 10:24, Psalms 65:11, Psalms 65:12, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 13:16, Revelation 13:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:14 - was with rigour Leviticus 26:13 - and I have 2 Chronicles 16:10 - oppressed Job 19:12 - His Job 19:22 - and are not Psalms 36:11 - foot Psalms 44:25 - General Psalms 66:12 - caused Psalms 107:12 - he brought Psalms 129:3 - The plowers Ecclesiastes 4:1 - and considered Isaiah 14:4 - How Isaiah 29:4 - thou shalt Isaiah 42:22 - a spoil Isaiah 49:17 - thy destroyers Isaiah 52:2 - Shake Isaiah 52:5 - make Isaiah 54:11 - thou afflicted Jeremiah 50:33 - and all Jeremiah 51:24 - General Lamentations 1:21 - they shall Lamentations 3:34 - crush Ezekiel 16:6 - polluted Daniel 3:19 - was Nebuchadnezzar Obadiah 1:16 - as ye Micah 7:10 - now Zephaniah 3:19 - I will undo Zechariah 6:8 - quieted Zechariah 12:1 - for Romans 11:10 - and bow Galatians 2:4 - bring Revelation 16:6 - they have

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I will put it into the hand of them that afflict me,.... As the Lord did to literal Babylon, Jeremiah 25:15, so will he do to mystical Babylon; he will retaliate upon her all the evils she has done to others, and destroy them that destroyed the earth; see

Revelation 11:18,

which have said to thy soul, bow down, that we may go over; who not only afflicted the bodies, but tyrannized over the souls and consciences of men; obliging them to a compliance with their idolatrous practices, to bow down and worship the beast, and his image; and thereby acknowledge subjection to the see of Rome, and its authority over them: the allusion seems to be the custom of the eastern kings trampling upon the necks of their conquered enemies, Joshua 10:24, and the pope of Rome has, in a literal sense, trampled upon the necks even of kings and emperors.

And thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over; which expresses the low estate of the church of Christ, or holy city, while trodden under foot by the Gentiles during the reign of antichrist, Revelation 11:2, and may also denote the sneaking outward compliance of some through the force of persecution, when they did not cordially embrace, nor with conscience, and from their heart, submit to the authority of the church of Rome; but though the people of God are represented in such a low and grovelling condition, yet they shall arise out of it, and come into a very flourishing one, as the next chapter shows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee - The nations that have made war upon thee, and that have reduced thee to bondage, particularly the Babylonians. The calamities which the Jews had suffered, God would transfer to their foes.

Which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over - This is a striking description of the pride of eastern conquerors. It was not uncommon for conquerors actually to put their feet on the necks of conquered kings, and tread them in the dust. Thus in Joshua 10:24, ‘Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war that went with them, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.’ So David says, ‘Thou has given me the necks of mine enemies’ Psalms 18:40. ‘The emperor Valerianus being through treachery taken prisoner by Sapor king of Persia, was treated by him as the basest and most abject slave, for the Persian monarch commanded the unhappy Roman to bow himself down and offer him his back, on which he set his foot in order to mount his chariot, or his horse, whenever he had occasion.’ (Lactantius, as quoted by Lowth) Mr. Lane (Modern Egyptians, vol. i. p. 199) describes an annual ceremony which may serve to illustrate this passage: ‘A considerable number of Durweeshes, says he (I am sure there were not less than sixty, but I could not count their number), laid themselves down upon the ground, side by side, as close as possible to each other, having their backs upward, having their legs extended, and their arms placed together beneath their foreheads.

When the Sheikh approached, his horse hesitated several minutes to step upon the back of the first prostrate man; but being pulled and urged on behind, he at length stepped upon them: and then without apparent fear, ambled with a high pace over them all, led by two persons, who ran over the prostrate men, one sometimes treading on the feet, and the other on the heads. Not one of the men thus trampled on by the horse seemed to be hurt; but each the moment that the animal had passed over him, jumped up and followed the Sheikh. Each of them received two treads from the horse, one from one of his fore-legs, and a second from a hind-leg.’ It seems probable that this is a relic of an ancient usage alluded to in the Bible, in which captives were made to lie down on the ground, and the conqueror rode insultingly over them.

Thou hast laid thy body as the ground - That is, you were utterly humbled and prostrated (compare Psalms 66:11-12). From all this, however, the promise is, that they should be rescued and delivered. The account of their deliverance is contained in the following chapter Isaiah 52:1-12; and the assurance of rescue is there made more cheering and glorious by directing the eye forward to the coming of the Messiah Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-12, and to the glorious results which would follow from his advent (Isaiah 54:1). These chapters are all connected, and they should be read continuously. Material injury is done to the sense by the manner in which the division is made, if indeed any division should have been made at all.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 51:23. Them that afflict thee - "Them who oppress thee"] The Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, and Vulgate appear to have read מוניך monayich, as in Isaiah 40:26." - SECKER.

Which have said to thy soul, Bow down - "Who say to thee, Bow down thy body"] A very strong and most expressive description of the insolent pride of eastern conquerors; which, though it may seem greatly exaggerated, yet hardly exceeds the strict truth. An example has already been given of it in the note, Isaiah 49:23. I will here add one or two more. "Joshua called for all the men of Israel; and said unto the captains of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings," Joshua 10:24. "Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: As I have done, so hath God requited me," Judges 1:7. The Emperor Valerianus, being through treachery taken prisoner by Sapor king of Persia, was treated by him as the basest and most abject slave: for the Persian monarch commanded the unhappy Roman to bow himself down, and offer him his back, on which he set his foot, in order to mount his chariot or horse whenever he had occasion. - LACTANTIUS, De Mort. Persec. cap. v. AUREL. VICTOR. Epitome, cap. xxxii. - L.


 
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