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World English Bible

Isaiah 5:24

Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Chaff;   Infidelity;   Isaiah;   Presumption;   Scoffing;   Stubble;   Wicked (People);   Word of God;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible, the;   Chaff;   Evil;   Law;   Message Despised;   Reception-Rejection;   Rejection;   Righteous-Wicked;   Roots of Evil;   Social Duties;   Temperance;   Temperance-Intemperance;   Wicked, the;   Word;   The Topic Concordance - Bearing Fruit;   Despisement;   Disobedience;   Law;   Word of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Contempt;   Jews, the;   Law of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Chaff;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hay;   Pentateuch;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chaff;   Stubble;   Torah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Isaiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Straw, Stubble;   Vine, Vineyard;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Tongue;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Chaff;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Hay;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Blossom;   Root;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Chaff;   Consume;   Fire;   Flame;   Flowers;   God;   Grass;   Isaiah;   Root;   Rot;   Straw;   Stubble;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Agriculture;   Chaff;   Day of the Lord;   Fire;   Poetry;   Yudan;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 21;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubbleAnd dry grass collapses into the flame,So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust;For they have rejected the law of Yahweh of hostsAnd the word of the Holy One of Israel they have spurned.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble And dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore, lyke as fire licketh vp the strawe, and as the flambe consumeth the stubble: euen so their roote shalbe as corruption, and their blossome shall vanishe away lyke dust: for they haue cast away the lawe of the Lorde of hoastes, and despised the worde of the holy one of Israel.
Darby Translation
Therefore as a tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and dry grass sinketh down in the flame, their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; for they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New King James Version
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Literal Translation
So, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and the flame burns up the chaff; their root shall be like rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up like dust, because they have rejected the Law of Jehovah of Hosts; and despised the Word ofthe Holy One of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
So bad things will happen to them. Their descendants will be destroyed completely, just as fire burns straw and leaves. Their descendants will be like plants with rotten roots, whose flowers have all blown away like dust in the wind. Those people refused to obey the teachings of the Lord All-Powerful. They hated the message from the Holy One of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
Therfore as the fire deuoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaffe, so their root shall be rottennes, and their blossome shall goe vp as dust: because they haue cast away the Lawe of the Lord of hosts, and despised the worde of the Holy One of Israel.
King James Version
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore, like as fyre licketh vp the strawe, and as the flame cosumeth the stubble: Euen so (when their root is ful,) their blossome shal vanish awaye like dust or smoke. for they despyse the lawe of the LORDE of hoostes, and blaspheme the worde of the holy maker of Israel.
THE MESSAGE
But they won't get by with it. As fire eats stubble and dry grass goes up in smoke, Their souls will atrophy, their achievements crumble into dust, Because they said no to the revelation of God -of-the-Angel-Armies, Would have nothing to do with The Holy of Israel.
Amplified Bible
Therefore, as the tongue of fire consumes the stubble [from straw] And the dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away like fine dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised and discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.
American Standard Version
Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
For this cause, as the waste of the grain is burned up by tongues of fire, and as the dry grass goes down before the flame, so their root will be like the dry stems of grain, and their flower will go up in dust: because they have gone against the law of the Lord of armies, and have given no honour to the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Update Bible Version
Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New English Translation
Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw, and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.
Contemporary English Version
You will go up in flames like straw and hay! You have rejected the teaching of the holy Lord God All-Powerful of Israel. Now your roots will rot, and your blossoms will turn to dust.
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, as fire licks up the stubble, and the chaff is consumed in the flame; so their root will rot, and their flowers scatter like dust; because they have rejected the Torah of Adonai -Tzva'ot, they have despised the word of the Holy One of Isra'el.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore as the flame of fire deuoureth the stubble, and as the chaffe is cosumed of the flame: so their roote shalbe as rottennesse, and their bud shall rise vp like dust, because they haue cast off the Lawe of the Lorde of hostes, and contemned the word of the holy one of Israel.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore as the fire devours the stubble and the flame consumes the chaff, so they shall be consumed by the flame, and their root shall be as dust; and their blossom shall go up like chaff, because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the command of the Holy One of Israel.
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Yisra'el.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the chaff is consumed in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and contemned the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New Living Translation
Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven's Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New Life Bible
So, as fire destroys what is left of the cut grain and dry grass falls into the fire, so their root will waste away and their flower blow away like dust. For they have turned away from the Law of the Lord of All. They have hated the Word of the Holy One of Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore as stubble shall be burnt by a coal of fire, and shall be consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be as chaff, and their flower shall go up as dust: for they rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and insulted the word of the Holy One of Israel.
English Revised Version
Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes straw and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New Revised Standard
Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will become rotten, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the Lord of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore, As a tongue of fire, eateth up straw, And a flame reduceth, dry grass, to powder, Their root, like rottenness, shall become, And their blossom, like dust shall ascend, - Because they refused the law of Yahweh of hosts, And the utterance of the Holy One of Israel, they despised.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore as the tongue of the fire devoureth the stubble, and the heat of the flame consumeth it: so shall their root be as ashes, and their bud shall go up as dust: for they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and have blasphemed the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Lexham English Bible
Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will become like the stench, and their blossom will go up like the dust. For they have rejected the instruction of Yahweh of hosts, and they have treated the word of the holy one of Israel with contempt.
English Standard Version
Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New American Standard Bible
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble, And dry grass collapses in the flame, So their root will become like rot, and their blossom blow away like dust; For they have rejected the Law of the LORD of armies, And discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.
New Century Version
They will be destroyed just as fire burns straw or dry grass. They will be destroyed like a plant whose roots rot and whose flower dies and blows away like dust. They have refused to obey the teachings of the Lord All-Powerful and have hated the message from the Holy God of Israel.
Good News Translation
So now, just as straw and dry grass shrivel and burn in the fire, your roots will rot and your blossoms will dry up and blow away, because you have rejected what the Lord Almighty, Israel's holy God, has taught us.
Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes straw and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will become like something rotten and their blossoms will blow away like dust, for they have rejected the instruction of the Lord of Hosts, and they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For this thing, as the tunge of fier deuourith stobil, and the heete of flawme brenneth, so the roote of hem schal be as a deed sparcle, and the seed of hem schal stie as dust; for thei castiden awei the lawe of the Lord of oostis, and blasfemyden the speche of the hooli of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, as a tongue of fire devoureth stubble, And flaming hay falleth, Their root is as muck, And their flower as dust goeth up. Because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of Hosts, And the saying of the Holy One of Israel despised.

Contextual Overview

18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as it were with a cart rope; 19 who say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it! 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink; 23 who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! 24 Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore is the anger of Yahweh kindled against his people, and he has stretched forth his hand against them, and has struck them; and the mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 26 He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss for them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly. 27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the belt of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fire: Heb. tongue of fire

devoureth: Isaiah 47:14, Exodus 15:7, Joel 2:5, Nahum 1:10, Malachi 4:1, 1 Corinthians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 3:13

the flame: Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17

their root: Isaiah 9:14-17, Job 18:16, Hosea 9:16, Amos 2:9

cast away: 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel 15:26, 2 Kings 17:14, 2 Kings 17:15, Nehemiah 9:26, Psalms 50:17, Jeremiah 6:19, Jeremiah 8:9, Luke 7:30, John 12:48, Hebrews 10:28, Hebrews 10:29

despised: Isaiah 30:12, 2 Samuel 12:9, 2 Samuel 12:10, Luke 10:16, Acts 13:41, 1 Thessalonians 4:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 5:12 - stubble Numbers 17:5 - blossom Deuteronomy 28:24 - make the rain 2 Kings 19:22 - the Holy One 2 Chronicles 34:14 - the law Job 8:17 - roots Job 21:18 - as stubble Psalms 71:22 - O thou Isaiah 1:4 - the Holy Isaiah 9:18 - mount Isaiah 26:11 - fire Isaiah 33:11 - your Isaiah 33:14 - Who among us shall dwell with the Ezekiel 15:6 - General Amos 2:4 - because Obadiah 1:18 - for stubble

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
Genesis 5:6
Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.
Genesis 5:22
Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Genesis 37:30
He returned to his brothers, and said, "The child is no more; and I, where will I go?"
Genesis 42:36
Jacob, their father, said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me."
2 Kings 2:1
It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Jeremiah 31:15
Thus says Yahweh: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
Matthew 2:18
"A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; She wouldn't be comforted, because they are no more."
Luke 23:43
Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble,.... Or "tongue of fire" h; meaning the flame, the same as in the next clause; because it is in the form of a tongue; see Acts 2:3:

and the flame consumeth the chaff; which is done easily, speedily, and entirely; the metaphors denote that their destruction would be easy, swift, sudden, irresistible, and irrecoverable. Reference may be had to the burning of Jerusalem, literally understood:

[so] their root shall be rottenness; and so utterly perish; meaning their fathers, as Aben Ezra and Abarbinel think; or their chief and principal men, before mentioned; or their riches and substance, and whatever they gloried of, or trusted in; see Matthew 3:10:

and their blossom shall go up as dust; before the wind; either their children, or whatever was excellent or valuable with them; so Jarchi interprets it of their grandeur, pomp, and glory; it seems to express an utter destruction of them, root and branch, as in Malachi 4:1:

because they have cast away the law of the Lord; or doctrine of the Lord; that is, the Gospel; which the Jews blasphemed, contradicted, and put away from them, and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life: the preaching of a crucified Christ, and salvation by him, and justification by his righteousness, were a stumbling block to them: this is to be understood not of the law of works, but of the law or doctrine of faith:

and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel; meaning either the same as before; expressing their great contempt of the Gospel, and the reason why they rejected it, because they loathed, abhorred, and despised it: or else Christ, the essential Word of God; so the Targum,

"they rejected the Word, the Holy One of Israel;''

as the Messiah, and received him not; and this their rejection of him, and ill treatment of his Gospel and ministers, were the cause of the burning of Jerusalem, and of their utter ruin and destruction,

Matthew 22:4.

h לשון אש "lingua ignis", Vatablus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore as the fire ... - The remainder of this chapter is occupied with predicting “judgments,” or punishments, upon the people for their sins which had been specified. The Hebrew here is, ‘The tongue of fire.’ The figure is beautiful and obvious. It is derived from the pyramidal, or tongue-like appearance of “flame.” The concinnity of the metaphor in the Hebrew is kept up. The word “devoureth” is in the Hebrew “eateth:” ‘As the tongue of fire eats up,’ etc. The use of the word “tongue” to denote “flame” is common in the Scriptures; see the note at Acts 2:3.

And the flame consumeth the chaff - The word rendered “chaff here,” means rather “hay, or dried grass.” The word rendered ‘consumeth,’ denotes properly “to make to fall,” and refers to the appearance when a fire passes through a field of grain or grass, consuming the stalks near the ground, so that the upper portion “falls down,” or sinks gently into the flames.

So their root shall be as rottenness - Be rotten; or decayed - of course furnishing no moisture, or suitable juices for the support of the plant. The idea is, that all the sources of national prosperity among the Jews would be destroyed. The word “root” is often used to denote the source of “strength or prosperity;” Isaiah 14:30; Hosea 9:16; Job 18:16.

And their blossom - This word rather means germ, or tender branch. It also means the flower. The figure is kept up here. As the root would be destroyed, so would all that was supported by it, and all that was deemed beautiful, or ornamental.

As dust - The Hebrew denotes “fine dust,” such as is easily blown about. The root would be rotten; and the flower, lacking nourishment, would become dry, and turn to dust, and blow away. Their strength, and the sources of their prosperity would be destroyed; and all their splendor and beauty, all that was ornamental, and the source of national wealth, would be destroyed with it.

They have cast away - They have refused to “obey” it. This was the cause of all the calamities that would come upon them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 5:24. The flame - "The tongue of fire"] "The flame, because it is in the shape of a tongue; and so it is called metaphorically." Sal. ben Melec. The metaphor is so exceedingly obvious, as well as beautiful, that one may wonder that it has not been more frequently used. Virgil very elegantly intimates, rather than expresses, the image; -

Ecce levis summo de vertice visus Iuli

Fundere lumen apex; tactuque innoxia molli

Lambere flamma comas, et circum tempora pasci.

AEn. ii. 682.

"Strange to relate! from young Iulus' head

A lambent flame arose, which gently spread

Around his brows, and on his temples fed."

And more boldly of AEtna darting out flames from its top: -

Interdumque atram prorumpit ad aethera nubem,

Turbine fumantem piceo, et candente favilla:

Attollitque globos flammarum, et sidera lambit.

AEn. iii. 574.

"By turns a pitchy cloud she rolls on high,

By turns hot embers from her entrails fly,

And flakes of mountain flames, that lick the sky."


The disparted tongues, as it were of fire, Acts 2:3, which appeared at the descent of the Holy Spirit, on the apostles, give the same idea; that is, of flames shooting diversely into pyramidal forms, or points, like tongues. It may be farther observed that the prophet in this place has given the metaphor its full force, in applying it to the action of fire in eating up and devouring whatever comes in its way, like a ravenous animal whose tongue is principally employed in taking in his food or prey; which image Moses has strongly exhibited in an expressive comparison: "And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now shall this collection of people lick up ali that are around about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field," Numbers 22:4. See also 1 Kings 18:38.

Their root shall be as rottenness — כמק cammak, like mak; whence probably our word muck, dung, was derived.


 
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