Study Desk

The Sign of Immanuel

When Ahaz^(a) son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin^(b) of Aram^(c) and Pekah^(d) son of Remaliah^(e) king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

Now the house of David^(f) was told, "Aram has allied itself with^[a] Ephraim^(g)"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken,^(h) as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,^[b](i) to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field.^(j)

Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm^(k) and don't be afraid.^(l) Do not lose heart^(m) because of these two smoldering stubs⁽ⁿ⁾ of firewood—because of the fierce anger^(o) of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.^(p)

Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's^(q) son have plotted^(r) your ruin, saying,

"Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it."

Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:^(s) "‘It will not take place, it will not happen,^(t)

for the head of Aram is Damascus,^(u) and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.^(v) Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered^(w) to be a people.

The head of Ephraim is Samaria,^(x) and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand^(y) firm in your faith,^(z) you will not stand at all.'"^(aa)

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz,

"Ask the Lord your God for a sign,^(ab) whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.^(ac)"

But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.^(ad)"

Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David!^(ae) Is it not enough^(af) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience^(ag) of my God^(ah) also?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[c] a sign:^(ai) The virgin^[d](aj) will conceive and give birth to a son,^(ak) and^[e] will call him Immanuel.^[f](al)

He will be eating curds^(am) and honey^(an) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

for before the boy knows^(ao) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,^(ap) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.^(aq)

The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away^(ar) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.^(as)"

In that day^(at) the Lord will whistle^(au) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.^(av)

They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices^(aw) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes^(ax) and at all the water holes.

In that day^(ay) the Lord will use^(az) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River^(ba)—the king of Assyria^(bb)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard^(bc) also.^(bd)

In that day,^(be) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.^(bf)

And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds^(bg) and honey.^(bh)

In that day,^(bi) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,^[g](bj) there will be only briers and thorns.^(bk)

Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers^(bl) and thorns.

As for all the hills^(bm) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;^(bn) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.^(bo)

Isaiah and His Children as Signs

The Lord said to me, "Take a large scroll^(a) and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz."^[a](b)

So I called in Uriah^(c) the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses^(d) for me.

Then I made love to the prophetess,^(e) and she conceived and gave birth to a son.^(f) And the Lord said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.^(g)

For before the boy knows^(h) how to say ‘My father' or ‘My mother,' the wealth of Damascus⁽ⁱ⁾ and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.^(j)"

The Lord spoke to me again:

"Because this people has rejected^(k) the gently flowing waters of Shiloah^(l) and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,^(m)

therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters⁽ⁿ⁾ of the Euphrates— the king of Assyria^(o) with all his pomp.^(p) It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks^(q)

and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it,^(r) passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings^(s) will cover the breadth of your land, Immanuel^[b]!"^(t)

Raise the war cry,^[c](u) you nations, and be shattered!^(v) Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare^(w) for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered!

Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted;^(x) propose your plan, but it will not stand,^(y) for God is with us.^[d](z)

This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me,^(aa) warning me not to follow^(ab) the way of this people:

"Do not call conspiracy^(ac) everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear,^(ad) and do not dread it.^(ae)

The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,^(af) he is the one you are to fear,^(ag) he is the one you are to dread.^(ah)

He will be a holy place;^(ai) for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone^(aj) that causes people to stumble^(ak) and a rock that makes them fall.^(al) And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.^(am)

Many of them will stumble;^(an) they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured."

Bind up this testimony of warning^(ao) and seal^(ap) up God's instruction among my disciples.

I will wait^(aq) for the Lord , who is hiding^(ar) his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.^(as)

Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.^(at) We are signs^(au) and symbols^(av) in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.^(aw)

When someone tells you to consult^(ax) mediums and spiritists,^(ay) who whisper and mutter,^(az) should not a people inquire^(ba) of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Consult God's instruction^(bb) and the testimony of warning.^(bc) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light^(bd) of dawn.

Distressed and hungry,^(be) they will roam through the land;^(bf) when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse^(bg) their king and their God.

Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,^(bh) and they will be thrust into utter darkness.^(bi)

^[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom^(a) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,^(b) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness^(c) have seen a great light;^(d) on those living in the land of deep darkness^(e) a light has dawned.^(f)

You have enlarged the nation^(g) and increased their joy;^(h) they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.⁽ⁱ⁾

For as in the day of Midian's defeat,^(j) you have shattered^(k) the yoke^(l) that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,^(m) the rod of their oppressor.⁽ⁿ⁾

Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,^(o) will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,^(p) to us a son is given,^(q) and the government^(r) will be on his shoulders.^(s) And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,^(t) Mighty God,^(u) Everlasting^(v) Father,^(w) Prince of Peace.^(x)

Of the greatness of his government^(y) and peace^(z) there will be no end.^(aa) He will reign^(ab) on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice^(ac) and righteousness^(ad) from that time on and forever.^(ae) The zeal^(af) of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The Lord has sent a message^(ag) against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.

All the people will know it— Ephraim^(ah) and the inhabitants of Samaria^(ai)— who say with pride and arrogance^(aj) of heart,

"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone;^(ak) the fig^(al) trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.^(am)"

But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's^(an) foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.

Arameans^(ao) from the east and Philistines^(ap) from the west have devoured^(aq) Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger^(ar) is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(as)

But the people have not returned^(at) to him who struck^(au) them, nor have they sought^(av) the Lord Almighty.

So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed^(aw) in a single day;^(ax)

the elders^(ay) and dignitaries^(az) are the head, the prophets^(ba) who teach lies^(bb) are the tail.

Those who guide^(bc) this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.^(bd)

Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,^(be) nor will he pity^(bf) the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly^(bg) and wicked,^(bh) every mouth speaks folly.^(bi) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(bj)

Surely wickedness burns like a fire;^(bk) it consumes briers and thorns,^(bl) it sets the forest thickets ablaze,^(bm) so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

By the wrath^(bn) of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched^(bo) and the people will be fuel for the fire;^(bp) they will not spare one another.^(bq)

On the right they will devour, but still be hungry;^(br) on the left they will eat,^(bs) but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring^[b]:

Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;^(bt) together they will turn against Judah.^(bu) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(bv)

Woe^(a) to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,^(b)

to deprive^(c) the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,^(d) making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.^(e)

What will you do on the day of reckoning,^(f) when disaster^(g) comes from afar? To whom will you run for help?^(h) Where will you leave your riches?

Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives⁽ⁱ⁾ or fall among the slain.^(j) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,^(k) his hand is still upraised.

"Woe^(l) to the Assyrian,^(m) the rod⁽ⁿ⁾ of my anger, in whose hand is the club^(o) of my wrath!^(p)

I send him against a godless^(q) nation, I dispatch^(r) him against a people who anger me,^(s) to seize loot and snatch plunder,^(t) and to trample^(u) them down like mud in the streets.

But this is not what he intends,^(v) this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.

‘Are not my commanders^(w) all kings?' he says.

‘Has not Kalno^(x) fared like Carchemish?^(y) Is not Hamath^(z) like Arpad,^(aa) and Samaria^(ab) like Damascus?^(ac)

As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,^(ad) kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—

shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?^(ae)'"

When the Lord has finished all his work^(af) against Mount Zion^(ag) and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria^(ah) for the willful pride^(ai) of his heart and the haughty look^(aj) in his eyes.

For he says: "‘By the strength of my hand^(ak) I have done this,^(al) and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures;^(am) like a mighty one I subdued^[a] their kings.^(an)

As one reaches into a nest,^(ao) so my hand reached for the wealth^(ap) of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries;^(aq) not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.^(ar)'"

Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it?^(as) As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club^(at) brandish the one who is not wood!

Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease^(au) upon his sturdy warriors;^(av) under his pomp^(aw) a fire^(ax) will be kindled like a blazing flame.

The Light of Israel will become a fire,^(ay) their Holy One^(az) a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns^(ba) and his briers.^(bb)

The splendor of his forests^(bc) and fertile fields it will completely destroy,^(bd) as when a sick person wastes away.

And the remaining trees of his forests^(be) will be so few^(bf) that a child could write them down.

In that day^(bg) the remnant of Israel, the survivors^(bh) of Jacob, will no longer rely^(bi) on him who struck them down^(bj) but will truly rely^(bk) on the Lord , the Holy One of Israel.^(bl)

A remnant^(bm) will return,^[b](bn) a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.^(bo)

Though your people be like the sand^(bp) by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return.^(bq) Destruction has been decreed,^(br) overwhelming and righteous.

The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed^(bs) upon the whole land.^(bt)

Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: "My people who live in Zion,^(bu) do not be afraid^(bv) of the Assyrians, who beat^(bw) you with a rod^(bx) and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.

Very soon^(by) my anger against you will end and my wrath^(bz) will be directed to their destruction.^(ca)"

The Lord Almighty will lash^(cb) them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian^(cc) at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff^(cd) over the waters,^(ce) as he did in Egypt.

In that day^(cf) their burden^(cg) will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke^(ch) from your neck;^(ci) the yoke^(cj) will be broken because you have grown so fat.^[c]

They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron;^(ck) they store supplies^(cl) at Mikmash.^(cm)

They go over the pass, and say, "We will camp overnight at Geba.^(cn)" Ramah^(co) trembles; Gibeah^(cp) of Saul flees.^(cq)

Cry out, Daughter Gallim!^(cr) Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth!^(cs)

Madmenah is in flight; the people of Gebim take cover.

This day they will halt at Nob;^(ct) they will shake their fist^(cu) at the mount of Daughter Zion,^(cv) at the hill of Jerusalem.

See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off^(cw) the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled,^(cx) the tall^(cy) ones will be brought low.^(cz)

He will cut down^(da) the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon^(db) will fall before the Mighty One.^(dc)

A shoot^(a) will come up from the stump^(b) of Jesse;^(c) from his roots a Branch^(d) will bear fruit.^(e)

The Spirit^(f) of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom^(g) and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might,^(h) the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord —

and he will delight in the fear⁽ⁱ⁾ of the Lord . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,^(j) or decide by what he hears with his ears;^(k)

but with righteousness^(l) he will judge the needy,^(m) with justice⁽ⁿ⁾ he will give decisions for the poor^(o) of the earth. He will strike^(p) the earth with the rod of his mouth;^(q) with the breath^(r) of his lips he will slay the wicked.^(s)

Righteousness will be his belt^(t) and faithfulness^(u) the sash around his waist.^(v)

The wolf will live with the lamb,^(w) the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling^[a] together; and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.^(x)

The infant^(y) will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's^(z) nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy^(aa) on all my holy mountain,^(ab) for the earth^(ac) will be filled with the knowledge^(ad) of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In that day^(ae) the Root of Jesse^(af) will stand as a banner^(ag) for the peoples; the nations^(ah) will rally to him,^(ai) and his resting place^(aj) will be glorious.^(ak)

In that day^(al) the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant^(am) of his people from Assyria,^(an) from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt,^(ao) from Cush,^[b](ap) from Elam,^(aq) from Babylonia,^[c] from Hamath^(ar) and from the islands^(as) of the Mediterranean.^(at)

He will raise a banner^(au) for the nations and gather^(av) the exiles of Israel;^(aw) he will assemble the scattered people^(ax) of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.^(ay)

Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies^[d] will be destroyed; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.^(az)

They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia^(ba) to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east.^(bb) They will subdue Edom^(bc) and Moab,^(bd) and the Ammonites^(be) will be subject to them.^(bf)

The Lord will dry up^(bg) the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind^(bh) he will sweep his hand^(bi) over the Euphrates River.^(bj) He will break it up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals.^(bk)

There will be a highway^(bl) for the remnant^(bm) of his people that is left from Assyria,^(bn) as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.^(bo)