Isaiah 1:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.

NIV: The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

NASB: The strong man will become like flax fiber, And his work a spark. So they shall both burn together And there will be no one to extinguish them.

CSB: The strong one will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to extinguish the flames.

NLT: The strongest among you will disappear like straw; their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire. They and their evil works will burn up together, and no one will be able to put out the fire.

KJV: And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

NKJV: The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them.

Isaiah is not impressed with the supposedly sacred oak trees used in pagan worship rituals to false gods. Those Israelites who demonstrated their unfaithfulness to God by participating in these rituals, which may have included sexual immorality, will be ashamed when the Lord's judgment falls and they are destroyed. (Isaiah 1:29).

Isaiah has said they will become like a dried out oak or garden. Under these conditions the once strong become vulnerable match sticks just waiting for a spark. The Lord will provide the spark, consuming in fire all in Israel who have forsaken Him. This continues to use fire as a metaphor for God's judgment. Earlier verses used the imagery of refining silver (Isaiah 1:22, 25) which involved heat and burning, as well.

Isaiah 1:21–31 focuses on the city of Jerusalem as representative of the people of Judah in Israel. Once faithful to God and known for justice, the city has become a prostitute and a town in which murderers walk free and leaders are friends with thieves. The Lord declares that He will purify the corruption from the city and return it to a place of justice. Those who repent will be redeemed. Those who don't will be broken and consumed. Those who have worshipped false gods will be embarrassed and then destroyed.

After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.

Isaiah 1 begins Isaiah's massive book of prophecy with the Lord presenting a lawsuit against His people Israel in Judah for breach of covenant. They live in rebellion against Him and are saturated in sin. They refuse to treat their spiritual illness and will be decimated by their enemies. Their offerings are meaningless. They must stop doing evil and start doing what is good. The Lord will burn off the corrupt from Jerusalem and return it to a place of justice and righteousness. Those who refuse to repent will be broken and destroyed.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 11/21/2024 3:01:52 PM