Isaiah 10:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

NIV: A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.

NASB: A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

CSB: The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.

NLT: A remnant will return; yes, the remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.

KJV: The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

NKJV: The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.

This chapter has described how the Lord will use Assyria to bring judgment on His people in Israel and Judah for their faithlessness (Isaiah 10:1–4). The Lord will turn and bring judgment on the Assyrians for the arrogance of their kings (Isaiah 10:15–19). Now, Isaiah describes how Israelites who survive this judgment will once again trust the Lord. They will no longer look for help from other nations (Isaiah 10:20). God's people will once again lean on the Holy One of Israel, their God.

The prophet says that the remnant of Jacob will return to the mighty God. In writing this, Isaiah was essentially using the name of his own son. This is the son he took with him to visit it King Ahaz in Isaiah 7:3: Shear-Jashub, which means "a remnant will return." This return will be the fulfillment of the prophecy contained in the name of his own child.

Isaiah might be pointing to the temporary return to faithfulness in Jerusalem when the angel of the Lord wiped out the Assyrians surrounding the city in 701 BC (2 Kings 19:35). Or he may be pointing further into the future when a remnant of Israelites will return to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. This is recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Isaiah 10:20–34 describes the remnant that will be saved in Israel and who will reestablish trust in the Lord. Only these few will be saved, and the Lord's destruction will come. The Lord, though, urges His people not to fear the Assyrians. His anger will soon turn from Israel to Assyria's direction. He will use His supernatural power to end Assyria's oppression over Israel. Even if a great Assyrian army marches all the way to the edge of Jerusalem, the Lord will cut them down as a forest.

Isaiah declares woe on those in Israel and Judah who use the law to take advantage of the poor. These people will not escape the Lord's judgment. He next describes the Assyrians as the Lord's staff of judgment against the godless nation that is His people. When He is done punishing His people, the Lord will turn His anger on the Assyrians, nearly destroying them. Eventually, a remnant of Israelites will return to faith in the Lord. Destruction will come, but it will not consume everything. The Lord will triumph over Assyria.

Isaiah 10 follows prophecies about God's judgment on Israel for the nation's sins. It begins pronouncing sorrow for those who oppress the poor and needy. He also declares woe on the Assyrians, whom the Lord is using to judge His people Israel. Soon, the Lord will direct His anger against the Assyrians for the arrogance of their king. He will burn them down as a forest. A remnant of Israel will survive the Assyrian judgment and trust the Lord again. His anger will turn from Israel to Assyria. The Assyrian oppression of Israel will be ended.

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).