Isaiah 10:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.

NIV: Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.

NASB: Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives Or fall among those killed. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.

CSB: There will be nothing to do except crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. In all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still raised to strike.

NLT: You will stumble along as prisoners or lie among the dead. But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.

KJV: Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

NKJV: Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.” For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

The condemnation of those using political power to write laws that hurt the poor and needy is unmistakable. These politicians were tweaking the laws to put what little the orphans and widows had in their own pockets (Isaiah 10:2). Isaiah is clear that the Lord's judgment is coming for them, along with everyone else.

Isaiah has asked these corrupt leaders who they will turn to for help. As well as what they will do with their money (Isaiah 10:3). The coming of the Assyrian army is imminent and that their fate will be the same as everyone else. Either they will be among the captives or their bodies will piled with the slain. The Assyrian kings were famous for beheading the bodies of their victims and stacking them to emphasize the utter defeat of their enemies.

For all their brutal ferocity, the Assyrians were not the primary problem for Israel and Judah. It was the Lord whose anger remained unsatisfied at their sin. His outstretched arm was the one punishing His own people through the Assyrians.

Isaiah 10:1–4 begins with Isaiah's declaration of woe. These are against those in Israel and Judah who use the local laws to take advantage of the poor and needy for financial gain. He asks what these rich people will do when the day of punishment comes. What good will their wealth be then? Nothing will be left for them but to die or to cower among those taken captive. The Lord's anger with them will not be satisfied even then.

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).