Isaiah 25:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the Lord will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

NIV: They will stretch out their hands in it, as swimmers stretch out their hands to swim. God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.

NASB: And he will spread out his hands in the middle of it As a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim, But the Lord will lay low his pride together with the trickery of his hands.

CSB: He will spread out his arms in the middle of it, as a swimmer spreads out his arms to swim. His pride will be brought low, along with the trickery of his hands.

NLT: God will push down Moab’s people as a swimmer pushes down water with his hands. He will end their pride and all their evil works.

KJV: And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

NKJV: And He will spread out His hands in their midst As a swimmer reaches out to swim, And He will bring down their pride Together with the trickery of their hands.

The future celebration of the Lord's reign over the earth concludes on a stark note. Those who trusted in the Lord are freed forever from death and the reproach of sin. These believers (John 3:16–17) celebrate and praise God. They declare to each other that because the Lord is their God, all their waiting was worthwhile. Their trust has been proven right by His salvation (Isaiah 25:7–9). However, many will refuse to trust in Christ who died to save them from their sin (John 3:36). They will refuse to wait, placing their confidence in other gods or their own might. Some will even mock those who patiently trust the Lord. They will sneer at those who waited on God's promises without any obvious change in their circumstances.

The prophet uses Israel's neighbor and frequent enemy Moab (Joshua 24:9; Judges 3:12; 2 Kings 1:1) to symbolize those who did not trust the Lord. These committed enemies of God are now suffering God's judgment. Isaiah pictures the Lord with one hand on Mount Zion and His foot crushing Moab down into his place; this is like a man stomping straw into a manure pile (Isaiah 25:10).

Here, Isaiah's imagery becomes even more grotesque. What's described here evokes someone who falls into a cesspit or a massive pile of waste. Like someone trying to swim, he flails around but cannot escape the filth. In the end, those who refuse to come to God in faith will face shame and humiliation (Daniel 12:2).

Isaiah identifies the root of Moab's sin. It is the cornerstone error of all who refuse to humble themselves before the Lord and trust in Him alone: pompous, self-inflating pride. The Lord will prove that Moab's accomplishments, abilities, and reputation will become nothing. This is the fate of all who follow that path.

Chapter 25:6–12 describes a celebratory feast, hosted by God Himself, at the inauguration of His kingdom. The Lord will completely remove death and the shame of sin from His people. He also describes how the Lord takes away death forever for those who are His. The salvation which Israel long expected will come at last. In contrast, those who still refuse God's authority are crushed and humiliated. Moab, symbolic of all the nations who hated Israel, is depicted writhing in a cesspit under God's heel.

Isaiah's description of the Lord's judgment on the earth is followed by celebration. This comes at the beginning of the Lord's reign over all the earth. The prophet declares his own praise for God's wonderful works and righteous plans. The Lord protects the needy from the ruthless. At the inaugural banquet, the Lord swallows up death forever and wipes away every tear. All the people declare that they were right to wait on their Lord to save them. The Lord judges unbelieving Moab by trampling them into their place.

In the previous chapter, the Lord of hosts is said to reign on Mount Zion following His judgment of the entire earth. Here, Isaiah declares His praise for the Lord who protects the poor and needy. At an inaugural banquet for His kingdom, the Lord swallows up death forever. He also takes away the shame of His people's sin while wiping away their tears. The people rejoice and are glad for waiting on the Lord's salvation. The Lord destroys Moab—symbolic of nations who reject God—in judgment for not trusting in Him.

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).