Isaiah 30:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.

NIV: A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."

NASB: One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left like a signal post on a mountain top, And like a flag on a hill.

CSB: One thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, until you remain like a solitary pole on a mountaintop or a banner on a hill.

NLT: One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.'

KJV: One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

NKJV: One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.

Isaiah 30:8–17 begins with the Lord's command that Isaiah record this prophecy for future generations. Judah's stubborn leaders tell the prophets not to deliver the Lord's messages. They only hear what they want to hear. Their refusal to listen will result in sudden consequences. If they were to repent and trust Him, the Lord would save them. Instead, the people trust in earthly resources like horses. So, they will be chased and trapped by their enemy.

The Lord describes Judah's people as stubborn children. They think Egypt will protect them from Assyria, instead of trusting Him. But Egypt will be of no help. Judah's leaders ignore God. They demand that prophets only tell them what they want to hear. Those leaders will be surprised by the sudden consequences of faithlessness. The Lord waits for them to turn back to Him and cry for help. When they do, He will provide greatly for them after destroying the Assyrians who are threatening them. The people will sing and celebrate as the Assyrians fall.

Isaiah has been transmitting God's prophecies about Israel, Judah, and other nations. This chapter scolds the southern kingdom of Judah for stubbornness and self-reliance. They make foolish choices instead of relying on the Lord. Egypt will not protect Judah from the Assyrians. But God will take vengeance on the enemy nation one day. Chapter 31 continues to rebuke those who look to human armies instead of God.

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).