Isaiah 7:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

NIV: He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

NASB: He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

CSB: By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating curds and honey.

NLT: By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.

KJV: Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

NKJV: Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Isaiah is describing to King Ahaz the sign the Lord is giving to him. It involves the birth of a baby to a woman who is still, at the time of their conversation, a young maiden or virgin (Isaiah 7:14). She will soon give birth to a boy and name him Immanuel, which means "God with us."

Many scholars understand this sign or prophecy to have a double fulfillment. We know from Matthew 1:18–23 that Isaiah's words will be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, who will be the long-promised Messiah. His words will also be fulfilled within a few years as evidence to Ahaz that God has spoken the truth about the coming destruction of Judah's enemies.

Now Isaiah adds some detail. This boy, Immanuel, will "eat curds and honey" when he knows right from wrong. It's unclear what the significance is of eating curds and honey. Some commentators suggest that the arrival of the Assyrian army in the region will lead to a change in diet for those in Judah. Isaiah may be pointing toward that. The Assyrians and Babylonians ate a form of curds called "ghee" and paired it with honey.

Isaiah's statement regarding the boy's ability to know evil from good might suggest the point where children begin to develop control over their impulses: as early as three years old. Or, this might refer to the stage where culture considered a person fully responsible for their actions, somewhere between the ages of 12 and 20. Both would fit with the historical outcome of what Isaiah is pointing to, as described in the following verses (Isaiah 7:16–17).

Isaiah 7:10–25 describes the Lord's response, through Isaiah, to King Ahaz's refusal to obey the Lord. He was told to ask for a sign to confirm the prophecy that Israel and Syria would fail to conquer Judah. Isaiah prophecies that a virgin will conceive and name her child Immanuel. Before the child is old enough to reject evil, Israel and Syria will be wiped out. Then the Lord will use the king of Assyria to harshly judge Judah, humiliate His own people, and empty the land of Judah's citizens.

Isaiah 7 begins with the threat of invasion from two of Judah's enemies: Israel and Syria. Judah's King Ahaz and his people are terrified. Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah tells Ahaz to not be afraid because it will not happen. Israel and Syria will soon be gone. Ahaz, though, refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign. In response, Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Syria and Israel are destroyed, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring judgment on Judah through invading armies, emptying the land until little remains.

Isaiah 7 follows the description of Isaiah's commission as a prophet in Isaiah 6. Now the Lord tells him to go and speak to Judah's king Ahaz, who is terrified about an impending invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah promises this invasion will not happen. Instead, both nations will soon be destroyed. Ahaz refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign to confirm His words. Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Israel and Syria are wiped out, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring harsh judgment against Judah in the form of relentless invading armies.

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).