Isaiah 7:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying,

NIV: Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying,

NASB: Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying,

CSB: For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted harm against you. They say,

NLT: Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying,

KJV: Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

NKJV: Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,

The Lord is telling Isaiah to give a specific message to King Ahaz of Judah at a scary moment in his life (Isaiah 7:3). Two kings have allied to bring Ahaz down and put someone else on his throne (Isaiah 7:5–6). The armies of Israel and Syria caused destruction to tens of thousands of people in outer Judah (2 Chronicles 28), and now they are coming to put Jerusalem under siege.

Despite these terrifying circumstances, the Lord's message for Ahaz is simple: do not be afraid (Isaiah 7:4). He doesn't want the king's heart to flutter in fear. And he is giving the king instruction to not be foolish because of the frightening scenario. The two kings are full of anger and have planned evil against him, but they a merely a smoldering fire that will soon go out.

It may be that the kings and their armies would soon be called away to defend their homes from the Assyrians. Or perhaps God has something else planned for them. The king of Judah cannot know, but the message is clear: God wants Ahaz to trust Him and to relax instead of acting in desperation.

Isaiah 7:1–9 describes the terror of Judah's King Ahaz and his people at the news that Israel and Syria have teamed up to defeat him. The Lord tells Isaiah to take his son and find Ahaz in a specific place. Isaiah reveals to Ahaz that what he fears will not happen. Syria and Israel will not conquer Jerusalem and divide up Judah and put someone else on Ahaz's throne. Instead, Israel will cease to be a people within 65 years. Ahaz must be firm in his faith in the Lord if he wishes to have any foundation.

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).

Accessed 12/4/2024 3:41:33 AM