Isaiah 17:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.

NIV: In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away.

NASB: Now on that day the glory of Jacob will fade, And the fatness of his flesh will become lean.

CSB: On that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and his healthy body will become emaciated.

NLT: 'In that day Israel’s glory will grow dim; its robust body will waste away.

KJV: And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

NKJV: “In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane, And the fatness of his flesh grow lean.

Isaiah's God-given prophecy against Damascus and Syria has expanded to include the nation of the northern ten tribes of Israel (Isaiah 7:3; 1 Kings 12:16–20). The Lord wants to show His people that when they look to other nations for protection, they will share in the destruction of those other nations. He wants His people to trust Him first and above all. His people are not to put their faith in treaties or alliances or the false gods of their neighbors.

The result of God's judgment against His people Israel through the Assyrians will be that their "glory" is flattened. The idea of glory here has to do with power and authority and wealth in the world. Instead of being healthy and prosperous, Israel will grow destitute as a people who cannot find enough food for themselves. Any glory that comes apart from depending on the Lord God will be exposed as a false and flimsy. It will be a power that quickly vanishes in the heat of His judgment.

Isaiah 17:1–14 begins as a prophecy of the destruction of Damascus, the capital of Syria. Israel will nearly be wiped out along with it. Survivors of both nations will exist on scraps. The remnant of Israel will finally look to their Maker for help instead of praying to false idols. This remnant will experience grief and pain because they have forgotten the God of their salvation. Still, the Lord God has the power to drive away enemies like dust against a strong wind.

What begins as an oracle against Damascus becomes a description of the consequences of Israel's faithlessness As well as the Lord's ability to save them. Damascus will become a heap of ruins. Ephraim will be nearly wiped out along with it. The glory of both will be wasted away like a once healthy man starving and living on scraps. Finally, Israel will look to their Maker instead of to idols they have made with their hands. They forgot the God of their salvation, the One who can chase away the storms of the enemy nations.

Prior chapters included prophecies against various nations, such as Assyria, Babylon, and Moab (Isaiah 13—16). Chapter begins as another oracle against one of Israel's hostile neighbors. However, this one is set much earlier in time. Damascus will become ruins and Israel will be nearly wiped out along with it. Survivors will gather scraps just to survive. The remnant in Israel will finally look to their Maker for help, instead of to idols. Still, the Lord can drive away the roaring nations who have come against Israel. Further oracles follow, beginning with a prophecy about Cush (Isaiah 18).

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 5/5/2024 10:50:33 PM