Isaiah 7:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns.

NIV: In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns.

NASB: And it will come about on that day, that every place where there used to be a thousand vines, valued at a thousand shekels of silver, will become briars and thorns.

CSB: And on that day every place where there were a thousand vines, worth a thousand pieces of silver, will become thorns and briers.

NLT: In that day the lush vineyards, now worth 1,000 pieces of silver, will become patches of briers and thorns.

KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

NKJV: It shall happen in that day, That wherever there could be a thousand vines Worth a thousand shekels of silver, It will be for briers and thorns.

Isaiah continues to describe the terrible days coming for Judah after Assyria invades the land (Isaiah 7:18–22). This judgment from the Lord will wipe out the population in two ways. Many people will simply be killed. Many others will be carried away into exile. The land will be severely depopulated. The prophet described that devastation in an unsettling, almost positive way (Isaiah 7:21–22). Those left behind will have plenty of milk, curds, and honey, since there are so few mouths to feed. Now he describes the obvious downside. Not enough people will remain to work the vineyards.

He describes vineyards that once held a thousand productive grape vines. Their value was likely that which was created by their annual produce. In those dark days, these rich and productive vineyards will be overgrown with thorns. Not enough workers will remain to keep the soil fertile and productive.

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).

Accessed 5/2/2024 5:55:23 PM