King James Version

What Does Isaiah 17:13 Mean?

Isaiah 17:13 in the King James Version says “The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shal...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. a rolling: or, thistledown”

Isaiah 17:13 · KJV

Context

11

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow. a heap: or, removed in the day of inheritance, and there shall be deadly sorrow

12

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! multitude: or, noise mighty: or, many

13

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. a rolling: or, thistledown

14

And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

Read Isaiah 17 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.' Despite nations' terrifying power (rushing waters), God rebukes them and they flee. The verb 'rebuke' (gaar) indicates authoritative command silencing opposition. Invincible armies become 'chaff'—worthless husks blown away effortlessly. The imagery shifts from overwhelming flood to insignificant debris scattered by wind. This dramatic reversal demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty—what seems unstoppable to humans is nothing before divine power. The fulfillment came in 701 BCE when Assyria besieged Jerusalem but God destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (Isaiah 37:36).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The prophecy's fulfillment came during Sennacherib's 701 BCE siege of Jerusalem. After conquering 46 fortified cities in Judah, Assyria surrounded Jerusalem demanding surrender. Hezekiah prayed, Isaiah prophesied deliverance, and God's angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight. Sennacherib fled, later assassinated by his sons (Isaiah 37:36-38). His own annals confirm the campaign but notably omit conquering Jerusalem, mentioning only shutting Hezekiah 'like a caged bird'—tacit admission of failure. This miraculous deliverance demonstrated God's power over seemingly invincible empires, validating Isaiah's prophecies and Reformed theology's emphasis on divine sovereignty.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's rebuke transforming overwhelming floods into scattered chaff demonstrate absolute sovereignty?
  2. What does this teach about proper perspective on threatening geopolitical forces?
  3. How did the 701 BCE deliverance vindicate Isaiah's prophetic ministry and God's covenant faithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
לְאֻמִּ֗ים1 of 17

“The nations”

H3816

a community

כִּשְׁא֞וֹן2 of 17

“like the rushing”

H7588

uproar (as of rushing); by implication, destruction

מַ֤יִם3 of 17

“waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

רַבִּים֙4 of 17

“of many”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

יִשָּׁא֔וּן5 of 17

“shall rush”

H7582

to rush; by implication, to desolate

וְגָ֥עַר6 of 17

“but God shall rebuke”

H1605

to chide

בּ֖וֹ7 of 17
H0
וְנָ֣ס8 of 17

“them and they shall flee”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק9 of 17

“far off”

H4801

remoteness, i.e., (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar

וְרֻדַּ֗ף10 of 17

“and shall be chased”

H7291

to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

כְּמֹ֤ץ11 of 17

“as the chaff”

H4671

chaff (as pressed out, i.e., winnowed or (rather) threshed loose)

הָרִים֙12 of 17

“of the mountains”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

לִפְנֵ֥י13 of 17

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

ר֔וּחַ14 of 17

“the wind”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

וּכְגַלְגַּ֖ל15 of 17

“and like a rolling thing”

H1534

a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)

לִפְנֵ֥י16 of 17

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

סוּפָֽה׃17 of 17

“the whirlwind”

H5492

a hurricane

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 17:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 17:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 9:5Isaiah 41:15-16Psalms 1:4Job 21:18Isaiah 29:5Psalms 35:5

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