King James Version

What Does Isaiah 7:15 Mean?

Isaiah 7:15 in the King James Version says “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Isaiah 7:15 · KJV

Context

13

And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel . shall call: or, thou, O virgin, shalt call

15

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

16

For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

17

The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

Read Isaiah 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The child Immanuel eating 'butter and honey' when knowing to 'refuse the evil, and choose the good' describes the timeline until Syria and Israel's threat ends. Butter and honey may indicate either plenty after crisis (land flowing with milk and honey) or scarcity requiring simple diet. The age of moral discernment (knowing good from evil) suggests approximately 2-3 years, providing timeline for prophecy's fulfillment. This detail grounds messianic prophecy in immediate historical circumstance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Within three years of Isaiah's prophecy, Damascus fell (732 BC) and Northern Kingdom faced Assyrian assault, vindicating the timeline and removing Ahaz's immediate threat.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do immediate historical fulfillments of prophecy strengthen faith in ultimate messianic fulfillment?
  2. What does the progression from infant to moral discernment teach about Christ's genuine humanity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
חֶמְאָ֥ה1 of 8

“Butter”

H2529

curdled milk or cheese

וּדְבַ֖שׁ2 of 8

“and honey”

H1706

honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup

יֹאכֵ֑ל3 of 8

“shall he eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ4 of 8

“that he may know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

מָא֥וֹס5 of 8

“to refuse”

H3988

to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear

בָּרָ֖ע6 of 8

“the evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וּבָח֥וֹר7 of 8

“and choose”

H977

properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select

בַּטּֽוֹב׃8 of 8

“the good”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

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 7:15 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 7:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 7:22Amos 5:15Matthew 3:4Philippians 1:9-10Psalms 51:5Luke 1:35

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 7 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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