King James Version

What Does Isaiah 7:17 Mean?

Isaiah 7:17 in the King James Version says “The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day ... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Isaiah 7:17 · KJV


Context

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.

18

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19

And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. bushes: or, commendable trees


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The warning that the LORD 'shall bring upon thee...days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria' introduces dark irony: Ahaz's chosen solution (Assyrian alliance) becomes his judgment. By trusting Assyria instead of God, Ahaz invites oppression worse than the divided kingdom. This demonstrates that seeking security apart from God brings greater danger. It anticipates Jesus' teaching that seeking to save life results in losing it (Matthew 16:25).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ahaz's appeal to Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9) brought temporary relief but made Judah an Assyrian vassal, leading to Hezekiah's crisis when Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem (701 BC).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do our chosen 'solutions' apart from God often become instruments of judgment?
  2. What modern alliances or strategies do we pursue that may ultimately prove destructive?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
בָ֔אוּ1 of 20

shall bring

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יְהוָ֜ה2 of 20

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עָלֶ֗יךָ3 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְעַֽל4 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

עַמְּךָ֮5 of 20

upon thee and upon thy people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וְעַל6 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

בֵּ֣ית7 of 20

house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אָבִיךָ֒8 of 20

and upon thy father's

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

לְמִיּ֥וֹם9 of 20

days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

אֲשֶׁ֣ר10 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹא11 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

בָ֔אוּ12 of 20

shall bring

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

לְמִיּ֥וֹם13 of 20

days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

סוּר14 of 20

departed

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

אֶפְרַ֖יִם15 of 20

that Ephraim

H669

ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

מֵעַ֣ל16 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יְהוּדָ֑ה17 of 20

from Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

אֵ֖ת18 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מֶ֥לֶךְ19 of 20

even the king

H4428

a king

אַשּֽׁוּר׃20 of 20

of Assyria

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire


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 7:17 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 7:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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