King James Version

What Does Isaiah 9:20 Mean?

Isaiah 9:20 in the King James Version says “And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: snatch: Heb cut”

Isaiah 9:20 · KJV

Context

18

For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

19

Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. fuel: Heb. meat

20

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: snatch: Heb cut

21

Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Read Isaiah 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The horror intensifies: desperate hunger leads to cannibalism. 'Snatch on the right hand' and 'eat on the left' suggest frantic, indiscriminate consumption—they devour anything available. 'Eat every man the flesh of his own arm' is likely metaphorical for self-destruction and possibly literal for siege cannibalism. 'They shall not be satisfied' indicates insatiable hunger—both physical and spiritual. This represents the ultimate degradation—humanity reduced to beast-like savagery through abandoning God.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Literally fulfilled during Samaria's siege (2 Kings 6:28-29 describes cannibalism during an earlier Syrian siege, prefiguring worse under Assyria). Siege warfare regularly produced such horrors in ancient Near East. Josephus records similar atrocities during Jerusalem's AD 70 siege. Lamentations 4:10 confirms cannibalism during Jerusalem's 586 BC siege. These unspeakable acts vindicate God's judgment—societies that reject Him descend to unimaginable depravity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this extreme imagery illustrate humanity's capacity for evil when restraining grace is removed?
  2. What does the insatiable hunger represent spiritually for those who seek satisfaction apart from God?
  3. How do we maintain human dignity and morality when societies around us descend into chaos?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיִּגְזֹ֤ר1 of 13

“And he shall snatch”

H1504

to cut down or off; (figuratively) to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide

עַל2 of 13
H5921

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

יָמִין֙3 of 13

“on the right hand”

H3225

the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south

וְרָעֵ֔ב4 of 13
H7456

to hunger

יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃5 of 13

“and he shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

עַל6 of 13
H5921

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

שְׂמֹ֖אול7 of 13

“on the left hand”

H8040

properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e., the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand

וְלֹ֣א8 of 13
H3808

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

שָׂבֵ֑עוּ9 of 13

“and they shall not be satisfied”

H7646

to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)

אִ֥ישׁ10 of 13

“every man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

בְּשַׂר11 of 13

“the flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

זְרֹע֖וֹ12 of 13

“of his own arm”

H2220

the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force

יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃13 of 13

“and he shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

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 9:20 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 9:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 49:26Jeremiah 19:9Leviticus 26:26-29Lamentations 4:10Isaiah 8:21

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