Deep Dive

Isaiah 17:11

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though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout— yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 11

Syria and Ephriam were confederate against Judah (Isa 7:1, Isa 7:2), and, they being so closely linked together in their counsels, this chapter, though it be entitled "the burden of Damascus" (which was the head city of Syria), reads the doom of Israel too. I. The destruction of the strong cities both of Syria and Israel is here foretold (Isa 17:1-5 and Isa 17:9-11). II. In the midst of judgment mercy is remembered to Israel, and a gracious promise made that a remnant should be preserved from the calamities and should get good by them (Isa 17:6-8). III. The overthrow of the Assyrian army before Jerusalem is pointed at (Isa 17:12-14). In order of time this chapter should be placed next after ch. 9, for the destruction of Damascus, here foretold, happened in the reign of Ahaz, Kg2 16:9.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 11

יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נֶטַע (neṭaʻ, H5194) — a plant; collectively, a plantation; abstractly, a planting שׂוּג (sûwg, H7735) — to hedge in בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as… קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also… נֵד (nêd, H5067) — a mound, i.e. wave חָלָה (châlâh, H2470) — properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or… אָנַשׁ (ʼânash, H605) — to be frail, feeble, or (figuratively) melancholy כְּאֵב (kᵉʼêb, H3511) — suffering (physical or mental), adversity

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Hosea 8:7rank 5

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.

Job 4:8rank 5

As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.

Psalms 90:6rank 3

in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

Hosea 9:16rank 3

Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

Jeremiah 5:31rank 3

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?

Romans 2:5rank 3

But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

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