Isaiah 1:7
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Original Language Analysis
עָרֵיכֶ֖ם
your cities
H5892
עָרֵיכֶ֖ם
your cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
3 of 13
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙
H5048
לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙
Strong's:
H5048
Word #:
7 of 13
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
זָרִֽים׃
by strangers
H2114
זָרִֽים׃
by strangers
Strong's:
H2114
Word #:
8 of 13
to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery
אֹתָ֔הּ
H853
אֹתָ֔הּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:Deuteronomy 28:43The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.Lamentations 5:2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.Ezekiel 30:12And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.Hosea 7:9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.2 Chronicles 28:5Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
Historical Context
Isaiah witnessed Assyrian invasions (701 BC) that devastated Judah's countryside, leaving Jerusalem barely surviving. This verse may reflect those campaigns or prophetically anticipate Babylon's later destruction.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'promised land' blessings are you risking through unfaithfulness to God?
- How does God use external circumstances to call you back to covenant faithfulness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prophetic perfect tense describes imminent judgment as already accomplished. Three parallel descriptions of devastation (desolate country, burned cities, devoured land) emphasize comprehensive destruction. The presence of 'strangers' fulfilling covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:33) compounds the tragedy—God's promised land plundered by pagans due to covenant unfaithfulness.