Isaiah 10:19
And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
Original Language Analysis
עֵ֛ץ
of the trees
H6086
עֵ֛ץ
of the trees
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
2 of 7
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
יַעְר֖וֹ
of his forest
H3293
יַעְר֖וֹ
of his forest
Strong's:
H3293
Word #:
3 of 7
a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
מִסְפָּ֣ר
shall be few
H4557
מִסְפָּ֣ר
shall be few
Strong's:
H4557
Word #:
4 of 7
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
יִֽהְי֑וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֑וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
5 of 7
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
The forest metaphor connects to Lebanon's famous cedars, symbols of strength and majesty (see Isaiah 10:33-34). Assyrian annals record massive armies—Sennacherib claimed 200,150 captives from Judah alone in 701 BC. Yet his army withdrew suddenly from Jerusalem, and Assyria never recovered its former dominance. Within a century, the empire collapsed. Archaeological evidence shows Nineveh's destruction was so complete that even its location was forgotten until 19th-century excavations rediscovered it.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'forests' in our world seem permanent and invincible, yet stand under God's judgment?
- How should the rise and fall of empires shape our confidence in temporary vs. eternal kingdoms?
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Analysis & Commentary
After divine judgment, Assyria's once-mighty forest (metaphor for its army and empire) will be so reduced that 'a child may write them'—meaning count them, since children were learning numerals. From invincible superpower to pitiful remnant: this is God's reversal of human pride. The 'rest of the trees' emphasizes how few will survive. This prophecy was fulfilled when 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died in one night (Isaiah 37:36), and ultimately when the Assyrian Empire fell to Babylon in 612-609 BC. What seemed permanent proved temporary; what seemed invincible proved vulnerable before God's decree.