Isaiah 14:29
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
Original Language Analysis
אַֽל
H408
אַֽל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
1 of 16
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י
Rejoice
H8055
תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י
Rejoice
Strong's:
H8055
Word #:
2 of 16
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
כֻּלֵּ֔ךְ
H3605
כֻּלֵּ֔ךְ
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שֵׁ֣בֶט
because the rod
H7626
שֵׁ֣בֶט
because the rod
Strong's:
H7626
Word #:
7 of 16
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
מַכֵּ֑ךְ
of him that smote
H5221
מַכֵּ֑ךְ
of him that smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
8 of 16
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יֵ֣צֵא
shall come forth
H3318
יֵ֣צֵא
shall come forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
12 of 16
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
צֶ֔פַע
a cockatrice
H6848
צֶ֔פַע
a cockatrice
Strong's:
H6848
Word #:
13 of 16
a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e., hissing)
Cross References
Isaiah 11:8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.Isaiah 30:6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.2 Chronicles 26:6And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.Proverbs 24:17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:Ezekiel 35:15As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.Ezekiel 26:2Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:Joshua 13:3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:Hosea 9:1Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.2 Kings 18:8He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.2 Chronicles 28:18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
Historical Context
Philistia had ongoing conflicts with Judah and Assyria. They may have expected Ahaz's death to weaken Judah, creating opportunity. Or if 'the rod' refers to an Assyrian king who died, they may have expected Assyrian decline. But Isaiah warns: Hezekiah (or a new Assyrian king, or ultimately Babylon) will be worse. Historically, Hezekiah did strike Philistia (2 Kings 18:8), and Assyria under Sennacherib remained powerful. The serpent imagery suggests deadly danger—Philistia's premature rejoicing is foolish. The principle applies broadly: don't celebrate defeat of one problem if worse looms.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you celebrated the end of one difficulty only to face a greater one—and what did this teach about God's sovereignty?
- How does the serpent imagery (bad to worse) warn against short-sighted political or personal calculations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.' Philistia (Palestina) is warned not to rejoice that their oppressor's 'rod is broken.' The 'rod' may refer to Ahaz, an Assyrian king, or Assyrian power generally. But the warning is: don't celebrate prematurely because something worse is coming. 'Out of the serpent's root' suggests from the same source (Judah or Assyria), worse threat emerges. 'Cockatrice' (adder, viper) and 'fiery flying serpent' use escalating serpent imagery: bad to worse to worst. Don't rejoice when one enemy falls if a greater enemy rises.