Isaiah 3:25
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
Original Language Analysis
מְתַ֖יִךְ
Thy men
H4962
מְתַ֖יִךְ
Thy men
Strong's:
H4962
Word #:
1 of 5
properly, an adult (as of full length); by implication, a man (only in the plural)
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
2 of 5
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
יִפֹּ֑לוּ
shall fall
H5307
יִפֹּ֑לוּ
shall fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
3 of 5
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
Historical Context
Assyrian and Babylonian invasions decimated Judah's military. The siege of Jerusalem (701 BC and 586 BC) resulted in massive casualties, leaving survivors—predominantly women and children—destitute.
Questions for Reflection
- How does military defeat serve as divine discipline for covenant unfaithfulness?
- What modern 'mighty men' or sources of security might fall when we trust them instead of God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prophecy that 'thy men shall fall by the sword' and 'thy mighty in the war' indicates military defeat and loss of male protectors. In ancient context, this left women vulnerable to exploitation and poverty. The personification of the city as female addresses corporate Judah, warning that covenant unfaithfulness leads to military defeat. This fulfills Deuteronomic curse that enemies would prevail (Deuteronomy 28:25), demonstrating that God fights against His rebellious people rather than for them.