Isaiah 41:15
Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
Original Language Analysis
תָּשִֽׂים׃
Behold I will make
H7760
תָּשִֽׂים׃
Behold I will make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
2 of 13
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
חָר֣וּץ
sharp
H2742
חָר֣וּץ
sharp
Strong's:
H2742
Word #:
4 of 13
properly, incised or (active) incisive; hence (as noun masculine or feminine) a trench (as dug), gold (as mined), a threshing-sledge (having sharp tee
בַּ֖עַל
instrument having
H1167
בַּ֖עַל
instrument having
Strong's:
H1167
Word #:
6 of 13
a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
הָרִים֙
the mountains
H2022
הָרִים֙
the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
9 of 13
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Cross References
Micah 4:13Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.Zechariah 4:7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.Habakkuk 3:12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.Isaiah 21:10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.Isaiah 28:27For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.Psalms 18:42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
Historical Context
This promised Israel would not remain helpless victims but would, through God's empowerment, overcome obstacles that seemed as immovable as mountains—returning to rebuild despite opposition.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's pattern of using weak instruments for great purposes encourage you?
- What 'mountains' in your life need God's transforming power to turn you into His threshing instrument?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God transforms the worm into a threshing instrument ('morag chadash'—new sharp threshing sledge) with teeth, able to thresh mountains and beat hills to chaff. This dramatic reversal shows God's power to take the weakest and make them instruments of His purposes. The 'newness' suggests fresh empowerment, not human strength.