Isaiah 5:25
Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Original Language Analysis
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
1 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּ֡ן
H3651
כֵּ֡ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
2 of 25
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
חָרָה֩
kindled
H2734
חָרָה֩
kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
3 of 25
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
אַפּ֔וֹ
For all this his anger
H639
אַפּ֔וֹ
For all this his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
4 of 25
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
יְהוָ֨ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֨ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּעַמּ֜וֹ
against his people
H5971
בְּעַמּ֜וֹ
against his people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 25
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
נְטוּיָֽה׃
and he hath stretched forth
H5186
נְטוּיָֽה׃
and he hath stretched forth
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
7 of 25
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
יָד֥וֹ
but his hand
H3027
יָד֥וֹ
but his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
8 of 25
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עָלָ֣יו
H5921
עָלָ֣יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וַיַּכֵּ֗הוּ
against them and hath smitten
H5221
וַיַּכֵּ֗הוּ
against them and hath smitten
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
10 of 25
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
וַֽיִּרְגְּזוּ֙
did tremble
H7264
וַֽיִּרְגְּזוּ֙
did tremble
Strong's:
H7264
Word #:
11 of 25
to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)
הֶֽהָרִ֔ים
them and the hills
H2022
הֶֽהָרִ֔ים
them and the hills
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
12 of 25
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וַתְּהִ֧י
H1961
וַתְּהִ֧י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
13 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נִבְלָתָ֛ם
and their carcases
H5038
נִבְלָתָ֛ם
and their carcases
Strong's:
H5038
Word #:
14 of 25
a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
בְּקֶ֣רֶב
in the midst
H7130
בְּקֶ֣רֶב
in the midst
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
16 of 25
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
חוּצ֑וֹת
of the streets
H2351
חוּצ֑וֹת
of the streets
Strong's:
H2351
Word #:
17 of 25
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
18 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
20 of 25
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁ֣ב
is not turned away
H7725
שָׁ֣ב
is not turned away
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
21 of 25
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אַפּ֔וֹ
For all this his anger
H639
אַפּ֔וֹ
For all this his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
22 of 25
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
וְע֖וֹד
H5750
וְע֖וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
23 of 25
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
Cross References
Isaiah 10:4Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.Isaiah 9:21Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.Isaiah 9:17Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.2 Kings 9:37And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.Jeremiah 4:24I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.Daniel 9:16O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.Psalms 18:7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.Jeremiah 16:4They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.Nahum 1:5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.1 Thessalonians 2:16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Historical Context
Assyrian invasions brought mass casualties, with bodies left unburied. The ongoing 'stretched out hand' warned of worse to come if repentance didn't occur.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding divine anger as settled disposition rather than emotional outburst affect our view of judgment?
- What does the persistence of God's 'stretched out hand' teach about the thoroughness of discipline?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Divine anger ('the anger of the LORD is kindled') manifesting in 'stretched forth' hand depicts active judgment. The imagery of corpses as refuse in streets shows death's degradation—unburied bodies denied dignity. The refrain 'his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still' (repeated in 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4) emphasizes unrelenting judgment until repentance occurs. This sustained divine wrath demonstrates that judgment isn't arbitrary passion but settled response to persistent rebellion.