Isaiah 62:8
The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
Original Language Analysis
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע
hath sworn
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע
hath sworn
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
1 of 20
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
יְהוָ֛ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בִּֽימִינ֖וֹ
by his right hand
H3225
בִּֽימִינ֖וֹ
by his right hand
Strong's:
H3225
Word #:
3 of 20
the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ
and by the arm
H2220
וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ
and by the arm
Strong's:
H2220
Word #:
4 of 20
the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
עֻזּ֑וֹ
of his strength
H5797
עֻזּ֑וֹ
of his strength
Strong's:
H5797
Word #:
5 of 20
strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
וְאִם
Surely I will
H518
וְאִם
Surely I will
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 20
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֶתֵּן֩
no more give
H5414
אֶתֵּן֩
no more give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
7 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
ע֤וֹד
H5750
ע֤וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
10 of 20
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
מַֽאֲכָל֙
to be meat
H3978
מַֽאֲכָל֙
to be meat
Strong's:
H3978
Word #:
11 of 20
an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)
וְאִם
Surely I will
H518
וְאִם
Surely I will
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
13 of 20
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
בְנֵֽי
and the sons
H1121
בְנֵֽי
and the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
15 of 20
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
נֵכָר֙
of the stranger
H5236
נֵכָר֙
of the stranger
Strong's:
H5236
Word #:
16 of 20
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
תִּֽירוֹשֵׁ֔ךְ
thy wine
H8492
תִּֽירוֹשֵׁ֔ךְ
thy wine
Strong's:
H8492
Word #:
17 of 20
must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:Deuteronomy 28:31Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.Ezekiel 20:5And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;Isaiah 1:7Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.Jeremiah 5:17And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.Deuteronomy 32:40For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.Leviticus 26:16I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
Historical Context
This reverses curses for covenant violation (Deuteronomy 28:33, 51). Enemies consuming agricultural produce characterized judgment; restoration means enjoying one's own labor.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's oath provide assurance beyond mere promise?
- What does it mean to enjoy the fruit of your labor spiritually?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured.' God swears an oath - the highest guarantee. The 'right hand' and 'arm of strength' represent His power. No more will enemies consume Israel's produce.