Isaiah 7:16
For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֠י
H3588
כִּ֠י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בְּטֶ֨רֶם
H2962
בְּטֶ֨רֶם
Strong's:
H2962
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
יֵדַ֥ע
shall know
H3045
יֵדַ֥ע
shall know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
3 of 16
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
הַנַּ֛עַר
For before the child
H5288
הַנַּ֛עַר
For before the child
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
4 of 16
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
בַּטּ֑וֹב
the good
H2896
בַּטּ֑וֹב
the good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
8 of 16
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
קָ֔ץ
that thou abhorrest
H6973
קָ֔ץ
that thou abhorrest
Strong's:
H6973
Word #:
13 of 16
to be (causatively, make) disgusted or anxious
מִפְּנֵ֖י
shall be
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֖י
shall be
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
14 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Isaiah 8:4For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.Deuteronomy 1:39Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
Historical Context
Assyrian records corroborate the timeline: Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Damascus 732 BC and installed Hoshea as puppet king in Samaria after Pekah's assassination.
Questions for Reflection
- How does precise fulfillment of short-term prophecy validate long-term messianic promises?
- What does God's detailed knowledge of future events reveal about His sovereignty over history?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The promise that 'before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings' provides specific timeline: within 2-3 years, both Rezin and Pekah would fall. This prophecy was fulfilled precisely—Damascus fell 732 BC (Rezin killed), and Pekah was assassinated 732 BC (2 Kings 15:30). Historical fulfillment vindicates prophetic word and establishes pattern for recognizing ultimate fulfillment in Christ.