Isaiah 7:24
With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
Original Language Analysis
בַּחִצִּ֥ים
With arrows
H2671
בַּחִצִּ֥ים
With arrows
Strong's:
H2671
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, a piercer, i.e., an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of god) thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear
וּבַקֶּ֖שֶׁת
and with bows
H7198
וּבַקֶּ֖שֶׁת
and with bows
Strong's:
H7198
Word #:
2 of 10
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
יָ֣בוֹא
shall men come
H935
יָ֣בוֹא
shall men come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 10
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
שָׁ֑מָּה
H8033
שָׁ֑מָּה
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
4 of 10
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 10
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שָׁמִ֥יר
shall become briers
H8068
שָׁמִ֥יר
shall become briers
Strong's:
H8068
Word #:
6 of 10
a thorn; also (from its keenness for scratching) a gem, probably the diamond
וָשַׁ֖יִת
and thorns
H7898
וָשַׁ֖יִת
and thorns
Strong's:
H7898
Word #:
7 of 10
scrub or trash, i.e., wild growth of weeds or briers (as if put on the field)
תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
8 of 10
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
In peacetime, farmers traveled unarmed. The need for weapons indicates lawlessness, wild animal threats, and banditry following Assyria's destruction. The transformation of cultivated land to wilderness would take mere years without maintenance, as Middle Eastern agriculture depends on constant irrigation and care. This prophecy was literally fulfilled when Judah's population was decimated in 701 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the withdrawal of God's restraining grace lead to societal and moral chaos?
- What spiritual 'wildernesses' emerge in our lives when we neglect our relationship with God?
- In what ways do we arm ourselves against spiritual dangers in a fallen world?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The necessity of armed defense while traveling the land reveals complete societal breakdown. Arrows and bows weren't agricultural tools but weapons of war and hunting. The phrase 'all the land shall become briers and thorns' emphasizes total desolation—what God carefully cultivated would return to wilderness. This physical judgment mirrors spiritual reality: when God's people abandon Him, chaos ensues. The Reformed doctrine of common grace recognizes that all order and prosperity flow from God's restraining hand.