Isaiah 17
17
A Prophecy about Damascus
1This is God’s message for Damascus:
“Behold, Damascus is gone!
It is no longer a city, only a heap of rubble.
2Her ruins # 17:2 Or “The towns of Aroer.” Aroer means “ruins.” will be abandoned—
left for flocks to lie down in with nothing to fear.
3Damascus will lose the power of her fortress,
and the strongholds of the northern kingdom # 17:3 Or “Ephraim.” will disappear.
The remnant of Syria # 17:3 Or “Aram.” will be like Israel—stripped of its glory,”
says the Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies.
4“On that day, the beautiful splendor of Jacob’s northern tribes
will be brought low, and they will become like skin and bones.
5It will be as when a farmer harvests the standing grain
and gathers armloads of grain,
and as one gathers ears of grain in the Valley of Giants. # 17:5 Or “mighty men” (Hb. rephaim). Jesus’ life within us will soon reap a harvest of glory (see James 3:18). Armloads (sons and daughters of power) of grain (spiritual harvest) will be seen in coming days through mighty men and women.
6Yet some gleanings will remain,
as when an olive tree is shaken, # 17:6 Olives were harvested by shaking (Hb. “beating”) the tree. See Heb. 12:26.
leaving two or three olives in the highest branches # 17:6 The Torah required farmers to leave some fruit behind for the poor and the stranger to glean. See Lev. 19:9–10. “Two or three” are sufficient for any need when they gather in agreement with Jesus. See Matt. 18:19–20. The uppermost branches point us to our heavenly life in the heavenly realm, our glorious resurrection life (see Col. 3:1–5).
and four or five on its fruitful branches,” # 17:6 Or “on her boughs, the many-branched one.” This points to the fruitful branches of Christ as he branches out through us and brings his fruit to the earth through yielded believers. See John 15:1–8. God appoints some to the “four or five” grace ministries appointed to “nurture and prepare all the holy believers” (see Eph. 4:11–12).
declares Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel.
7In that day, people will gaze toward their Creator, # 17:7 Or “At that time, the Adam will look toward the Creator.” See James 1:22–25.
and their eyes will look in faith toward the Holy One of Israel.
8They will not be infatuated with the religious altars
their own hands crafted,
nor by what their own fingers have made, # 17:8 See Acts 17:18–34.
nor with their sacred groves # 17:8 Or “poles” or “goddesses” (Hb. asherim). Asherim (plural) had a specific pagan context with the Canaanite religions stretching back into Israel’s history. See Ex. 34:13–14. or altars of incense.
9On that day their bustling cities will become deserted
like those conquered by the Israelites—
abandoned to thickets and undergrowth,
it will all become desolate.
10For you have ignored and forgotten the God who saves you
and have not remembered your Rock of Safety. # 17:10 See Deut. 32:15.
So what do you do?
You cultivate your beautiful gardens and plant imported vines.
11Even if on the day you plant them they begin to grow,
and even if immediately you see them bud,
your harvest will wither away in a day of grief and agony.
The Uproar of the Nations
12Ah, the thunder of many people joining together! # 17:12 That is, the armies of Assyria. See Ps. 2:1–3.
They roar like the roar of the sea.
Woe to the uproar of the many nations!
They thunder like the crashing of ocean waves.
13The nations are roaring like the roar of a massive waterfall,
but when God rebukes them they disperse
like chaff on the mountains,
like a tumbleweed whirling in the wind.
14In the evening—behold, sudden terror!
Before the morning comes, they vanish!
Such is the fate of those who plunder and try to rob us. # 17:14 See John 10:10.
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 17: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 17
17
God will Punish Syria and Israel
1 #
Jer 49.23–27; Amos 1.3–5; Zech 9.1 The LORD said, “Damascus will not be a city any longer; it will be only a pile of ruins. 2The cities of Syria will be deserted for ever.#17.2 One ancient translation The cities… for ever; Hebrew The cities of Aroer are deserted. They will be a pasture for sheep and cattle, and no one will drive them away. 3Israel will be defenceless, and Damascus will lose its independence. Those Syrians who survive will be in disgrace like the people of Israel. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken.”
4The LORD said, “A day is coming when Israel's greatness will come to an end, and its wealth will be replaced by poverty. 5Israel will be like a field where the corn has been cut and harvested, as desolate as a field in the valley of Rephaim when it has been picked bare. 6Only a few people will survive, and Israel will be like an olive tree from which all the olives have been picked except two or three at the very top, or a few that are left on the lower branches. I, the LORD God of Israel, have spoken.”
7When that day comes, people will turn for help to their Creator, the holy God of Israel. 8They will no longer rely on the altars they made with their own hands, or trust in their own handiwork — symbols of the goddess Asherah and altars for burning incense.
9When that day comes, well-defended cities will be deserted and left in ruins like the cities that the Hivites and the Amorites#17.9 One ancient translation the Hivites and the Amorites; Hebrew woodland and hill country. abandoned as they fled from the people of Israel.
10Israel, you have forgotten the God who rescues you and who protects you like a mighty rock. Instead, you plant sacred gardens#17.10 sacred gardens: See 1.29. in order to worship a foreign god. 11But even if they sprouted and blossomed the very morning you planted them, there would still be no harvest. There would be only trouble and incurable pain.
Enemy Nations are Defeated
12Powerful nations are in commotion with a sound like the roar of the sea, like the crashing of huge waves. 13The nations advance like rushing waves, but God reprimands them and they retreat, driven away like dust on a hillside, like straw in a whirlwind. 14In the evening they cause terror, but by morning they are gone. That is the fate of everyone who plunders our land.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.