Focused Passage

Isaiah 7:1-9

Ahaz, the Sign of Immanuel, and the Call to Stand Firm in Faith

The chapter moves from political fear in the house of David, to Isaiah’s call for quiet trust, to the warning that unbelief cannot stand, to Ahaz’s refusal of a sign, to the Immanuel sign, to the promise that the immediate threat will fail, and finally to the announcement that Assyria will bring severe judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.

2When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

3Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,

4and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

5For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:

6‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’

7But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.

8For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.

9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Nowוַיְהִ֡יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin the days thatבִּימֵ֣יH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructAhazאָ֠חָזH271Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Jothamיוֹתָ֨םH3147Noun - proper - masculine singularthe sonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Uzziahעֻזִּיָּ֜הוּH5818Noun - proper - masculine singular[was] kingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֗הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularRezinרְצִ֣יןH7526Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Aramאֲ֠רָםH758Noun - proper - feminine singularmarched upעָלָ֣הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto [wage] warלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הH4421Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singularagainstעָלֶ֑יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularJerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularHe was accompanied by Pekahוּפֶ֨קַחH6492Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Remaliahרְמַלְיָ֤הוּH7425Noun - proper - masculine singularthe kingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularbut he couldיָכֹ֖לH3201Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularnotוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleoverpowerלְהִלָּחֵ֥םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct[the city]עָלֶֽיהָ׃H5921Preposition | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • That is, Syria
Verse 2

Original words

When it was reportedוַיֻּגַּ֗דH5046Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto the houseלְבֵ֤יתH1004Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof Davidדָּוִד֙H1732Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthat Aramאֲרָ֖םH758Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .עַל־H5921Prepositionwas in league withנָ֥חָֽהH5117Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularEphraimאֶפְרָ֑יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularthe heartsלְבָבוֹ֙H3824Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularof Ahazוּלְבַ֣בH3824Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructand his peopleעַמּ֔וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singulartrembledוַיָּ֤נַעH5128Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularlike treesעֲצֵי־H6086Noun - masculine plural constructin the forestיַ֖עַרH3293Noun - masculine singular. . .מִפְּנֵי־H6440Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructshakenכְּנ֥וֹעַH5128Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructby the windרֽוּחַ׃H7307Noun - common singular

BSB notes

  • Or had set up camp in Ephraim, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel
Verse 3

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָה֮H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶֽל־H413PrepositionIsaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּ֒H3470Noun - proper - masculine singularGo outצֵא־H3318Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .נָא֙H4994Interjectionwith your sonבְּנֶ֑ךָH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularvvvוּשְׁאָ֖רH7610Shear-jashubיָשׁ֣וּבH7610Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularto meetלִקְרַ֣אתH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructAhazאָחָ֔זH271Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אַתָּ֕הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularatאֶל־H413Prepositionthe endקְצֵ֗הH7097Noun - masculine singular constructof the aqueductתְּעָלַת֙H8585Noun - feminine singular construct[that feeds] the upperהָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔הH5945Article | Adjective - feminine singularpoolהַבְּרֵכָ֣הH1295Article | Noun - feminine singularonאֶל־H413Prepositionthe roadמְסִלַּ֖תH4546Noun - feminine singular constructto the Launderer’sכוֹבֵֽס׃H3526Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularFieldשְׂדֵ֥הH7704Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Shear-jashub means a remnant shall return.
Verse 4

Original words

and sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularto himאֵ֠לָיוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularCalm downהִשָּׁמֵ֨רH8104Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singularand be quietוְהַשְׁקֵ֜טH8252Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularDo notאַל־H408Adverbbe afraidתִּירָ֗אH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularor disheartenedוּלְבָבְךָ֙H3824Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .אַל־H408Adverb. . .יֵרַ֔ךְH7401Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularover theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluraltwoמִשְּׁנֵ֨יH8147Preposition-m | Number - masculine dual constructsmolderingהָעֲשֵׁנִ֖יםH6226Article | Noun - masculine pluralstubsזַנְב֧וֹתH2180Noun - masculine plural constructof firewoodהָאוּדִ֛יםH181Article | Noun - masculine pluralover the fierceבָּחֳרִי־H2750Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructangerאַ֛ףH639Noun - masculine singular constructof Rezinרְצִ֥יןH7526Noun - proper - masculine singularand Aramוַאֲרָ֖םH758Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularand of the sonוּבֶן־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Remaliahרְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃H7425Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Forיַ֗עַןH3282Adverb. . .כִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionAramאֲרָ֖םH758Noun - proper - feminine singularalong with Ephraimאֶפְרַ֥יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularand the sonוּבֶן־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Remaliahרְמַלְיָ֖הוּH7425Noun - proper - masculine singularhas plottedיָעַ֥ץH3289Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularyour ruinרָעָ֑הH7451Adjective - feminine singular. . .עָלֶ֛יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 6

Original words

Let us invadeנַעֲלֶ֤הH5927Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common pluralJudahבִֽיהוּדָה֙H3063Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularterrorize itוּנְקִיצֶ֔נָּהH6973Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person feminine singularand divide itוְנַבְקִעֶ֖נָּהH1234Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person feminine singularamong ourselvesאֵלֵ֑ינוּH413Preposition | first person common pluralThen we can installמֶ֙לֶךְ֙H4428Noun - masculine singularthe sonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Tabealטָֽבְאַֽל׃סH2870Noun - proper - masculine singularover itבְּתוֹכָ֔הּH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular-אֵ֖תH853Direct object markeras kingוְנַמְלִ֥יךְH4427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew split it open
Verse 7

Original words

But this is whatכֹּ֥הH3541Adverbthe Lordאֲדֹנָ֣יH136Noun - proper - masculine singularGODיְהוִ֑הH3069Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֖רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularIt will notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleariseתָק֖וּםH6965Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularit will notוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlehappenתִֽהְיֶֽה׃H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Forכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe headרֹ֤אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular constructof Aramאֲרָם֙H758Noun - proper - feminine singularis Damascusדַּמֶּ֔שֶׂקH1834Noun - proper - feminine singular[and] the headוְרֹ֥אשׁH7218Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Damascusדַּמֶּ֖שֶׂקH1834Noun - proper - feminine singularis Rezinרְצִ֑יןH7526Noun - proper - masculine singularWithinוּבְע֗וֹדH5750Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Adverbsixty-fiveשִׁשִּׁ֤יםH8346Number - common plural. . .וְחָמֵשׁ֙H2568Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singularyearsשָׁנָ֔הH8141Noun - feminine singularEphraimאֶפְרַ֖יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularwill be shatteredיֵחַ֥תH2865Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularas a peopleמֵעָֽם׃H5971Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

The headוְרֹ֤אשׁH7218Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙H669Noun - proper - masculine singularis Samariaשֹׁמְר֔וֹןH8111Noun - proper - feminine singularand the headוְרֹ֥אשׁH7218Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Samariaשֹׁמְר֖וֹןH8111Noun - proper - feminine singularis the sonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Remaliahרְמַלְיָ֑הוּH7425Noun - proper - masculine singularIfאִ֚םH518Conjunctionyou do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlestand firm in your faithתַאֲמִ֔ינוּH539Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthenכִּ֖יH3588Conjunctionyou will notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlestand at allתֵאָמֵֽנוּ׃סH539Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.