Isaiah 8:7

7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them 1the waters of 2the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it 3will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks,

Isaiah 8:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 8:7

Now therefore the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of
the river, strong and many
Alluding to the river Euphrates, which ran by Babylon, which was a large river, full of water, and had a rapid torrent, and so is opposed to Shiloah and its waters; and these waters are explained as follows: [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory;
his army, which was his glory, in which he gloried, and by which he got himself honour and glory. It is usual for mighty kings, kingdoms, and armies, to be signified by such waters, for their multitude and strength; see ( Revelation 17:1 Revelation 17:15 ) : and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his
banks;
that is, either of the land of Ephraim or Israel, and overflow the borders thereof, run over all the whole land, and possess its fortified towns and cities. The Targum is,

``therefore behold the Lord shall bring, and cause to ascend upon them, the army of the people, who are many, as the waters of a river, strong and mighty, the king of Assyria, and his army; and he shall come up upon all his rivers, and shall go upon all his banks;''
or rather "its own" F18 channels and banks, as it may be rendered; and so denotes, that the king of Assyria, and his army, should pass the Euphrates, and come out of their own land, and subdue the adjacent kingdoms and territories, and particularly the land of Judah, as follows.
FOOTNOTES:

F18 (wytwdg-wyqypa lk) "omnes alvcos suos----ripas suas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.

Isaiah 8:7 In-Context

5 The LORD spoke to me again:
6 "Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks,
8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel."
9 Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [Isaiah 17:12, 13]
  • 2. See Isaiah 7:20
  • 3. [Jeremiah 46:8]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.