Isaiah 10:14

14 As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’ ”

Isaiah 10:14 in Other Translations

KJV
14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
ESV
14 My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped."
NLT
14 I have robbed their nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.”
MSG
14 I reached out my hand and took all that they treasured as easily as a boy taking a bird's eggs from a nest. Like a farmer gathering eggs from the henhouse, I gathered the world in my basket, And no one so much as fluttered a wing or squawked or even chirped.'"
CSB
14 My hand has reached out, as if into a nest, to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered the whole earth. No wing fluttered; no beak opened or chirped.

Isaiah 10:14 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 10:14

And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people,
&c.] With that ease as a man finds a nest of birds, and takes them: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left;
by the bird, who not sitting upon them, there is none to protect them; whereas, when they are sat upon by the bird, she will flutter with her wings, and strike with her bill, and preserve them as well as she can: have I gathered all the earth;
the kingdoms and inhabitants of it, there being none to resist, or that dared to do it, as follows: and there was none that moved the wing;
as a bird will do, when its young or eggs are taken away from it: or opened the mouth, or peeped;
chattered, clucked, or expressed any grief, uneasiness, or resentment; the Targum is,

``that opened his mouth, and spoke a word.''

Isaiah 10:14 In-Context

12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.
13 For he says: “ ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
14 As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’ ”
15 Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
16 Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:4; Habakkuk 2:6-11
  • 2. S Job 31:25
  • 3. Isaiah 14:6
  • 4. 2 Kings 19:22-24; Isaiah 37:24-25
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