Isaiah 17:1

A Prophecy Against Damascus

1 A prophecy against Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.

Isaiah 17:1 in Other Translations

1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

1 An oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.

1 This message came to me concerning Damascus: “Look, the city of Damascus will disappear! It will become a heap of ruins.

1 A Message concerning Damascus: "Watch this: Damascus undone as a city, a pile of dust and rubble!

1 An oracle against Damascus: Look, Damascus is no longer a city. It has become a ruined heap.

Isaiah 17:1 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 17:1

The burden of Damascus,
&c.] A heavy and grievous prophecy, concerning the destruction of it; the Arabic version is,

``the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Damascus;''

and the Targum is,

``the burden of the cup of cursing to give Damascus to drink.''

Behold, Damascus is taken away from [being] a city;
a kingdom, as the Targum; it was the head of one, but now its walls were demolished, its houses pulled down, and its inhabitants carried captive; this was done by Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, ( 2 Kings 16:9 ) it had been a very ancient city, see ( Genesis 15:2 ) and the head of the kingdom of Syria, ( Isaiah 7:8 ) , and though it underwent this calamity, it was rebuilt again, and was a city of great fame, when destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 49:24 Jeremiah 49:25 ) after which it was raised up again, and was in being in the apostle's time, and still is, ( Acts 9:22 ) ( 2 Corinthians 11:32 ) and it shall be a ruinous heap;
or a heap of stones, as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it. A "behold" is prefixed to the whole, as being very wonderful and remarkable, unthought of, and unexpected.

Isaiah 17:1 In-Context

1 A prophecy against Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.

2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.

3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty.

4 “In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away.

5 It will be as when reapers harvest the standing grain, gathering the grain in their arms— as when someone gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 13:1
• 2. S Genesis 14:15; Jeremiah 49:23; Acts 9:2
• 3. S Deuteronomy 13:16; S Isaiah 25:2; Amos 1:3; Zechariah 9:1