Isaiah 10:7

7 However he doesn't mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

Isaiah 10:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 10:7

Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so,
&c.] His purposes, intentions, and thoughts, were not as the Lord's; he did not imagine that he was only the rod of his anger, and the staff of his indignation, a minister of his wrath, and the executioner of his vengeance; he thought he was his own lord and master, and acted by his own power, and according to his own will, and was not under the direction and restraints of another; his intention was not to chastise and correct the people of the Jews, but utterly to destroy them, and not them only, but many other nations; as follows: but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations, not a few;
not the nation of the Jews only, but many others, and so establish an universal monarchy; and what flushed him with hope and expectation of success were the magnificence of his princes, and the conquests he had already made.

Isaiah 10:7 In-Context

5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!

6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 However he doesn't mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

8 For he says, Aren't my princes all of them kings?

9 Isn't Calno as Carchemish? Isn't Hamath as Arpad? Isn't Samaria as Damascus?