Isaiah 17

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 17

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

2The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

3The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

4And in that day it shall come to pass, [that] the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

5And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

6¶ Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four [or] five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

7At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

8And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect [that] which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

9¶ In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

10Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

11In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

12¶ Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

13The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

14And behold at eveningtide trouble; [and] before the morning he [is] not. This [is] the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 17 pronounces a burden upon Damascus, declaring its destruction and the desolation of its cities. It also foretells the diminishing glory of Jacob, leaving only a remnant. This desolation is attributed to forgetting God, but in that day, people will turn to their Maker instead of idols. The chapter concludes with a woe against the nations that trouble Israel, predicting their swift rebuke and disappearance by the Lord.

Medium Summary

Chapter 17 of Isaiah begins with a prophecy concerning Damascus, stating it will be reduced to a ruinous heap, and its surrounding cities, along with the fortress of Ephraim and the kingdom of Syria, will cease. The prophecy then shifts to the diminishing glory of Jacob, indicating that Israel's strength and prosperity will be significantly reduced, likened to gleanings after a harvest or a few berries left on an olive tree. This reduction, however, leads to a spiritual turning point, as men will forsake their idolatrous altars and images to look to the Holy One of Israel, their Maker. The desolation of strong cities is directly linked to Israel's forgetfulness of God, their salvation and strength. The chapter warns that planting "pleasant plants" and "strange slips" will yield a harvest of grief. Finally, a woe is declared against the tumultuous nations that rage against God's people, comparing their might to rushing waters that will be swiftly rebuked by the Lord, scattering them like chaff before the wind, their trouble disappearing by morning.

Long Summary

Isaiah chapter 17 opens with a solemn "burden" against Damascus, prophesying its complete destruction, transforming it from a city into a ruinous heap. The surrounding cities of Aroer are also declared forsaken, destined to become pastures for flocks without fear. Furthermore, the fortress of Ephraim and the kingdom of Damascus, along with the remnant of Syria, are foretold to cease, their glory becoming like that of the children of Israel, implying a significant reduction. The prophecy then turns to Jacob, stating that in that day, the glory of Israel will be made thin, and its prosperity will wax lean. This diminishment is vividly illustrated by the imagery of a harvestman gathering corn, leaving only gleanings, or an olive tree after shaking, with just a few berries remaining on the uppermost branches, signifying a severe reduction but not total annihilation. A crucial spiritual shift is predicted, where in that day, individuals will turn their gaze towards their Maker and the Holy One of Israel, abandoning their man-made altars, groves, and images. The desolation of strong cities is explicitly attributed to Israel's forgetfulness of the God of their salvation and the rock of their strength. The text warns that cultivating "pleasant plants" and "strange slips," symbolic of foreign or idolatrous practices, will ultimately yield a harvest of profound grief and desperate sorrow. The chapter concludes with a "woe" directed at the multitude of many peoples and nations whose tumultuous noise is likened to the rushing of mighty waters. Despite their formidable appearance, the Lord will rebuke these nations, causing them to flee far off, chased away like chaff before the wind or a rolling thing before a whirlwind. Their evening trouble will vanish before morning, signifying the swift and complete overthrow of those who spoil and rob God's people.

Core Concepts

  • Burden of DamascusThis refers to the prophetic declaration of the complete destruction and desolation of Damascus, reducing it from a city to a ruinous heap. It signifies a major geopolitical shift and divine judgment upon the Syrian capital.
  • Diminishment of JacobThe prophecy foretells that the glory and prosperity of Israel (Jacob) will be significantly reduced, leaving only a remnant. This is vividly depicted through the imagery of gleaning after harvest and few berries left on an olive tree.
  • Turning from IdolatryA future spiritual awakening is predicted where people will cease to rely on man-made altars, groves, and images. Instead, they will turn their eyes and respect towards their Creator, the Holy One of Israel, marking a return to true worship.
  • Consequences of Forgetting GodThe desolation of strong cities and the failure of human endeavors are directly linked to Israel's forgetfulness of God, their source of salvation and strength. This highlights divine judgment for spiritual apostasy and reliance on self.
  • Rebuke of NationsA powerful declaration of 'woe' is issued against the many nations that trouble God's people, predicting their swift and complete defeat by the Lord. Their might, though like rushing waters, will be scattered like chaff before the wind.
  • Remnant TheologyDespite widespread desolation and diminishment, the chapter explicitly mentions 'gleaning grapes' and 'berries' left, indicating that a small portion of Israel will survive and endure. This concept emphasizes God's preservation amidst judgment.
  • Swift Divine JudgmentThe rapid and decisive nature of God's judgment, particularly against the nations that oppose Him, is emphasized. Their trouble appears in the evening but is gone by morning, signifying a quick and thorough overthrow.