Isaiah Chapter 7 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 7:1
During the days of Achaz the son of Yotam, the son of 'Uziyahu, king of Y'hudah, Retzin the king of Aram and Pekach the son of Remalyah, king of Isra'el, advanced on Yerushalayim to attack it but were unable to conquer it.
The chapter opens with a civil war that is happening between God's people. We see that not only did Syria (Aram) attack Jerusalem but the northern kingdom of God's people (Israel) had tried to take the city but failed. We are also told that this happened during the reign of Ahaz in Jerusalem. Although his father, Jotham, had been a good king, Ahaz turned away from the ways of God and was a very bad king. We also see a miracle as this alliance was not able to conquer Jerusalem and that is clearly because God did not allow it.
Isaiah 7:2
It was told to the house of David that Aram and Efrayim had become allies. Achaz's heart began to tremble, as did the hearts of his people, like forest trees shaken by the wind.
The phrase "house of David" is a messianic term speaking of the fact that a redeemer would come from the line of King David. Now, the king of Judah is informed that the two (Syria & Israel) have joined together to attack the city. We are told that the king and the people were afraid as they had withstood the individual attacks but now they faced a combined attack. Since Ahaz had turned away from God in disobedience, he did not expect God to bless them and to fight for them.
Isaiah 7:3
Then ADONAI said to Yesha'yahu, "Go out now to meet Achaz, you and your son Sh'ar Yashuv, at the end of the aqueduct from the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderers' Field;
Even though Ahaz did not deserve it, God sent Isaiah to him to bring him encouragement. It is interesting to note that God told Isaiah to take his son with him and that his son's name means "a remnant will return". The place God told him to meet Ahaz is significant as well. The aqueduct brought water into the city from the Upper Pool. The word upper comes from two words "most" and "high" and pool comes from the word "blessing". This was a picture of the coming blessing from God Most High which is Yeshua Messiah. The Word of God is described throughout the Bible as water and Yeshua is described as the Word in the opening of the book of John. We are also told that this was on the way to the Washerman's Field which is where the people did their laundry. This is a beautiful picture of the fact that Yeshua cleans us from our sins. We, too, can be encouraged by the fact that our salvation (cleaning) does not depend on us but is freely flowing just as the water flowed into Jerusalem.
Isaiah 7:4
and say to him, 'Take care to stay calm and unafraid; don't be demoralized by these two smoldering stumps of firewood, by the blazing anger of Retzin and Aram or the son of Remalyah;
The Lord not only told Isaiah and his son where to go but gave him the exact words to share with the king. God reassures the king by describing those that are coming against His city as "smoldering stubs of firewood". That should be encouraging as something that is smoldering is on the way to dying and God is simply telling the king to trust in Him. Through this time of trial, God presents King Ahaz with a simple choice of faith or fear. Trials are a normal part of the Christian life but they always present the same choice. Will you walk in faith or fear? Do you have a story to share of a time when you had to make this choice? Just as God sent Isaiah to encourage the king, your story could help someone else to stand strong in the face of trials.
Isaiah 7:5–6
or because Aram, Efrayim and the son of Remalyah have been plotting against you, thinking, "We will invade Y'hudah, tear it apart, divide it among ourselves and appoint the son of Tav'el as king there."
God is continuing to give Isaiah the words to share with the king of Judah. God is not surprised by these enemies and their plans as He knows everything and demonstrates that knowledge by explaining their plan in detail. He also knows about the plans of the enemies in our lives and, if we have made that choice of faith over fear, we can be at peace.
Isaiah 7:7–9
"'This is what Adonai ELOHIM says: "It won't occur, it won't happen. For the head of Aram is Dammesek, and the head of Dammesek Retzin. In sixty-five years Efrayim will be broken and will cease to be a people. The head of Efrayim is Shomron, and the head of Shomron is the son of Remalyah. Without firm faith, you will not be firmly established."'"
In the Hebrew text the past tense is used showing that God has already decreed it and it will be accomplished. The Lord gives Isaiah the words to encourage Ahaz in the face of this trial. The plans that the enemies have made will not happen because they are the plans of men. He also warns Ahaz that he must either stand in his faith or fall completely. This can be a reminder to us that we, too, must trust completely in God especially in the difficult times. This is a normal part of our growth as Christians as we see through the study in Nehemiah 3 and the meaning of the valley gate.
Isaiah 7:10–11
ADONAI spoke again to Achaz; he said, "Ask ADONAI your God to give you a sign. Ask it anywhere, from the depths of Sh'ol to the heights above."
Not only did God give Ahaz words of encouragement but He also gave Ahaz permission to ask Him for a sign to prove it was true. We are reminded that God is in control of everything as He tells Ahaz that the sign can be from the depths or the heights and it didn't matter. There are those that say asking for a sign from God demonstrates a lack of faith but there are many examples throughout His Word of great men of faith asking for a sign. God gives each of us signs in our daily walk with Him. Many are not looking for them and so do not recognize the hand of God.
Isaiah 7:12
But Achaz answered, "I won't ask, I won't test ADONAI."
Ahaz's reply to God is a "religious" answer from a phony. Although his answer is based on a passage from scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16), the man has turned his back on God and is doing all kinds of things that the Lord does not like. God does not want us to pick and choose the parts of His Word that we like and ignore the rest.
Isaiah 7:13
Then [the prophet] said, "Listen here, house of David! Is trying people's patience such a small thing for you that you must try the patience of my God as well?
After the phony religious answer of Ahaz, Isaiah reminds him that he is dealing with God. God knows the heart of all of us and He is patient but He is still the Almighty God.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore Adonai himself will give you people a sign: the young woman will become pregnant, bear a son and name him 'Immanu El [God is with us].
The sign that Isaiah prophesied was fulfilled in Yeshua Messiah, as described in Matthew 1:18–25. This was a sign that could not be explained in any way except by the very hand of God. The Hebrew word almah is translated as "the young woman" and this word specifically speaks of a virgin. For more on the use of this phrase, check out Genesis 24.
Isaiah 7:15
By the time he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good, he will [have to] eat curdled milk and [wild] honey.
This verse speaks of maturing as, in the Hebrew text, it speaks of butter and not milk. This verse speaks to the fact that Yeshua would be a normal man in that he started as a baby. The baby would have nursed from his mother until the time to eat solid food (butter) and Yeshua did the same. It, too, reminds us that as new children in Messiah, we are not to live forever on milk but are to grow to feed on solid food. This was also talked about in Hebrews 5:11–14.
Isaiah 7:16
Yes, before the child knows enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be left abandoned.
This verse speaks of the passage of time from being a child to being an adolescent and Isaiah continues by telling Ahaz that the kings that are coming against Jerusalem will fail.
Isaiah 7:17
ADONAI will bring the king of Ashur on you, your people and your father's house. These will be days worse than any you've known since Efrayim broke loose from Y'hudah."
Isaiah now turns to the coming judgment on Ahaz and the people. He tells of the coming invasion of the Assyrians and the fall of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 7:18–19
Yes, when that day comes, ADONAI will whistle for the fly in the farthest streams of the Nile in Egypt and for the bee in the land of Ashur. They will come and settle, all of them, in steep vadis and holes in the rocks and on all thorn bushes and brambles.
God is bringing judgment on His people and we see that He is going to use the nations around them. Flies are a bother but bees actually cause pain and so Egypt will be a nuisance but the actual pain will be from the Assyrians. The use of insects to describe this coming judgment reminded them (and us) of the plagues that God brought on Egypt to get them to let His people go (see Exodus chapters 7 through 10). God is telling them that these nations will overtake them and be everywhere in their land.
Isaiah 7:20
When that day comes, Adonai will shave - with a razor hired beyond the [Euphrates] River, that is, with the king of Ashur - the head and the hair between the legs, and get rid of the beard as well.
The river that is spoken of is the Euphrates River which runs through the modern country of Iraq. The Assyrians were feared and they were known for their brutality toward their enemies. The shaving of the head and beards was a means of humiliating a defeated enemy.
Isaiah 7:21–22
When that day comes, a man will raise a young cow and two sheep. Will they produce in abundance? No, he will [have to] eat curdled milk. Indeed, everyone left in the land will eat curdled milk and [wild] honey.
This passage speaks of blessing that follows the defeat of their enemies as it speaks of a young cow and two flocks of sheep. Once again, it speaks of eating butter and honey emphasizing that faith in the Messiah will bring abundant life but a period of time will elapse.
Isaiah 7:23
When that day comes, wherever there once were a thousand grapevines, worth a thousand pieces of silver, there will be only briars and thorns.
This is the fourth time that we have seen the phrase "that day" which speaks of the final judgment of God. This describes the desolation of the land of Israel that will happen during the time that is known as Jacob's trouble, the great tribulation, or Daniel's seventieth week.
Isaiah 7:24–25
One will go there [to hunt] with bow and arrow, because all the land will be briars and thorns. You won't visit hills once worked with a hoe, for fear of the briars and thorns; it will be good only for pasturing cattle and being trampled down by sheep.
Isaiah completes the description of the land after God removes His blessing from Israel and the land will be made desolate from war during that period of time.