The Meaning of Isaiah 30:17 Explained

Isaiah 30:17

KJV: One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

YLT: One thousand because of the rebuke of one, Because of the rebuke of five ye flee, Till ye have been surely left as a pole On the top of the mountain, And as an ensign on the height.

Darby: One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as a banner on a hill.

ASV: One thousand'shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

Discover Isaiah 30:17

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 30:17?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 30:17 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:17 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 30:17?

What is the context of Isaiah 30:17?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

What does Isaiah 30:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The threat of only one man would so terrify a thousand Judahites that they would flee. The presence of only a few of the enemy would drive multitudes from their land (cf. Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 32:30). Again, a double illustration (at the end of the verse) stressed a complete overthrow (cf. Isaiah 30:14). A deserted flag or signal on a hilltop would be all that was left to indicate the former presence of the people of Judah (cf. Isaiah 6:11-12). This is probably another reference to the remaining remnant. ^[1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 30:1-17 - Fatal Reliance On Human Aid

Toward the close of the 8th century, b.c. Jerusalem sent ambassadors to seek help from Egypt against Assyria, in distinct defiance of God's repeated warnings. Isaiah denounced this as adding sin to sin. Even though their princes reached Zoan and Hanes, capital cities, and succeeded in their object, it would not help them. The beasts of burden might traverse the deserts with presents and bribes, but all would be in vain. These truths, however, were unpalatable, and the politicians endeavored to silence the prophet, Isaiah 30:9-11. All sin recoils on the sinner. At first his efforts seem to protect him, but soon the wall begins to bulge, then it totters, finally it falls. The true policy, urged by Isaiah in Isaiah 30:15, would be to renounce these efforts for Egyptian help and return to rest in the loving care of God. In returning and rest they would be saved! Oh, that we were more quiet and calm in the face of danger, hushing our fears, stilling our throbbing hearts, and leaning back on the everlasting arms! God cannot fail you, ye fearful saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 30

¹ The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt
⁸ And contempt of God's word
¹⁸ God's mercies toward his church
²⁷ God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:17 mean?

Thousand [shall flee] one at the threat of one at of five you shall flee until Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner a hill

אֶ֣לֶף אֶחָ֗ד מִפְּנֵי֙ גַּעֲרַ֣ת אֶחָ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֛י חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה תָּנֻ֑סוּ עַ֣ד אִם־ נוֹתַרְתֶּ֗ם כַּתֹּ֙רֶן֙ עַל־ רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֔ר וְכַנֵּ֖ס הַגִּבְעָֽה

אֶ֣לֶף	Thousand [shall flee]
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: אֶלֶף Sense: a thousand.
אֶחָ֗ד	one
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: אֶחָד Sense: one (number).
מִפְּנֵי֙	at
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.
גַּעֲרַ֣ת	the threat
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: גְּעָרָה Sense: a rebuke, reproof.
אֶחָ֔ד	of one
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: אֶחָד Sense: one (number).
מִפְּנֵ֛י	at
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.
חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה	of five
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: חָמֵשׁ Sense: five.
תָּנֻ֑סוּ	you shall flee
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: נוּס Sense: to flee, escape.
עַ֣ד	until
Parse: Preposition Root: עַד Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אִם־	Till
Parse: Conjunction Root: אִם Sense: if.
נוֹתַרְתֶּ֗ם	you are left
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine plural Root: יָתַר Sense: to be left over, remain, remain over, leave.
כַּתֹּ֙רֶן֙	as a pole
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: תֹּרֶן Sense: beacon, mast, flagpole.
רֹ֣אשׁ	top
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: רֹאשׁ Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הָהָ֔ר	of a mountain
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: הַר Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
וְכַנֵּ֖ס	and as a banner
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: נֵס Sense: something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail.
הַגִּבְעָֽה	a hill
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: גִּבְעָה Sense: hill.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 30:17?

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Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 30:17

		Deuteronomy 28:25 [6]
		Deuteronomy 32:30 [5]
		Leviticus 26:36 [5]
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