The Meaning of Isaiah 7:18 Explained

Isaiah 7:18

KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

YLT: And it hath come to pass, in that day, Jehovah doth hiss for a fly that is in the extremity of the brooks of Egypt, And for a bee that is in the land of Asshur.

Darby: And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly which is at the extremity of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of Assyria;

ASV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall come to pass in that day,  [that] the LORD  shall hiss  for the fly  that [is] in the uttermost part  of the rivers  of Egypt,  and for the bee  that [is] in the land  of Assyria. 

What does Isaiah 7:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 7:18-25 - A Foreign Foe-God's Instrument
Ahaz, as we have seen, summoned the king of Assyria to his aid. This policy, dictated by human prudence, was fraught with vast peril. He and his advisers would rue their choice, and would have to pay dearly for introducing Assyria into the complicated politics of these minor states. Though this policy might effect a temporary success, like that which Isaiah indicated in the naming of his newborn child, yet ultimately it would work out disastrously, in the depopulation and desolation of the country. The impoverished peasants would have one cow instead of a herd, and two sheep instead of a flock. Is not this true of all the expedients which we substitute for faith in God? At first they promise well but they disappoint and fail. It is the old lesson: "Lean not to thine own understanding," Proverbs 3:5. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 7

1  Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah
10  Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, has for a sign, Christ promised
17  His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 7:18 mean?

And it shall come to pass in day that [That] will whistle Yahweh for the fly that [is] in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee in the land of Assyria
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִשְׁרֹ֤ק יְהוָה֙ לַזְּב֔וּב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּקְצֵ֖ה יְאֹרֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלַ֨דְּבוֹרָ֔ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ אַשּֽׁוּר

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בַּיּ֣וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֗וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יִשְׁרֹ֤ק  [That]  will  whistle 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁרַק  
Sense: to hiss, whistle, pipe.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַזְּב֔וּב  for  the  fly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זְבוּב  
Sense: fly.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בִּקְצֵ֖ה  in  the  farthest  part 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָצֶה 
Sense: end, extremity.
יְאֹרֵ֣י  of  the  rivers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יְאֹר  
Sense: river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וְלַ֨דְּבוֹרָ֔ה  and  for  the  bee 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דְּבֹורָה  
Sense: bee.
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אַשּֽׁוּר  of  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.