The Meaning of Isaiah 7:23 Explained

Isaiah 7:23

KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

YLT: And it hath come to pass, in that day, Every place where there are a thousand vines, At a thousand silverlings, Is for briers and for thorns.

Darby: And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silver pieces, shall become briars and thorns:

ASV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall be for briers and thorns.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall come to pass in that day,  [that] every place  shall be, where there were a thousand  vines  at a thousand  silverlings,  it shall [even] be for briers  and thorns. 

What does Isaiah 7:23 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 7:23 mean?

And it shall happen in day that shall be every [That] wherever there there could be there a thousand vines [Worth] a thousand [shekels] of silver for briers and thorns it will be
וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יִֽהְיֶ֣ה כָל־ מָק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֧ר יִֽהְיֶה־ שָּׁ֛ם אֶ֥לֶף גֶּ֖פֶן בְּאֶ֣לֶף כָּ֑סֶף לַשָּׁמִ֥יר וְלַשַּׁ֖יִת יִֽהְיֶֽה

וְהָיָה֙  And  it  shall  happen 
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.
הַה֔וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מָק֗וֹם  [That]  wherever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
יִֽהְיֶה־  there  could  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אֶ֥לֶף  a  thousand 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
גֶּ֖פֶן  vines 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: גֶּפֶן  
Sense: vine, vine tree.
בְּאֶ֣לֶף  [Worth]  a  thousand  [shekels] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
כָּ֑סֶף  of  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
לַשָּׁמִ֥יר  for  briers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמִיר 
Sense: thorn(s), adamant, flint.
וְלַשַּׁ֖יִת  and  thorns 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁיִת  
Sense: thorn bushes.
יִֽהְיֶֽה  it  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.