Berean Standard Bible
Isaiah 51:23
23I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”
Isaiah 51:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
- New International Version (NIV)I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you, ‘Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.’ And you made your back like the ground, like a street to be walked on.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Bow down, that we may pass over'; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, Who have said to you, ‘Lie down, that we may walk over you.’ And you have laid your body like the ground, And as the street, for those who walk over.”
Context of Isaiah 51:23
21Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine. 22Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God, who defends His people: “See, I have removed from your hand the cup of staggering. From that goblet, the cup of My fury, you will never drink again. I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”
Read all of Isaiah 51Isaiah 51:23 word by word
וְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ בְּיַד־מוֹגַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־אָמְר֥וּ לְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ שְׁחִ֣י וְנַעֲבֹ֑רָה וַתָּשִׂ֤ימִי כָאָ֙רֶץ֙ גֵּוֵ֔ךְ וְכַח֖וּץ לַעֹבְרִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear
- I will place itשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- in the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- of your tormentorsיָגָהyâgâh · to sufferH3013
- whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- toldאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- youנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- Lie downשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
- so we can walk over youעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- so that you madeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- your backגֵּוgêv · backH1460
- like the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- like a streetחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
Cross-references for Isaiah 51:23
- Isaiah 49:25Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.
- Proverbs 11:8The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
- Proverbs 21:18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
- Jeremiah 25:17So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,
- Zechariah 12:2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.
- Revelation 17:6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
- Joshua 10:24When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.
- Psalms 65:11You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty.
- Revelation 11:2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
- Revelation 13:16And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
Commentaries on Isaiah 51:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Them that afflict thee "Them who oppress thee" - The Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, and Vulgate appear to have read מוניך monayich, as in Isaiah 40:26." - Secker. Which have said to thy soul, Bow down "Who say to thee, Bow down thy body" - A very strong and most expressive description of the insolent pride of eastern conquerors; which, though it may seem greatly exaggerated, yet hardly exceeds the strict truth. An example has already been given of it in the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee - The nations that have made war upon thee, and that have reduced thee to bondage, particularly the Babylonians. The calamities which the Jews had suffered, God would transfer to their foes. Which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over - This is a striking description of the pride of eastern conquerors. It was not uncommon for conquerors actually to put their feet on the necks of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-23Verses 17-23 God calls upon his people to mind the things that belong to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her comforters, were their own tormentors. They have no patience by which to keep possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort. Thou art drunken, not as formerly, with the intoxicating cup of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The Babylonians were the ones who caused destruction, war, and famine (Isaiah 51:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. (Is 49:26; Jr 25:15-29; Zec 12:2). Bow down that ... go over--Conquerors often literally trod on the necks of conquered kings, as Sapor of Persia did to the Roman emperor Valerian (Jos 10:24; Psa 18:40; 66:11, 12).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 51:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 51
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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