English Standard Version
Isaiah 10:5
5Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!
Isaiah 10:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
- New International Version (NIV)“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger. I use it as a club to express my anger.
Context of Isaiah 10:5
3What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth? 4Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! 6Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;
Read all of Isaiah 10Isaiah 10:5 word by word
ה֥וֹי אַשּׁ֖וּר שֵׁ֣בֶט אַפִּ֑י וּמַטֶּה־ה֥וּא בְיָדָ֖ם זַעְמִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 10:5
- Genesis 10:11From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and
- Isaiah 10:15Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!
- Isaiah 8:4for before the boy knows how to cry 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria."
- Isaiah 14:5The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,
- Psalms 17:14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
- Psalms 125:3For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
- Jeremiah 51:20"You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms;
Commentaries on Isaiah 10:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5O Assyrian "Ho to the Assyrian" - Here begins a new and distinct prophecy, continued to the end of the twelfth chapter: and it appears from Isaiah 10:9-11; of this chapter, that this prophecy was delivered after the taking of Samaria by Shalmaneser; which was in the sixth year of the reign of Hezekiah: and as the former part of it foretells the invasion of Sennacherib, and the destruction of his army, which makes the whole subject of this chapter it must…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5O Assyrian - The word הוי hôy is commonly used to denounce wrath, or to indicate approaching calamity; as an interjection of threatening; Isaiah 1:4. Wo sinful nation;‘ Isaiah 10:8, Isaiah 10:11, Isaiah 10:18, Isaiah 10:20-21; Jeremiah 48:1; Ezekiel 13:2. The Vulgate so understands it here: Vae Assur; and the Septuagint, ̓ ̓́ Ouai Assuriois - Woe to the Assyrians.‘ So the Chaldee and the Syriac. It is not then a simple address to the Assyrian; but a form…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-19Verses 5-19 See what a change sin made. The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought to act by his own will. The tyrants of the world are tools of Providence. God designs to correct his people for their hypocrisy, and bring them nearer to him; but is that Sennacherib's design? No; he designs to gratify his own covetousness and ambition. The Assyrian boasts what great things he has done to other nations, by his own policy and power. He knows not that it is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The Assyrians were God’s instrument in judging Syria, Israel, and Judah. The prophet describes them as a rod and a club. These are tools used to strike or discipline someone. God used Assyria to punish these nations. However, Assyria acted with pride and cruelty. Because of their own wickedness, they would not escape judgment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. O Assyrian, &c.--rather, "What, ho (but Maurer, Woe to the) Assyrian! He is the rod and staff of Mine anger (My instrument in punishing, Jr 51:20; Psa 17:13). In their hands is Mine indignation" [Horsley, after Jerome]. I have put into the Assyrians' hands the execution of Mine indignation against My people.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 10:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries