Isaiah 51:23

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

21Listen to this, you humble people who are drunk but not from wine. 22The Lord your God defends his people. This is what your master says: I’m taking from your hand the cup that makes people stagger, the bowl, the cup of my fury. You will never drink from it again. I will put it in the hands of those who made you suffer. They said to you, “Lie down so that we can walk over you.” So you made your back like the ground and like a street for them to cross.

Isaiah 51:23 word by word

וְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ בְּיַד־מוֹגַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־אָמְר֥וּ לְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ שְׁחִ֣י וְנַעֲבֹ֑רָה וַתָּשִׂ֤ימִי כָאָ֙רֶץ֙ גֵּוֵ֔ךְ וְכַח֖וּץ לַעֹבְרִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But I will putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• it into the handיָדyâd · handH3027
• of them that afflictיָגָהyâgâh · to sufferH3013
• thee; which have saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
• Bow downשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• that we may go overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• and thou hast laidשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• thy bodyגֵּוgêv · backH1460
• as the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and as the streetחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351

Cross-references for Isaiah 51:23

• Isaiah 49:25This is what the Lord says: Prisoners will be freed from mighty men. Loot will be taken away from tyrants. I will fight your enemies, and I will save your children.
• Proverbs 11:8A righteous person is rescued from trouble, and a wicked person takes his place.
• Proverbs 21:18Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people, and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.
• Jeremiah 25:17So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand. I made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink from it:
• Zechariah 12:2“I’m going to make Jerusalem like a cup ⌞of wine⌟ that makes all the surrounding people stagger. They will attack Judah along with Jerusalem.
• Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people and of those who testify about Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.
• Joshua 10:24When they brought them to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He told the officers who had gone with him, “Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So that’s what they did.
• Psalms 65:11You crown the year with your goodness, and richness overflows wherever you are.
• Revelation 11:2But do not measure the temple courtyard. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
• Revelation 13:16The second beast forces all people—important and unimportant people, rich and poor people, free people and slaves—to be branded on their right hands or on their foreheads.

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

• Drunkenness

In the dictionaries

• Approach
• Loose
• Plead
• Rest
• Sword
• Drunkenness
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Saviour
• Isaiah, Book of

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