New English Translation
Isaiah 51:23
23I will put it into the hand of your tormentors who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you.’ You made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walked over you.”
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
21So listen to this, oppressed one, who is drunk, but not from wine! 22This is what your sovereign master, the Lord your God, says: “Look, I have removed from your hand the cup of intoxicating wine, the goblet full of my anger. You will no longer have to drink it. I will put it into the hand of your tormentors who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you.’ You made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walked over you.”
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
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 49:25Indeed,” says the Lord, “captives will be taken from a warrior; spoils will be rescued from a conqueror. I will oppose your adversary and I will rescue your children.
- Proverbs 11:8The righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked turns up in his stead.
- Proverbs 21:18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.
- Jeremiah 25:17So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand. I made all the nations to whom he sent me drink the wine of his wrath.
- Zechariah 12:2“I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged.
- Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her.
- Joshua 10:24When they brought the kings out to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the troops who accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came up and put their feet on their necks.
- Psalms 65:11You crown the year with your good blessings, and you leave abundance in your wake.
- Revelation 11:2But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.
- Revelation 13:16He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain 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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