New International Version
Isaiah 51:23
23I 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.”
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Instead, I will hand that cup to your tormentors, those who said, ‘We will trample you into the dust and walk on your backs.’”
Context of Isaiah 51:23
21Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine. 22This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again. 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.”
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 49:25But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.
- Proverbs 11:8The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
- Proverbs 21:18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
- Jeremiah 25:17So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it:
- Zechariah 12:2“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.
- Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
- Joshua 10:24When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.
- Psalms 65:11You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
- Revelation 11:2But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
- Revelation 13:16It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark 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
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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