New King James Version
Isaiah 51:23
23But 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.”
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 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 please hear this, you afflicted, And drunk but not with wine. 22Thus says your Lord, The Lord and your God, Who pleads the cause of His people: “See, I have taken out of your hand The cup of trembling, The dregs of the cup of My fury; You shall no longer drink it. 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.”
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 thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.
- Proverbs 11:8The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.
- Proverbs 21:18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.
- Jeremiah 25:17Then I took the cup from the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the Lord had sent me:
- Zechariah 12:2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
- Revelation 17:6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
- Joshua 10:24So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.
- Psalms 65:11You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.
- Revelation 11:2But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
- Revelation 13:16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries