Isaiah 10:17

And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

And the light {H216} of Israel {H3478} shall be for a fire {H784}, and his Holy One {H6918} for a flame {H3852}: and it shall burn {H1197} and devour {H398} his thorns {H7898} and his briers {H8068} in one {H259} day {H3117};

The light of Isra'el will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, burning and devouring his thorns and briars in a single day.

And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles.

And the light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

Commentary

Isaiah 10:17 presents a powerful image of God's decisive judgment and protection over His people, Israel. This verse is part of a larger prophetic message concerning the Assyrian Empire, which God used as an instrument of discipline against Judah but would subsequently judge for its own arrogant pride and cruelty.

Context

In Isaiah chapters 10-12, the prophet Isaiah details God's impending judgment on Assyria, a dominant world power at the time. While God permitted Assyria to conquer and afflict nations, including Judah, Assyria acted out of its own wicked ambition, not recognizing itself as merely a tool in God's hand. Verses 5-15 describe Assyria's boastful pride and their belief in their own invincibility. Isaiah 10:16-19 then pivot to God's certain destruction of this arrogant empire. The "thorns and briers" represent the Assyrian military might and its oppressive presence, which God promises to swiftly eradicate.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty and His willingness to execute judgment upon those who oppose His will or oppress His people, even if they were previously used for His purposes.
  • God as Light and Holy One: Describing God as "the light of Israel" and "his Holy One" emphasizes His pure, righteous nature and His role as the source of truth, guidance, and ultimate salvation for His chosen nation. This divine light, however, becomes a consuming fire to wickedness. Jesus later declared Himself the light of the world, echoing this divine attribute.
  • Swift and Complete Destruction: The phrase "in one day" signifies the sudden, comprehensive, and undeniable nature of God's judgment. What might seem an insurmountable obstacle (like thorns and briers) will be utterly consumed by divine power.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery of "fire" (Hebrew: 'esh) and "flame" (Hebrew: lahabah) is frequently used in scripture to depict God's presence, purification, and particularly His consuming wrath against sin and rebellion. This is a powerful metaphor for the destructive force unleashed against the "thorns and briers" (Hebrew: shamir vashayith), which commonly symbolize obstacles, wickedness, or the desolation caused by curses, as seen in Genesis 3:18. The contrast between God as "light" (source of life and truth) and as "fire" (destroyer of evil) highlights His multifaceted nature.

Practical Application

Isaiah 10:17 offers timeless encouragement and warning. For believers, it reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of the world, and He will ultimately deal with all forms of oppression and wickedness. We can take comfort in His power to overcome seemingly insurmountable "thorns and briers" in our lives or in the world, whether they are spiritual strongholds, societal injustices, or personal struggles. For those who act with pride and injustice, it serves as a solemn reminder that God's judgment is certain and swift. Ultimately, this verse points to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people and His ultimate victory over all that opposes His righteous reign, a theme seen throughout biblical prophecy concerning the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 11:1

    ¶ And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.

  • Numbers 11:3

    And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

  • Isaiah 27:4

    Fury [is] not in me: who would set the briers [and] thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

  • Jeremiah 4:4

    Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings.

  • Numbers 16:35

    ¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

  • Nahum 1:10

    For while [they be] folden together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

  • Isaiah 37:23

    Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.
← Back