Isaiah 10:19

And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

And the rest {H7605} of the trees {H6086} of his forest {H3293} shall be few {H4557}, that a child {H5288} may write {H3789} them.

So few forest trees will remain that a child could list them.

The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them.

And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child may write them.

Commentary

Isaiah 10:19 is a vivid prophetic declaration concerning the devastating judgment awaiting the Assyrian Empire, which God had used as an instrument of His wrath against disobedient Israel.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah 10 that details God's dealings with Assyria. While Assyria was God's "rod" to punish Israel (Isaiah 10:5), the Assyrians, in their arrogance, did not acknowledge God's hand in their victories. Instead, they boasted in their own strength and might, intending to destroy nations indiscriminately, far beyond God's limited purpose for them. Therefore, God declares that He will bring judgment upon Assyria for its pride and excessive cruelty.

The imagery throughout this chapter, particularly from verse 16 onward, uses the metaphor of a mighty forest representing Assyria's vast army and power. The "glory of his forest" (Isaiah 10:18) signifies their numerous, strong soldiers and their expansive reach. Verse 19 continues this metaphor, describing the extent of their impending defeat.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Arrogance: The primary theme is God's unwavering opposition to human pride and self-exaltation. Assyria's boastful spirit and disregard for the Lord's sovereignty led directly to their downfall (Proverbs 16:18).
  • Drastic Reduction: The phrase "the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few" signifies a catastrophic loss of military strength and population. From a mighty, seemingly invincible empire, Assyria would be reduced to a mere remnant.
  • Ease of Counting: The powerful imagery "that a child may write them" emphasizes the completeness of the destruction. It would be so thorough that the remaining survivors or forces would be easily countable, even by someone as unskilled as a young child. This highlights the stark contrast between Assyria's former greatness and its future humiliation.
  • God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, this verse underscores God's absolute control over nations and their destinies. He raises up and casts down kingdoms according to His divine plan, humbling the proud and exalting the humble (Daniel 4:37).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "few" (ืžึดืกึฐืคึธึผืจ - mispar) literally means "number" or "count." When used in this context, it emphasizes the smallness of the number, making it easily quantifiable. The phrase "that a child may write them" (ื›ึธึผืชึทื‘ - katab, to write or enroll) vividly portrays the extreme scarcity, implying that no extensive census or great effort would be needed to list the survivors.

Practical Application

Isaiah 10:19 serves as a timeless reminder that no earthly power, however formidable, can ultimately stand against the will of God. It encourages humility and reliance on divine strength rather than human might. For believers, it offers comfort in knowing that God is sovereign over all geopolitical events and will ultimately judge all forms of oppression and arrogance. This prophecy finds historical fulfillment in events such as the decimation of Sennacherib's army (Isaiah 37:36), demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 37:36

    Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

  • Isaiah 21:17

    And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it].
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