Isaiah 17:10

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

Because thou hast forgotten {H7911} the God {H430} of thy salvation {H3468}, and hast not been mindful {H2142} of the rock {H6697} of thy strength {H4581}, therefore shalt thou plant {H5193} pleasant {H5282} plants {H5194}, and shalt set {H2232} it with strange {H2114} slips {H2156}:

For you have forgotten the God who saved you, failed to remember the Rock of your strength; so you plant pagan-style gardens and set out vine-cuttings for a foreign god.

For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge. Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines—

For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.

Isaiah 17:10 delivers a stern warning to the people of Israel (specifically Ephraim, alongside Damascus in this prophecy) regarding their spiritual neglect and its inevitable consequences. The verse highlights a fundamental reason for their impending judgment: a profound forgetfulness of God as their ultimate source of salvation and strength.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle in Isaiah 17, primarily directed against Damascus (Syria) and, significantly, against Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel). At this time, both nations were facing the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire. Instead of turning to the Lord for deliverance, they sought security through human alliances and idolatrous practices. The prophecy underscores that their reliance on foreign powers and their own efforts, rather than on God, would lead to their downfall. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over nations and His call for His people to trust Him alone.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Amnesia and Neglect: The core accusation is that Israel has "forgotten the God of thy salvation" and has "not been mindful of the rock of thy strength." This isn't merely a lapse in memory but a deliberate turning away from active dependence on God, ignoring His past faithfulness and present power. This theme is echoed throughout the prophetic books, emphasizing the covenant relationship God desired with His people.
  • God as the "Rock of Salvation and Strength": The imagery of God as a "rock" is prevalent in Scripture, symbolizing His unchanging nature, reliability, and security. He is the ultimate source of deliverance and power for His people. To forget this "rock" is to abandon the very foundation of their existence and protection. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect."
  • Consequences of Misplaced Trust: The latter part of the verse, "therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips," describes the futile and ultimately destructive actions resulting from their spiritual forgetfulness. "Pleasant plants" and "strange slips" symbolize foreign, non-Godly methods of security—whether alliances with pagan nations, reliance on human ingenuity, or the adoption of idolatrous practices. These are "strange" because they are alien to God's ways and ultimately bear no lasting fruit, leading instead to further judgment. This contrasts sharply with trusting in the Lord, which yields blessing.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "rock of thy strength" (Hebrew: tsur ozzecha) powerfully conveys God's unshakeable nature and His role as the source of true power and security. It's a metaphor emphasizing dependability and steadfastness. The "pleasant plants" (Hebrew: nit'ei na'amanim) and "strange slips" (Hebrew: zemorat zar) are symbolic. "Pleasant plants" might refer to appealing but superficial solutions, while "strange slips" clearly denotes foreign, illicit, or ungodly practices and alliances that are alien to the covenant relationship with God. These are efforts to find life and security outside of God, which are doomed to fail.

Practical Application

Isaiah 17:10 serves as a timeless warning for individuals and nations today. It challenges us to examine where our true trust lies. Do we remember and rely on God as our ultimate salvation and strength, especially during times of crisis or temptation? Or do we, like ancient Israel, turn to "pleasant plants" and "strange slips"—worldly strategies, humanistic philosophies, or fleeting pleasures—in an attempt to find security or fulfillment apart from Him? The verse reminds us that genuine peace and lasting security are found only in an active, mindful relationship with the God who saves and strengthens. Our efforts to build life apart from Him will inevitably prove futile and lead to disappointment, just as the prophet warns about the barrenness of the "strange slips" in the very next verse, Isaiah 17:11.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 2:32

    Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

  • Isaiah 26:4

    Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:

  • Deuteronomy 32:18

    Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

  • Hosea 13:6

    According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

  • Hosea 13:7

    Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe [them]:

  • Psalms 106:21

    They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

  • Deuteronomy 32:4

    [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.

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