Isaiah 27:4

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Fury {H2534} is not in me: who would set {H5414} the briers {H8068} and thorns {H7898} against me in battle {H4421}? I would go {H6585} through them, I would burn {H6702} them together {H3162}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I have no anger in me. If it gives me briars and thorns, then, as in war, I will trample it down and burn it up at once;

Berean Standard Bible

I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.

American Standard Version

Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them, I would burn them together.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 27:4 is a profound declaration of God's benevolent disposition towards His people, Israel, whom He likens to a cherished vineyard. It asserts that His wrath is not directed at them, but rather at their adversaries, metaphorically depicted as "briers and thorns." The verse powerfully conveys God's unwavering commitment to protect His redeemed, promising swift and decisive judgment against any hostile forces that would seek to harm His beloved vineyard, ensuring their security and flourishing under His sovereign care.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 27 stands as a pivotal chapter within the larger prophetic tapestry of Isaiah, particularly following the "Little Apocalypse" of chapters 24-26, which describe God's universal judgment and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom. Chapter 27 itself opens with a declaration of God's judgment on Leviathan, a mythical sea monster symbolizing chaotic evil and oppressive empires. Immediately preceding verse 4, verses 2-3 introduce a "song of the vineyard," a stark contrast to the earlier, judgmental vineyard song in [Isaiah 5](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard"). While the vineyard of chapter 5 was neglected and destroyed due to its wild grapes (Israel's unfaithfulness), the vineyard of chapter 27 is meticulously guarded and watered by the Lord Himself, signifying a restored and fruitful Israel under divine protection. Verse 4 directly elaborates on the nature of this divine protection, assuring that God's fury is not against His people but against their enemies.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Isaiah was primarily delivered during the tumultuous 8th century BCE, a period marked by the rising Assyrian empire's dominance and its subsequent threat to Judah and Israel. The imagery of "briers and thorns" was a common agricultural reality in ancient Israel, representing unproductive, troublesome, and often harmful weeds that choked out desirable crops. Farmers would regularly clear these by burning. The concept of "battle" (H4421, _milchâmâh_) was also a lived experience, with nations constantly vying for power and engaging in warfare. For the Israelites, surrounded by powerful, often hostile, empires, the promise of divine protection against such "briers and thorns" (i.e., oppressive nations or internal wickedness) and victory in "battle" would have been deeply reassuring, speaking to their existential anxieties and their hope for national security and restoration.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Firstly, it underscores God's **sovereignty and omnipotence**, demonstrating His ultimate control over all nations and circumstances, as seen in His ability to "burn together" any opposition. Secondly, it highlights God's **covenant faithfulness and redemptive love** towards His chosen people. Unlike the earlier judgment, God's disposition towards the restored vineyard is one of benevolent protection, assuring them that His "fury is not in me" concerning them. This speaks to the theme of **restoration and renewal** for Israel, promising a future where they are secured from external threats and flourish under divine care. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **divine judgment** against all forms of evil and opposition, ensuring that anything that threatens God's purposes or His people will be decisively dealt with, echoing the broader declarations of God's justice found throughout [Isaiah](/isaiah "The Book of Isaiah - Prophecies of Judgment and Salvation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fury (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "heat," denotes intense anger, wrath, or indignation, often with destructive potential. By stating "Fury is not in me," God declares that His disposition towards His restored people is not one of uncontrolled, destructive rage, but rather a purposeful, protective posture. It signifies a shift from the fiery judgment against unfaithful Israel (as in [Isaiah 5](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard")) to a benevolent, safeguarding relationship with His redeemed.
* **Briers (Hebrew, _shâmîyr'_):** This term refers to sharp, prickly plants, often used metaphorically for something troublesome, unproductive, or harmful. In the context of a vineyard, briers represent invasive weeds that choke out fruitful vines. Here, they symbolize the enemies or destructive forces that threaten God's "vineyard"—His people. Their nature as easily combustible material underscores God's ease in dealing with them.
* **Burn (Hebrew, _tsûwth'_):** This primitive root means "to blaze" or "to burn." The use of this verb emphasizes the decisive, consuming, and complete nature of God's judgment against the "briers and thorns." It suggests a swift and total eradication, leaving no remnants of the opposition, ensuring the absolute security and flourishing of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Fury is not in me:"** This opening clause is a profound declaration of God's merciful and protective disposition towards His people, the restored "vineyard." It signifies that His intense wrath, which was previously directed at their sin and rebellion, is now absent concerning them. This is a statement of divine grace, assuring His people that His intentions are benevolent and safeguarding, not destructive.
* **"who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle?"** This is a rhetorical question that powerfully emphasizes God's omnipotence and unchallenged sovereignty. The "briers and thorns" are metaphorical for hostile forces, obstacles, or enemies that would dare to oppose God's will or harm His cherished people. The question implies that no one can successfully stand against the Almighty; any such attempt is futile and self-destructive.
* **"I would go through them, I would burn them together."** This declaration reveals God's decisive and consuming action against His adversaries. "Go through them" implies a direct confrontation and overcoming of any opposition. "Burn them together" signifies a complete, swift, and unified destruction of these "briers and thorns." This imagery assures His people that God Himself will personally and thoroughly deal with all threats, ensuring their safety and the triumph of His purposes.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 27:4 is rich with **Metaphor** and **Rhetorical Question**. The "briers and thorns" serve as a potent **metaphor** for the enemies or destructive forces that threaten God's people, the "vineyard" (as established in the preceding verses). This imagery effectively conveys the nature of these adversaries as troublesome, unproductive, and ultimately easily consumed by divine power. The **rhetorical question**, "who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle?", is a powerful literary device that emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and invincibility. It implies that no entity, no matter how formidable, can successfully challenge or oppose Him, thereby instilling confidence and assurance in the audience regarding God's protective might. The repeated use of "I would" also creates a sense of divine resolve and certainty in His actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully encapsulates the paradox of God's character: His fierce wrath against evil and His tender mercy towards His redeemed. It assures God's people that while His judgment is real and consuming for those who oppose Him, His disposition towards His beloved is one of unwavering protection and grace. This divine commitment to safeguard His "vineyard" speaks to His covenant faithfulness, promising that no enemy, no matter how thorny or pervasive, can ultimately thwart His redemptive plans for His chosen ones. It highlights the security found in being aligned with God's purposes, as He Himself becomes the formidable defender against all adversaries.

* [Psalm 97:3](/psalms/97-3 "Psalm 97:3 - Fire Goes Before Him") - "A fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around."
* [Nahum 1:6](/nahum/1-6 "Nahum 1:6 - Who Can Stand Before His Indignation?") - "Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him."
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - God Is For Us") - "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 27:4 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to trust in God's sovereign protection. In a world filled with spiritual, emotional, and physical "briers and thorns"—whether they be temptations, persecutions, anxieties, or oppressive systems—this verse reminds us that God's disposition towards His children is not one of anger, but of steadfast love and active defense. We are invited to rest in the assurance that our battles are not ours alone; the Almighty God, who declares "Fury is not in me" concerning us, is actively engaged in our defense, ready to "go through them" and "burn them together." This truth empowers us to face challenges with courage, knowing that ultimate victory belongs to the Lord, and His commitment to our well-being is unwavering. It calls us to align our lives with His purposes, trusting that as we remain in His "vineyard," He will meticulously tend to us and decisively remove all that threatens our flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "briers and thorns" are you currently facing in your life, and how does the promise of God's decisive intervention encourage you?**
* **How does understanding God's disposition as "Fury is not in me" towards His redeemed people impact your view of His character and your relationship with Him?**
* **In what ways can you actively trust God to "go through" and "burn together" the obstacles in your path, rather than trying to fight them in your own strength?**

### FAQ
**Does "Fury is not in me" mean God never gets angry?**

Answer: No, it does not mean God never gets angry. The phrase "Fury is not in me" in [Isaiah 27:4](/isaiah/27-4 "Isaiah 27:4 - God's Disposition Towards His People") is specifically contextualized within the "song of the vineyard" (Isaiah 27:2-6), which speaks of God's restored relationship with Israel. It signifies that God's destructive wrath, which was previously poured out on unfaithful Israel (as seen in [Isaiah 5](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard")) and on the nations, is *not* directed at His redeemed and cherished people. God's anger is a righteous attribute, always directed at sin, rebellion, and injustice. This verse assures His people that His disposition *towards them* is now one of benevolent protection, not destructive fury, even as He remains fiercely angry at their adversaries.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 27:4, with its declaration of God's benevolent disposition and His decisive judgment against adversaries, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "fury" that is "not in me" for His redeemed people is the very wrath that was poured out upon Christ on the cross. He became the recipient of divine judgment against sin, thereby clearing the way for God's merciful disposition towards all who believe. Just as God promised to "burn together" the briers and thorns, Jesus, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), decisively defeated sin, death, and the powers of darkness (the ultimate "briers and thorns") through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Through His victory, believers are brought into the "pleasant vineyard" of God's grace, no longer subject to divine wrath but secured by His protective love. The promise that no one can "set the briers and thorns against me in battle" is realized in Christ, who has triumphed over every foe, ensuring that "neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love")). He is the ultimate fulfillment of God's protective promise, the one who clears the path for His people to flourish eternally.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 6:8

But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.

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;

Matthew 3:12

Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

2 Samuel 23:6

But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

Psalms 85:3

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger.

Isaiah 9:18

For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

Isaiah 54:6

¶ For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.