Isaiah 7:20

In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

In the same day {H3117} shall the Lord {H136} shave {H1548} with a razor {H8593} that is hired {H7917}, namely, by them beyond {H5676} the river {H5104}, by the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, the head {H7218}, and the hair {H8181} of the feet {H7272}: and it shall also consume {H5595} the beard {H2206}.

When that day comes, Adonai will shave - with a razor hired beyond the [Euphrates] River, that is, with the king of Ashur - the head and the hair between the legs, and get rid of the beard as well.

On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

Isaiah 7:20 is a powerful prophetic declaration detailing the severe judgment that would fall upon the kingdom of Judah, specifically under King Ahaz, for their lack of faith and reliance on foreign alliances rather than God.

Context

This verse comes amidst a critical period for Judah. King Ahaz was facing a grave threat from the Syro-Ephraimite coalition (Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel). In his fear, Ahaz was unwilling to trust God's promise of deliverance, even refusing to ask for a sign when prompted by the prophet Isaiah (as seen in Isaiah 7:12). Instead, Ahaz sought help from the mighty Assyrian Empire, a decision that would ultimately prove disastrous (2 Kings 16:7). Isaiah 7:20 reveals God's response to this lack of faith: He would use the very power Ahaz relied upon—the Assyrian king, referred to as "the razor that is hired"—to bring about a thorough and humiliating judgment on Judah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: God is depicted as the ultimate controller of history, using even powerful empires like Assyria as His instruments to execute His will and judgment. The "razor" is hired by the Lord, indicating divine permission and purpose behind the Assyrian invasion.
  • Humiliation and Desolation: The imagery of shaving the "head, and the hair of the feet," and consuming the "beard" is a profound metaphor for complete national humiliation, stripping away of dignity, and utter desolation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the beard was a symbol of honor and masculinity, and hair on the head and body represented vitality and identity. To be shaved in this manner was a sign of extreme disgrace, mourning, or captivity, signifying a total loss of status and prosperity for Judah.
  • Consequences of Disobedience and Lack of Faith: The severe judgment prophesied here is a direct consequence of King Ahaz's unwillingness to trust God and his decision to form a worldly alliance. It underscores the principle that rejecting divine guidance often leads to harsher outcomes than the initial threat.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "razor" (ta'ar) emphasizes the sharpness and cutting power, making it a vivid metaphor for the devastating impact of the Assyrian army. The phrase "beyond the river" (me'eber han-nahar) specifically refers to the Euphrates River, clearly identifying the Assyrians as coming from Mesopotamia, east of Judah. The act of "shaving" (gallach) is deliberate and complete, signifying a thorough and inescapable judgment, not just a superficial attack. This imagery also appears in other prophetic books, such as Ezekiel 5:1, where hair is used symbolically for the people of Israel facing judgment.

Practical Application

Isaiah 7:20 serves as a timeless reminder of the consequences of misplaced trust. For believers today, it highlights the importance of placing our faith fully in God, even when facing overwhelming challenges, rather than relying on worldly solutions or alliances that may seem powerful but ultimately lead to deeper trouble. It reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and events, and He can use any instrument, even seemingly hostile forces, to accomplish His purposes. This verse encourages us to examine where our trust truly lies and to seek God's guidance and provision in all circumstances, rather than falling prey to fear and compromise.

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.

  • Isaiah 8:7

    Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

  • Ezekiel 29:18

    Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

  • Ezekiel 5:1

    ¶ And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause [it] to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the [hair].

  • Ezekiel 5:4

    Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; [for] thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

  • Isaiah 10:15

    Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? [or] shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake [itself] against them that lift it up, [or] as if the staff should lift up [itself, as if it were] no wood.

  • Jeremiah 27:6

    And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

  • Jeremiah 27:7

    And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

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