Isaiah 7:24

KJV

With arrows and with bows shall [men] come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

KJV (with Strong's)

With arrows {H2671} and with bows {H7198} shall men come {H935} thither; because all the land {H776} shall become briers {H8068} and thorns {H7898}.

Complete Jewish Bible

One will go there [to hunt] with bow and arrow, because all the land will be briars and thorns.

Berean Standard Bible

Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.

American Standard Version

With arrows and with bow shall one come thither, because all the land shall be briers and thorns.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 7:24 delivers a stark prophetic warning to Judah, illustrating the severe consequences of King Ahaz's refusal to trust in God during the Syro-Ephraimite War. This verse vividly portrays a future of profound desolation and economic collapse, where the once-fertile land will be so ravaged by divine judgment that it becomes an impenetrable wilderness of briers and thorns, forcing its inhabitants to abandon agriculture for a primitive, survivalist existence reliant on hunting with bows and arrows.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 7:24 is situated within a pivotal prophetic oracle (Isaiah 7-12) concerning the Syro-Ephraimite War and the rise of Assyria. Specifically, it concludes a section (Isaiah 7:17-25) detailing the judgment that will befall Judah due to King Ahaz's unbelief. The preceding verses describe the Assyrian invasion as a "razor" God will use to shave the land, leading to widespread devastation. The imagery of the land reverting to wilderness, first introduced in [Isaiah 7:23](/isaiah/7-23 "Isaiah 7:23 - Land of Thorns"), is powerfully reinforced here, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the coming desolation. This verse serves as a grim culmination of the warnings, painting a picture of a society stripped of its agricultural foundation and forced into a primitive mode of survival.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is the late 8th century BCE, a period of immense geopolitical instability. King Ahaz of Judah faced an existential threat from a coalition of Aram (Syria) and Israel (Ephraim), who sought to depose him and install a puppet king. God, through Isaiah, offered Ahaz a divine sign and urged him to trust in the Lord's protection, promising that the allied threat would fail. However, Ahaz, demonstrating a profound lack of faith, refused God's offer and instead sought an alliance with the powerful Assyrian Empire. This decision, a rejection of divine providence, set the stage for God's judgment. The cultural context highlights Judah's agrarian society, where land fertility and agricultural prosperity were signs of God's blessing. The prophecy of the land becoming "briers and thorns" would have been particularly terrifying, signifying a complete reversal of their way of life and a return to a wild, untamed state, reminiscent of the curse in [Genesis 3:18](/genesis/3-18 "Genesis 3:18 - Thorns and Thistles After the Fall").
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Isaiah. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, where God's just consequences for human sin and unbelief are vividly portrayed. Ahaz's refusal to trust God directly leads to the prophesied desolation. Another significant theme is **Desolation and Reversal of Blessing**, as the once-productive land is cursed to become a wilderness, symbolizing a complete collapse of societal order and economic stability. This contrasts sharply with the promises of fruitfulness for obedience found elsewhere in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the imagery underscores the theme of **Insecurity and Primitive Survival**, as the need for "arrows and bows" implies a drastic shift from settled agriculture to a dangerous, subsistence-based existence, highlighting the profound insecurity that will engulf the land due to their spiritual rebellion, echoing the warnings of what happens when a people reject God's covenant, as seen in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **arrows (Hebrew, _chêts'_):** From a root meaning "to pierce," this word primarily denotes a projectile, an arrow, or dart. In this context, it signifies a tool for hunting or warfare, emphasizing a shift from agricultural sustenance to a more primitive, survival-based existence. The presence of arrows indicates a dangerous environment where traditional farming is no longer possible, necessitating hunting for food or defense against wild animals or hostile forces.
* **bows (Hebrew, _qesheth'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to bend," referring to the act of bending the bow for shooting. The bow is intrinsically linked with the arrow, forming the primary weapon for hunting and combat in ancient times. Its mention here reinforces the imagery of a land so desolate and dangerous that its inhabitants must arm themselves for basic survival, highlighting the collapse of civil order and the return to a more primitive state.
* **land (Hebrew, _ʼerets'_):** This broad term refers to the earth at large, or more specifically, a particular country or territory. Here, it refers to the land of Judah. The prophecy that "all the land" will become briers and thorns underscores the comprehensive and pervasive nature of the desolation. It's not just isolated fields but the entire region that will be rendered unproductive and dangerous, signifying a complete reversal of the land's blessed status.
* **briers (Hebrew, _shâmîyr'_):** From a root meaning "to prick," this word denotes a thorny plant, often associated with wild, uncultivated growth. It can also refer to a hard, sharp stone like a diamond, highlighting its piercing quality. In this context, "briers" symbolize the wild, untamed, and unproductive state of the land, making it difficult to traverse and impossible to cultivate.
* **thorns (Hebrew, _shayith'_):** From a root meaning "to put on" or "to place," suggesting wild growth that "puts itself on" the field. This term refers to scrub or trash, specifically wild growth of weeds or thorns. Paired with "briers," it intensifies the image of an overgrown, neglected, and hostile environment, signifying the complete abandonment of agriculture and the triumph of wilderness over cultivation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"With arrows and with bows shall [men] come thither":** This clause describes the future mode of existence for the inhabitants of Judah. Instead of farming tools, their primary implements will be weapons for hunting and defense. The phrase "come thither" implies movement into or through this desolate land, not for cultivation, but for survival. It paints a picture of a dangerous, wild environment where people must be armed to navigate and sustain themselves, signifying a drastic economic and social regression.
* **"because all the land shall become briers and thorns":** This second clause provides the reason for the first. The desolation is so complete that the entire agricultural landscape will revert to an uncultivated wilderness. "Briers and thorns" are symbolic of God's judgment, unproductive ground, and the curse of the Fall (Genesis 3:18). This transformation means the end of settled, agrarian life, forcing people to abandon their farms and resort to a more primitive, nomadic, or hunter-gatherer existence in a hostile environment.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 7:24 employs several powerful literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, with "arrows and bows" symbolizing a return to a primitive, survivalist existence, replacing the agricultural tools of a settled society. The "briers and thorns" are potent symbols of desolation, divine judgment, and the reversal of blessing, directly contrasting with images of fruitful vineyards and fields. This imagery also creates a strong sense of **Irony**, as the very land promised to Abraham and flowing with milk and honey will become barren and hostile due to the people's unfaithfulness. The verse uses **Foreshadowing** to hint at the widespread destruction and societal collapse that Assyria will bring upon Judah, fulfilling God's judgment. The vivid imagery also creates a strong **Sensory Language**, allowing the reader to almost feel the prick of the thorns and the tension of the bowstring, immersing them in the grim reality of the prophecy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 7:24 stands as a stark testament to the consequences of rejecting God's counsel and relying on human strength rather than divine providence. The theological message is clear: disobedience and unbelief lead to desolation and a reversal of blessing. Just as the land was cursed with thorns and thistles after the Fall, Judah's spiritual rebellion brings about a similar curse upon their physical environment, transforming their fertile fields into an impenetrable wilderness. This serves as a powerful reminder that true security and prosperity are rooted in a right relationship with God, and that turning away from Him inevitably leads to hardship and a loss of the blessings He intends. The shift from agriculture to hunting symbolizes a profound societal regression, highlighting the comprehensive nature of divine judgment that impacts every aspect of life.

* [Isaiah 5:6](/isaiah/5-6 "Isaiah 5:6 - The Unproductive Vineyard")
* [Hosea 9:6](/hosea/9-6 "Hosea 9:6 - Thorns and Nettles")
* [Jeremiah 12:13](/jeremiah/12-13 "Jeremiah 12:13 - Sowing Wheat, Reaping Thorns")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 7:24 offers a profound lesson for believers today, underscoring the critical importance of faith and obedience in the face of adversity. King Ahaz's refusal to trust God, opting instead for a human alliance, led to a prophesied period of severe hardship and national decline. For us, this verse highlights that when we choose self-reliance, worldly strategies, or compromise over radical trust in God's wisdom and provision, we invite a form of "desolation" into our lives. This might manifest as spiritual barrenness, moral decay, relational strife, or even practical difficulties, where our "land" becomes overgrown with "briers and thorns" – unproductive and difficult to navigate. It challenges us to examine where our trust truly lies, reminding us that genuine peace, security, and fruitfulness are found only in aligning our will with God's and seeking His guidance above all else. It calls us to cultivate a life of faith, lest our spiritual landscape become a wilderness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to rely on my own strength or worldly solutions rather than trusting God fully?**
* **What "briers and thorns" might be growing in my life as a result of past or present disobedience or lack of faith?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a deeper trust in God's providence, even when circumstances seem daunting or uncertain?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "clear" the spiritual wilderness in my life and allow God to bring forth fruitfulness?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "briers and thorns" in this verse?**

Answer: The "briers and thorns" (Hebrew: *shamir vashayith*) in Isaiah 7:24 are highly symbolic. They represent the complete desolation and uncultivated state of the land, a direct result of divine judgment on Judah's unfaithfulness. This imagery echoes the curse pronounced in [Genesis 3:18](/genesis/3-18 "Genesis 3:18 - Thorns and Thistles After the Fall") after the Fall, where the ground would produce thorns and thistles as a consequence of sin. Here, it signifies a reversal of blessing, turning fertile agricultural land into a dangerous, unproductive wilderness, making settled farming impossible and forcing the inhabitants into a primitive, survivalist existence. It underscores the severity of God's displeasure and the comprehensive nature of the coming hardship.

**How does this verse relate to King Ahaz's decision?**

Answer: Isaiah 7:24 is a direct prophetic consequence of King Ahaz's lack of faith and his pivotal decision to reject God's offer of a sign and divine protection during the Syro-Ephraimite War. Instead of trusting the Lord, Ahaz sought an alliance with the powerful Assyrian Empire (as detailed in [2 Kings 16](/2_kings/16 "2 Kings 16 - Ahaz's Reign and Alliance with Assyria")). This verse, along with others in [Isaiah 7](/isaiah/7 "Isaiah 7 - The Sign of Immanuel"), reveals that the very Assyrian power Ahaz relied upon would become the instrument of God's judgment, bringing widespread devastation to Judah. The desolation described in Isaiah 7:24 is the direct, bitter fruit of Ahaz's unbelief and his turning away from God's promised deliverance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 7:24 speaks of judgment and desolation resulting from unbelief, it also subtly points forward to Christ in its broader theological context. The "briers and thorns" that curse the land, a consequence of sin and judgment, find their ultimate reversal and redemption in Jesus Christ. He is the one who, in His perfect obedience, reversed the curse of the Fall. Most profoundly, Jesus wore a crown of thorns (as recounted in [Matthew 27:29](/matthew/27-29 "Matthew 27:29 - The Crown of Thorns")), literally taking upon Himself the symbol of humanity's sin and the curse of the earth. His suffering and death on the cross, the ultimate act of trust and obedience to the Father, broke the power of sin and its accompanying desolation. Through Him, the spiritual wilderness of our hearts can be transformed into a fruitful garden, as the Spirit cultivates the "fruit of the Spirit" (described in [Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). The judgment foreshadowed in Isaiah 7:24, a judgment for unbelief, was fully borne by Christ, allowing those who trust in Him to inherit not a land of briers and thorns, but the promised new heavens and new earth, where "there will no longer be any curse" ([Revelation 22:3](/revelation/22-3 "Revelation 22:3 - No More Curse")).

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

Genesis 27:3

Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me [some] venison;