Isaiah 7:4

And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

And say {H559} unto him, Take heed {H8104}, and be quiet {H8252}; fear {H3372} not, neither be fainthearted {H7401}{H3824} for the two {H8147} tails {H2180} of these smoking {H6226} firebrands {H181}, for the fierce {H2750} anger {H639} of Rezin {H7526} with Syria {H758}, and of the son {H1121} of Remaliah {H7425}.

and say to him, 'Take care to stay calm and unafraid; don't be demoralized by these two smoldering stumps of firewood, by the blazing anger of Retzin and Aram or the son of Remalyah;

and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

Commentary

Isaiah 7:4 delivers a powerful message of divine reassurance and a call to faith amidst fear. This verse is part of God's direct communication through the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah, who was facing an imminent and terrifying military threat.

Historical and Cultural Context

This prophecy occurs during the Syro-Ephraimite War (around 734-732 BC). King Ahaz of Judah was in a state of panic because the northern kingdom of Israel (under King Pekah, the "son of Remaliah") had allied with Syria (under King Rezin) to attack Judah. Their aim was to depose Ahaz and install a puppet king. Ahaz was contemplating making an alliance with Assyria, a powerful and dangerous empire, out of fear. God sends Isaiah to meet Ahaz by the highway, specifically to deliver this message of comfort and warning against trusting in human alliances over divine protection.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Reassurance: The primary message is God's command for Ahaz to "fear not, neither be fainthearted." God knows Ahaz's terror and steps in to provide comfort, promising that the threat is not as formidable as it appears.
  • The Insignificance of Human Threats: God dismisses the formidable alliance of Syria and Israel as merely "two tails of these smoking firebrands." This vivid metaphor suggests that their anger and power are like dying embers, about to burn out and pose no lasting danger. Their "fierce anger" is ultimately impotent against God's plan.
  • Call to Quiet Trust: The command "Take heed, and be quiet" emphasizes the need for calm, watchful trust in God rather than frantic human efforts or desperate alliances. It's a call to be still and know that He is God.
  • God's Sovereignty: The verse implicitly highlights God's absolute control over nations and their leaders. Despite their aggression, Rezin and Pekah are merely instruments whose power God limits and will extinguish.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Take heed, and be quiet" (KJV) translates from Hebrew words that convey a sense of guarding oneself, being alert, and simultaneously being still or calm. It's an active quietness, not a passive resignation, but a deliberate act of trusting in the Lord with all your heart. The metaphor of "smoking firebrands" (Hebrew: zənavōt 'tails' and ’ûdîm 'firebrands/stumps') powerfully portrays the two kings as burnt-out, smoldering sticks, indicating that their destructive potential is nearly exhausted and their reign of terror is temporary and ineffective.

Practical Application

Isaiah 7:4 offers a timeless lesson for believers facing overwhelming circumstances. Just as God reassured Ahaz, this verse reminds us that:

  • Fear is a Choice: We are commanded not to fear or be fainthearted, even when threats seem immense. God's perspective often differs vastly from ours.
  • God's Protection is Real: What appears to be a raging fire may, in God's sight, be nothing more than "smoking firebrands" – a fading, ultimately harmless threat. We are encouraged to see our challenges through His eyes.
  • Trust Leads to Peace: Cultivating a spirit of quiet trust and stillness before God, rather than panicking or scrambling for human solutions, is the path to true security and peace. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This verse serves as a powerful anchor for faith, urging us to look beyond immediate dangers to the ultimate sovereignty and protective care of God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 35:4

    Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Lamentations 3:26

    [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 20:3

    And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

  • Isaiah 30:15

    For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

  • Matthew 24:6

    And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

  • Zechariah 3:2

    And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

  • Exodus 14:13

    And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
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