Isaiah 7:7

KJV

Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus {H3541} saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, It shall not stand {H6965}, neither shall it come to pass.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'This is what Adonai ELOHIM says: "It won't occur, it won't happen.

Berean Standard Bible

But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.

American Standard Version

thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 7:7 delivers a profound divine declaration of sovereignty and assurance to King Ahaz of Judah during the Syro-Ephraimite War. In the face of a formidable alliance between Aram and Israel aimed at overthrowing Jerusalem, this concise prophetic utterance, "Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass," serves as an unwavering promise that the hostile plans against God's covenant people will utterly fail. It underscores the ultimate futility of human opposition to God's predetermined will and offers a powerful call to trust in divine faithfulness over worldly strategies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the pivotal "Book of Immanuel" (Isaiah chapters 7-12), which primarily addresses the Syro-Ephraimite War. The preceding verses vividly describe the fear gripping King Ahaz and the people of Judah as Aram (Syria) and Israel (Ephraim) conspire to attack Jerusalem and replace Ahaz with a puppet king, the "son of Tabeal" as outlined in [Isaiah 7:6](/isaiah/7-6 "Isaiah 7:6 - The Syro-Ephraimite Plot"). The prophet Isaiah is divinely commissioned to meet Ahaz, not to strategize militarily, but to deliver a message of divine assurance, urging him to trust in the Lord rather than succumbing to panic or seeking a dangerous alliance with Assyria. The immediate context of [Isaiah 7:2](/isaiah/7-2 "Isaiah 7:2 - Judah's Fear") highlights Judah's trembling fear, likening it to trees swaying in the wind, setting the stage for God's comforting and authoritative word in verse 7.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Syro-Ephraimite War, occurring around 735-734 BC, saw King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel form an alliance to resist the growing Assyrian empire. When King Ahaz of Judah refused to join their anti-Assyrian coalition, they launched an invasion to depose him and install a more compliant ruler. Jerusalem, the capital of Judah and the city of David, was under direct threat. Culturally, kings often sought alliances with stronger powers in times of crisis, and Ahaz was tempted to appeal to Assyria, a move that would have significant long-term consequences for Judah's independence and spiritual fidelity. The prophetic message in [Isaiah 7](/isaiah/7 "Isaiah 7 - The Immanuel Prophecy") directly challenges this political pragmatism, calling for faith in Yahweh as the true deliverer and protector, a radical concept in an era dominated by power politics and military might.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 7:7](/isaiah/7-7 "Isaiah 7:7 - God's Promise of Protection") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic tradition. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty**, asserting that God, not human kings or armies, ultimately controls the course of history and the destiny of nations. His word alone has the power to determine what "shall not stand." Secondly, it highlights **God's Unwavering Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises**, particularly to the Davidic dynasty and the preservation of Judah. Despite Ahaz's lack of faith, God's commitment to His people and His plan remains steadfast. Thirdly, the verse exemplifies the **Futility of Human Opposition to God's Will**. Any scheme, no matter how meticulously planned or forcefully executed, that stands against God's purposes is inherently doomed to fail. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, such as in [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - God Thwarts Nations' Plans"), which declares that the Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought, but His counsel stands forever.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây'_):** This term (H136) is an emphatic form of "lord" or "master," used here as a proper name for God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, mastership, and authority. When combined with YHWH (GOD), it signifies the supreme, covenant-keeping God who is the ultimate Master of all creation and history.
* **GOD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvih'_):** This is a variation of YHWH (H3069), the personal, covenant name of God, often rendered as "LORD" in English Bibles. Its use here, particularly after _ʼĂdônây_, prevents the repetition of the same sound in Hebrew pronunciation and underscores God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His faithfulness to His promises. The combination "Lord GOD" (ʼĂdônây Yᵉhôvih) powerfully conveys the supreme, sovereign, and covenant-keeping God.
* **stand (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** This primitive root (H6965) means "to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising)." In its negated form ("It shall not stand"), it emphatically declares that the enemy's plan will not be established, will not rise to fruition, and will not succeed. It conveys the absolute certainty of the plan's failure to be confirmed or to endure.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the Lord GOD":** This opening phrase functions as a divine oracle formula, immediately establishing the absolute authority and divine origin of the message. It signals that what follows is not a human opinion or political analysis, but the infallible word of the sovereign Yahweh, the ultimate Master of all.
* **"It shall not stand":** This clause directly negates the enemy's plan. The Hebrew word implies that the hostile scheme—to attack Jerusalem, depose Ahaz, and install a puppet king—will not be established, will not rise to power, and will not endure. It signifies a complete and utter failure of the enemy's design.
* **"neither shall it come to pass":** This second negative clause reinforces and intensifies the first. Using a different Hebrew verb that means "to be, become, happen," it emphasizes that the enemy's plan will not materialize, will not occur, and will not achieve its intended outcome. The double negation provides absolute certainty that the threat is null and void in the eyes of God.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 7:7 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its message of divine certainty. The most prominent is **Divine Oracle**, signaled by the opening phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD," which immediately elevates the statement to an unchallengeable divine decree. This establishes God as the primary speaker and the ultimate authority. The verse also utilizes **Repetition** and **Parallelism** with the phrases "It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass." This emphatic double negation serves to underscore the absolute futility and certain failure of the enemy's plans, leaving no room for doubt. It functions as a powerful **Antithesis** to the fear and trembling described earlier in the chapter, presenting God's unwavering resolve against human conspiracy. The verse's concise, declarative nature also contributes to its **Aphoristic** quality, making it a memorable and impactful statement of divine sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 7:7 stands as a towering declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over human affairs and the ultimate futility of any plan that opposes His divine will. It powerfully asserts that no human conspiracy, no matter how formidable or terrifying, can thwart the purposes of the Almighty. This truth provides immense comfort and a foundational principle for faith: God's counsel alone will stand. This principle is not limited to national threats but extends to all forms of opposition against God's people and His kingdom. The divine "no" to the enemy's plans is rooted in God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His unwavering commitment to His people, even when their faith falters.

* [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - God's Counsel Stands")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - God Frustrates Nations' Plans")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - God is For Us")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 7:7 offers profound reassurance for believers navigating a world often fraught with fear, uncertainty, and seemingly overwhelming threats. In moments when personal anxieties, societal turmoil, or global crises loom large, this verse serves as a divine anchor, reminding us that God's ultimate plan cannot be derailed by human machinations or the schemes of the wicked. It is a powerful call to shift our gaze from the magnitude of the problem to the majesty of our God, who declares with absolute authority that what opposes His will "shall not stand." This truth invites us to cultivate a radical trust in God's sovereign control, to rest in His unfailing word, and to resist the temptation to succumb to panic or rely on human ingenuity alone. When we truly believe that God is for us, then no opposition, no matter how fierce, can ultimately prevail against His purposes for our lives or for His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific fears or threats in your life or in the world today cause you to "tremble" like Ahaz?**
* **How does the declaration "It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass" challenge your natural inclination to worry or rely on human solutions?**
* **In what practical ways can you demonstrate greater trust in God's sovereignty when facing overwhelming circumstances?**

### FAQ
**What was the "it" that would not stand or come to pass?**

Answer: The "it" refers specifically to the hostile plan of the Syro-Ephraimite coalition—King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and King Pekah of Israel (Ephraim). Their aim was to invade Judah, besiege Jerusalem, depose King Ahaz, and install a puppet ruler, the "son of Tabeal" as mentioned in [Isaiah 7:6](/isaiah/7-6 "Isaiah 7:6 - The Syro-Ephraimite Plot"). God's declaration in [Isaiah 7:7](/isaiah/7-7 "Isaiah 7:7 - God's Promise of Protection") was a direct divine veto against this specific military and political conspiracy, assuring Ahaz that their plot would utterly fail.

**How was this prophecy fulfilled historically?**

Answer: God's prophecy in [Isaiah 7:7](/isaiah/7-7 "Isaiah 7:7 - God's Promise of Protection") was fulfilled quite rapidly. Within a few years of this declaration, the Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, intervened. Damascus (Aram's capital) fell in 732 BC, and King Rezin was killed. Samaria (Israel's capital) fell in 722 BC, and the northern kingdom was taken into exile. This historical outcome precisely demonstrated that the plans of Aram and Israel against Judah did indeed "not stand" and did "not come to pass," confirming the absolute reliability of God's word, as further detailed in [Isaiah 7:8](/isaiah/7-8 "Isaiah 7:8 - The Sixty-Five Year Prophecy").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 7:7 directly addresses a historical crisis in Judah, its deeper theological resonance finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The promise that hostile plans against God's people "shall not stand" foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom through His Messiah. The immediate threat to the Davidic line, which God promised to preserve in [2 Samuel 7:16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:16 - God's Covenant with David"), was averted, ensuring the lineage from which Christ would eventually come. Jesus, the true [Immanuel, "God with us"](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - The Prophecy of Immanuel"), embodies God's unwavering presence and protection. The forces of evil, sin, and death conspired against Christ on the cross, seemingly achieving a victory, but this ultimate human plot against God's Son ultimately "did not stand." Instead, through His resurrection, Christ decisively defeated these powers, proving that the gates of Hades "shall not prevail" against His church as declared in [Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Gates of Hades Shall Not Prevail"). Thus, Isaiah 7:7 points forward to the cosmic victory of the Lamb of God, whose kingdom "shall have no end" as proclaimed in [Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - The Eternal Kingdom of Christ"), and whose ultimate triumph ensures that all schemes against His divine purpose will forever be brought to nothing.

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

Isaiah 8:10

Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God [is] with us.

Lamentations 3:37

¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not?

Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Isaiah 46:11

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.

Psalms 33:11

The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 21:30

¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Acts 4:25

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?