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:
Now therefore, behold, the Lord {H136} bringeth up {H5927} upon them the waters {H4325} of the river {H5104}, strong {H6099} and many {H7227}, even the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, and all his glory {H3519}: and he shall come up {H5927} over all his channels {H650}, and go over {H1980} all his banks {H1415}:
now Adonai will bring upon them the mighty floodwaters of the [Euphrates] River - that is, the king of Ashur and his power. It will rise above all its channels and overflow all its banks.
the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates— the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
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 it shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks;
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Isaiah 17:12
¶ Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! -
Isaiah 17:13
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. -
Amos 9:5
And the Lord GOD of hosts [is] he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as [by] the flood of Egypt. -
Isaiah 7:17
¶ The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [even] the king of Assyria. -
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. -
Amos 8:8
Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as [by] the flood of Egypt. -
Genesis 6:17
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die.
Isaiah 8:7 delivers a stark prophecy from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, announcing the impending judgment upon Judah and Israel for their lack of faith and reliance on foreign powers rather than God.
Context
This verse is situated within a critical period for the Southern Kingdom of Judah, under King Ahaz. Judah was threatened by the alliance of Syria (Aram) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). Instead of trusting God for deliverance, Ahaz considered seeking help from the mighty Assyrian Empire. Isaiah had already offered a sign (the birth of Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14) as a guarantee of God's presence and protection, but Ahaz refused to ask for it, demonstrating his unbelief. In the preceding verses (Isaiah 8:6), God lamented that His people had rejected the "waters of Shiloah that go softly"—a metaphor for God's gentle, steady provision and protection—and instead delighted in the kings of Syria and Israel. As a direct consequence of this rejection and their leaning on human alliances, God declares He will bring a much more devastating 'river' upon them.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The metaphor of a "river" or "waters" often represents invading armies in biblical prophecy (e.g., Jeremiah 46:7-8). Here, the specific reference to "the waters of the river, strong and many" vividly portrays the Tigris or Euphrates River, which were mighty and often overflowed their banks, bringing both fertility and destruction. This powerful imagery would have been instantly recognizable to the original audience as a symbol of the vast, overwhelming power of the Assyrian Empire, whose heartland was situated between these great rivers.
Practical Application
Isaiah 8:7 serves as a timeless warning against relying on human strength or political alliances instead of trusting in God. When we reject God's gentle guidance and provision (the "waters of Shiloah"), we often invite overwhelming difficulties into our lives. This verse reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and events. Even when seemingly chaotic or destructive forces are at play, they can be part of His larger plan to bring His people to repentance or to demonstrate His justice. For believers today, it underscores the importance of faith and seeking God's will, recognizing that His ways, though sometimes quiet, are ultimately more powerful and secure than any worldly solution. We are called to trust in the Lord with all our heart, leaning not on our own understanding.