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Isaiah 10:14

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And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

And my hand {H3027} hath found {H4672} as a nest {H7064} the riches {H2428} of the people {H5971}: and as one gathereth {H622} eggs {H1000} that are left {H5800}, have I gathered {H622} all the earth {H776}; and there was none that moved {H5074} the wing {H3671}, or opened {H6475} the mouth {H6310}, or peeped {H6850}.

My hand found the riches of the peoples like a nest; and as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered the whole earth! Not one wing fluttered, not one beak opened or let out a chirp!'"

My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”

and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.

Commentary

Isaiah 10:14 presents the arrogant boast of the Assyrian king, who sees his conquests as effortless and his power as absolute. This verse is a powerful illustration of human pride directly preceding divine judgment, a recurring theme in the prophetic books.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 7-12) dealing with God's judgment against Judah and surrounding nations, and ultimately, against the instrument of His wrath, Assyria itself. In Isaiah 10:5, God declares Assyria to be "the rod of mine anger," used to punish a disobedient Israel. However, the Assyrian king, unaware or unconcerned with his role as a divine instrument, attributes his overwhelming success and easy victories solely to his own strength and wisdom. He sees himself as an unstoppable force, plundering nations without resistance, much like a predator finding an undefended bird's nest.

Key Themes

  • Human Arrogance vs. Divine Sovereignty: The primary theme is the stark contrast between the Assyrian king's self-exalting pride and God's ultimate control. The king boasts, "my hand hath found... I have gathered," completely ignoring the divine hand that orchestrates events. This hubris sets the stage for his downfall, as seen in subsequent verses like Isaiah 10:15.
  • Effortless Conquest (from the Conqueror's View): The vivid imagery of finding a nest and gathering eggs left behind emphasizes the Assyrian perception of their campaigns as simple, uncontested acquisitions of wealth and territory. There was "none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped," signifying a total lack of effective resistance or even a cry of protest from the conquered nations.
  • The Instrument and the Master: While God uses Assyria for His purposes, Assyria acts out of its own wicked intentions and pride, not out of obedience to God. This distinction is crucial, as it leads to Assyria's eventual judgment despite being God's "rod" (as mentioned in Isaiah 10:5).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrasing in this verse is highly descriptive and impactful. The comparison of conquering nations to "finding as a nest the riches of the people" and "gathering eggs that are left" powerfully conveys the idea of seizing undefended, valuable assets with ease. The final phrase, "none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped," uses three distinct verbs to emphasize a complete absence of any form of resistance, alarm, or even a weak protest. It paints a picture of absolute domination and silent submission from the victims, mirroring the Assyrian king's inflated sense of power.

Practical Application

Isaiah 10:14 serves as a timeless warning against human arrogance and the dangers of attributing success solely to one's own power, intellect, or strategy. It reminds us that all authority and ability ultimately derive from God's sovereignty. When we achieve success, whether personal or collective, it is crucial to maintain a posture of humility and acknowledge the divine hand at work, rather than falling into the trap of self-exaltation like the Assyrian king. This verse encourages us to remember that pride goes before destruction, and that God ultimately controls the rise and fall of nations and individuals, as seen in Proverbs 21:1.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Job 31:25 (3 votes)

    If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

  • Proverbs 21:6 (2 votes)

    ¶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

  • Proverbs 21:7 (2 votes)

    ¶ The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

  • Jeremiah 49:16 (2 votes)

    Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, [and] the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

  • Nahum 2:9 (2 votes)

    Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for [there is] none end of the store [and] glory out of all the pleasant furniture.

  • Nahum 3:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Woe to the bloody city! it [is] all full of lies [and] robbery; the prey departeth not;

  • Isaiah 5:8 (2 votes)

    ¶ Woe unto them that join house to house, [that] lay field to field, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!