Isaiah 41:15
Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
Behold, I will make {H7760} thee a new {H2319} sharp {H2742} threshing {H4173} instrument having {H1167} teeth {H6374}: thou shalt thresh {H1758} the mountains {H2022}, and beat them small {H1854}, and shalt make {H7760} the hills {H1389} as chaff {H4671}.
"I will make you into a threshing-sledge, new, with sharp, pointed teeth, to thresh the mountains and crush them to dust, to reduce the hills to chaff.
Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.
Behold, I have made thee to be a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
Cross-References
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Micah 4:13 (22 votes)
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. -
2 Corinthians 10:4 (15 votes)
(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) -
2 Corinthians 10:5 (15 votes)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -
Zechariah 4:7 (10 votes)
Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto it. -
Habakkuk 3:12 (8 votes)
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. -
Isaiah 21:10 (7 votes)
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. -
Isaiah 28:27 (6 votes)
For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
Commentary
Isaiah 41:15 (KJV)
"Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff."
Commentary
This verse is part of a passage in Isaiah where God is speaking directly to Israel (referred to as Jacob), who is feeling weak and vulnerable, surrounded by powerful nations (symbolized by idols and their worshippers in the preceding verses). God is encouraging and strengthening them with promises of His help and power.
Historical and Cultural Context: Ancient Israel was an agricultural society. Threshing was the process of separating the edible grain from the straw and husks. A "threshing instrument" (Hebrew: *morag*) was often a heavy sled or board with sharp stones or iron teeth embedded on the underside, pulled by oxen over the harvested grain spread on a threshing floor. This process was effective in breaking apart the stalks and heads.
Key Themes and Messages: God promises to transform His seemingly weak and insignificant people into a powerful instrument in His hands. The "mountains" and "hills" represent formidable obstacles, powerful enemies, or insurmountable challenges. The imagery of threshing them and making them like "chaff" signifies complete defeat and dispersal. This is a message of empowerment: God equips those whom He chooses to accomplish His purposes, enabling them to overcome what seems impossible through His strength, not their own.
Linguistic Insights: The phrase "having teeth" (Hebrew: *ba'al pipiyyot*) literally means "owner of double edges" or "owner of mouths," emphasizing the instrument's sharpness and effectiveness in breaking things down. The transformation is significant: from a vulnerable nation to a powerful, destructive (in the context of overcoming enemies) tool in God's hand.
Cross-references:
Practical Application: This verse reminds believers that God can take our weaknesses and transform us into effective instruments for His will. When we face challenges that seem as daunting as mountains, God promises to provide the strength and means to overcome them, not in our own might, but by His power working through us.
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.