Isaiah 10:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 10:1-4

Whether they were the princes and judges of Israel of Judah, or both, that the prophet denounced this woe against, is not certain: if those of Israel, these verses are to be joined with the close of the foregoing chapter, which is probable enough, because the burden of that prophecy (for all this his anger is not turned away) is repeated here (Isa. 10:4); if those of Judah, they then show what was the particular design with which God brought the Assyrian army upon them?to punish their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 10:4

Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain ,.... That is, either, being forsaken by me, and destitute of my help, they shall bow down; or, "because they are without me", are not my people, and do not hearken to me, therefore they shall bow down, so David Kimchi; or, were it not for me, they would, as others; or that they might not bow down and fall; and so the words may be connected with the preceding verse Isaiah 10:3 , others render the word,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 10:4

Without me - That is, without my aid: they shall be taken captive even by the captives, and shall be subdued even by the vanquished. "The י yod in בלתי bilti is a pronoun, as in Hosea 13:4 ." - Kimchi on the place. One MS. has לבלתי lebilti . As the people had hitherto lived without God in worship and obedience; so they should now be without his help, and should perish in their transgressions. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 10:1-4

The prophecy begun in Isaiah 9:8 terminates with this stanza, which contains a warning against injustice and oppression, addressed to Israel and Judah equally, and accompanied by the threat of a "day of desolation," when those who have refused to make God their Refuge will have no resource, but to go into captivity with the "prisoners," or to perish with the "slain." A foreign conquest, accompanied by slaughter, and the deportation of captives, is not obscurely intimated. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 10:1-4

The helplessness of man under the wrath of God. The anger of the Lord is here expressly declared against the oppressor. We are again reminded: 1. That God judges those who are in authority over men; that however these may be placed above the reach of human justice, they will not escape Divine retribution. 2. That God especially requires an account of our treatment of the suffering and the dependent. Whoso wrongs the widow or the orphan must expect a fearful reckoning with the pitiful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 10:4

Without me . That this is a possible rendering of the word used seems proved by Hosea 13:4 . But here it scarcely suits the context. God does not speak directly, in the first person, elsewhere in the entire prophecy (Isa 9:8-10:4), but is spoken of in the third person throughout, as even in the present verse, where we have "his anger," "his hand." It is better, therefore, to give the word its ordinary meaning—"unless," "except." Have they anywhere to flee to, unless they shall crouch amid... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 10:4

Without me - בלתי biltı̂y. There has been a great variety of interpretation affixed to this expression. The sense in which our translators understood it was, evidently, that they should be forsaken of God; and that, as the effect of this, they should bow down under the condition of captives, or among the slain. The Vulgate and the Septuagint, however. and many interpreters understand the word bore as a simple negative. ‘Where will you flee for refuge? Where will you deposit your wealth so as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 10:3-4

Isaiah 10:3-4. What will ye do To save yourselves? in the day of visitation? When I shall come to visit you in wrath, as the next words limit the expression. The desolation which shall come from far From the Assyrians. This he adds, because the Israelites, having weakened the Jews, and being in amity with the Syrians, their next neighbours, were secure. To whom will ye flee for help To the Syrians, as now you do? But they shall be destroyed together with you, 2 Kings 16:9; and where... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 10:1-4

The fall of Israel (9:8-10:4)Isaiah now describes the situation in the northern kingdom Israel, which becomes weakened by enemy attacks and finally is conquered by Assyria. The northerners refuse to acknowledge that God is the one who has brought this catastrophe upon them. They make a show of self-assurance by saying they will rebuild, bigger and better, whatever their enemies have destroyed (8-12).Because the people refuse to repent, God will punish them further. His purpose is to remove the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 10:4

bow down under the prisoners = captives will be enough to make you bow down. fall under the slain = mortally wounded ones [will be enough] to make you fall. For, &c. See note on Isaiah 9:12 . read more

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