Isaiah 17:11

Isaiah 17:11 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout— yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.

King James Version KJV

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

American Standard Version ASV

In the day of thy planting thou hedgest it in, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom; but the harvest fleeth away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Bible in Basic English BBE

In the day of your planting you were watching its growth, and in the morning your seed was flowering: but its fruit is wasted away in the day of grief and bitter sorrow.

Free Bible Version FBV

even though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and have them blossom in the morning that you sow them, your harvest will heap of trouble on a day of grief and pain that cannot be cured.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to growe, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seede to florish: but the haruest shall be gone in the day of possession, and there shalbe desperate sorrowe.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

In the day thy plant thou causest to become great, And in the morning thy seed makest to flourish, A heap [is] the harvest in a day of overflowing, And of mortal pain.

World English Bible WEB

In the day of your planting, you hedge it in. In the morning, you make your seed blossom, but the harvest flees away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

In the day of thy planting shall be the wild grape, and in the morning thy seed shall flourish: the harvest is taken away in the day of inheritance, and shall grieve thee much.

Translation for Translators T4T

But even if they sprout leaves on the day that you plant them, and even if they produce blossoms on that same morning, at harvest time, there will not be any grapes for you to pick. All that you will get is a lot of agony/misery.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights

God & Jesus

Holy Spirit

Divine Actions

Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 17:11

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 17:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB בְּ/י֤וֹם נִטְעֵ/ךְ֙ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂ֔גִי וּ/בַ/בֹּ֖קֶר זַרְעֵ֣/ךְ תַּפְרִ֑יחִי נֵ֥ד קָצִ֛יר בְּ/י֥וֹם נַחֲלָ֖ה וּ/כְאֵ֥ב אָנֽוּשׁ

בְּ/י֤וֹם yôwm H3117 day Prep | N-ms

נִטְעֵ/ךְ֙ neṭaʻ H5194 plantation N-ms | Suff

תְּשַׂגְשֵׂ֔גִי sûwg H7735 to grow V-l-Imperf-2fs

וּ/בַ/בֹּ֖קֶר bôqer H1242 morning Conj | Prep | N-ms

זַרְעֵ֣/ךְ zeraʻ H2233 seed N-ms | Suff

תַּפְרִ֑יחִי pârach H6524 to sprout V-Hiphil-Imperf-2fs

נֵ֥ד nêd H5067 heap N-ms

קָצִ֛יר qâtsîyr H7105 harvest N-ms

בְּ/י֥וֹם yôwm H3117 day Prep | N-ms

נַחֲלָ֖ה châlâh H2470 be weak V-Niphal

וּ/כְאֵ֥ב kᵉʼêb H3511 pain Conj | N-ms

אָנֽוּשׁ ʼânash H605 be incurable Adj

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 17:11

בְּ/י֤וֹם yôwm H3117 "day" Prep | N-ms

The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.

Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow

Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.

נִטְעֵ/ךְ֙ neṭaʻ H5194 "plantation" N-ms | Suff

A plant or plantation, as in Genesis 2:9 where God made plants to grow in the garden. It can also refer to the act of planting or the plant itself.

Definition: 1) plantation, plant, planting 1a) plantation 1b) planting (act of) 1c) plant

Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: plant. See also: Job 14:9; Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 5:7.

תְּשַׂגְשֵׂ֔גִי sûwg H7735 "to grow" V-l-Imperf-2fs

This word means to grow or to hedge something in, and it is used to describe the act of fencing or enclosing an area. It is related to the idea of growth and protection.

Definition: 1) to fence about 1a) (Pilpel) to fence it carefully about

Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: make to grow. See also: Isaiah 17:11.

וּ/בַ/בֹּ֖קֶר bôqer H1242 "morning" Conj | Prep | N-ms

The break of day or morning, a time of new beginnings, as in the morning sacrifices in Exodus 29:39 or the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week in John 20:1.

Definition: 1) morning, break of day 1a) morning 1a1) of end of night 1a2) of coming of daylight 1a3) of coming of sunrise 1a4) of beginning of day 1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.) 1b) morrow, next day, next morning

Usage: Occurs in 189 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow. See also: Genesis 1:5; 1 Samuel 11:11; Psalms 5:4.

זַרְעֵ֣/ךְ zeraʻ H2233 "seed" N-ms | Suff

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means seed or offspring, like in Genesis where God promises Abraham many descendants. It can also mean a plant or sowing time, as in Isaiah 55:10. This concept is central to God's plan for humanity.

Definition: : seed/sowing 1) seed, sowing, offspring 1a) a sowing 1b) seed 1c) semen virile 1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children 1e) of moral quality 1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.) 1f) sowing time (by meton)

Usage: Occurs in 205 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. See also: Genesis 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalms 18:51.

תַּפְרִ֑יחִי pârach H6524 "to sprout" V-Hiphil-Imperf-2fs

This verb means to fly or bloom, describing something that spreads out or flourishes. It can also mean to break forth like a bud or to grow abundantly. It's used to picture flourishing or spreading out.

Definition: 1) to bud, sprout, shoot, bloom 1a) (Qal) to bud, sprout, send out shoots, blossom 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to bud or sprout 1b2) to show buds or sprouts

Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] abroad, [idiom] abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up). See also: Genesis 40:10; Psalms 92:14; Psalms 72:7.

נֵ֥ד nêd H5067 "heap" N-ms

A heap or mound, like a wave, as described in Job 39:10.

Definition: heap

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: heap. See also: Exodus 15:8; Psalms 33:7; Psalms 78:13.

קָצִ֛יר qâtsîyr H7105 "harvest" N-ms

This word refers to the harvest or the time of harvest, as well as the reaper or the crop itself. It can also mean a limb or foliage of a tree, emphasizing the idea of growth and abundance. The concept of harvest is central to the biblical narrative, particularly in the book of Ruth.

Definition: 1) harvest, harvesting 1a) process of harvesting 1b) crop, what is harvested or reaped 1c) time of harvest

Usage: Occurs in 49 OT verses. KJV: bough, branch, harvest (man). See also: Genesis 8:22; Job 18:16; Psalms 80:12.

בְּ/י֥וֹם yôwm H3117 "day" Prep | N-ms

נַחֲלָ֖ה châlâh H2470 "be weak" V-Niphal

To beg or entreat means to ask or pray for something, often with a sense of weakness or sickness, like when someone is grieving or in pain.

Definition: : weak/disabled 1) to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry 1a) (Qal) to be weak, be sick 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to be or become weak, feel weak 1b2) to become sick, become ill 1c) (Niphal) 1c1) to make oneself sick 1c2) to be made sick 1c3) to be tired 1d) (Pual) to be made weak, become weak 1e) (Hithpael) to make oneself sick 1f) (Hiphil) 1f1) to make sore 1f2) to make sick 1f3) to show signs of sickness, become sick 1f4) to grieve 1g) (Hophal) 1g1) to be made sick 1g2) to be wounded

Usage: Occurs in 73 OT verses. KJV: beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, [idiom] pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit ([idiom] supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded. See also: Genesis 48:1; Psalms 119:58; Psalms 35:13.

וּ/כְאֵ֥ב kᵉʼêb H3511 "pain" Conj | N-ms

This Hebrew word means pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, and is used to describe grief, sorrow, or hardship in the Bible, such as in the book of Job.

Definition: pain (mental and physical), sorrow

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: grief, pain, sorrow. See also: Job 2:13; Isaiah 17:11; Psalms 39:3.

אָנֽוּשׁ ʼânash H605 "be incurable" Adj

This Hebrew verb means to be weak or sick, and is used to describe someone who is incurable or desperately wicked. It appears in the Bible to describe people who are hopeless or frail. In the KJV, it is translated as desperate or woeful.

Definition: 1) to be weak, sick, frail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be incurable 1a2) to be sick 1a3) desperate, incurable, desperately wicked, woeful, very sick (pass participle) (metaph.) 1b) (Niphal) to be sick

Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: desperate(-ly wicked), incurable, sick, woeful. See also: 2 Samuel 12:15; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 17:11.

Study Notes — Isaiah 17:11

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Isaiah 17:11 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:11
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:11
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:11
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:11
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11
Sermons on Isaiah 17:11

Context — The Burden against Damascus

9In that day their strong cities will be like forsaken thickets and summits, abandoned to the Israelites and to utter desolation. 10For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge. Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines—

11though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout— yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.

12Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters. 13The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Job 4:8	As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
2	Hosea 8:7	For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.
3	Galatians 6:7–8	Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
4	Romans 2:8–9	But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
5	Hosea 10:12–15	Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children. Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.
6	Isaiah 18:5–6	For before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the shoots with a pruning knife and remove and discard the branches. They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey, and to the beasts of the land. The birds will feed on them in summer, and all the wild animals in winter.
7	Hosea 9:16	Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.
8	Joel 1:5–12	Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness. It has laid waste My grapevine and splintered My fig tree. It has stripped off the bark and thrown it away; the branches have turned white. Wail like a virgin dressed in sackcloth, grieving for the husband of her youth. Grain and drink offerings have been cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests are in mourning, those who minister before the LORD. The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails. Be dismayed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, over the wheat and barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple— all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up.
9	Hosea 9:1–4	Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor. The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them. They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD.
10	Jeremiah 5:31	The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?

Isaiah 17:11 Summary

[Isaiah 17:11 is a reminder that our efforts and accomplishments can be fleeting and may not last, and that we should not put our trust in them, but rather in God. This verse encourages us to trust in the God of our salvation and the Rock of our refuge, as mentioned in Isaiah 17:10, and to seek to remember and trust in Him. Just like the Israelites, we can easily forget the God of our salvation and trust in our own strength, but this verse warns us of the dangers of doing so, and encourages us to put our trust in the one true God, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to 'make them grow' and 'help your seed sprout' in Isaiah 17:11?

This refers to the way people may experience temporary success or growth in their endeavors, but it is not a guarantee of long-term prosperity or blessing, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18 where it is written that our prosperity comes from God.

What is the 'day of disease and incurable pain' mentioned in Isaiah 17:11?

This phrase likely refers to a time of judgment or calamity, where the things people have worked for will be taken away, much like the plagues in Exodus 9:14-16 where God's judgment was poured out on the Egyptians.

How does this verse relate to the idea of trusting in God versus trusting in our own abilities?

Isaiah 17:11 highlights the importance of trusting in God, rather than our own strength or abilities, as stated in Proverbs 3:5-6 where it says to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.

What is the main message or warning of Isaiah 17:11?

The main message is that our efforts and accomplishments are fleeting and can be taken away in an instant, and that we should not put our trust in them, but rather in the Rock of our refuge, as mentioned in Isaiah 17:10, and seek to remember and trust in the God of our salvation.

Reflection Questions

What are some areas in my life where I am trying to 'make things grow' or achieve success on my own, without relying on God?
How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and providence, even when things seem uncertain or out of control?
What are some 'delightful plots' or 'exotic vines' that I have been focusing on, and how can I ensure that they are not becoming idols in my life?
In what ways can I remember and trust in the 'God of my salvation' and the 'Rock of my refuge' in my daily life, as encouraged in Isaiah 17:10?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:11

In the day shall thou make thy plant to grow,.... Not that it is in the power of man to make it grow; but the sense is, that all means and methods should be used to make it grow, no cost nor pains

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:11

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish; thou shalt from day to day, beginning early in the morning, use all care and diligence that what thou hast planted and sown may thrive; and thou shalt see some effect of thy labours, and some hopes of success. But the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow: the sense of the words thus rendered is this, But in the time of your grief, &c., or when this grievous calamity shall come, all your harvest shall be but one heap, which in itself is very inconsiderable, and is easily carried away by your enemies. But the place is and may be otherwise rendered, and that very agreeably both to the words and order of the Hebrew text; But the heap (or, heaps, the singular number being most commonly put for the plural) of the harvest (i.e. instead of those heaps of corn which thou didst expect, and which men usually reap in harvest) in the day or time (to wit, of the harvest; or, in the day of calamity, of which I have spoken, ,9; or, in a day, i.e. speedily or suddenly) shall be (or, thou shalt have) grief and desperate sorrow. This shall be all thy harvest, and the event of thy labours.

Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11

Isaiah 17:11 In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.Ver. 11. In the day thou shalt make thy plant to grow.] So Proverbs 22:8, he that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the more serious and sedulous he is at it, the worse shall it be with him. But thy harvest shall be an heap.] This is a proverb among the Jews, to signify labour in vain. In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.] Heb., Aegrae, sc., plagae; for grapes ye shall gather thorns, for figs, thistles.

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11

(11) In the day shalt thou make.—Better, thou makest, or, thou fencest, thy plant. The alliance between Syria and Ephraim is compared in the rapidity of its growth with the “gardens of Adonis.” All the “harvest heaps” from such a planting would end, not in the wonted joy of harvest (Isaiah 9:3), but in “grief and incurable pain” There is no sufficient evidence for the marginal reading of the Authorised version.

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:11

11. The verse reads: In the day when thou plantest thou makest it to grow, and in the morning when thou sowest thou makest it to blossom, (but) the harvest disappears in a day of sickness and incurable sorrow. “However successful your enterprise may seem in its early stages, it is doomed to failure.” For “makest it to grow” we may render with R.V. “hedgest it in.” The words “plant” and “seed” must be construed alike, both are taken above as infinitives. The word for “disappears” means “heap” in Exodus 15:8; Psalms 33:7; Psalms 78:13 and so A.V. here. But here it is better taken as a verb; R.V. rightly “fleeth away.”

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:11

In the day ... - Thou shalt cultivate it assiduously and constantly. Thou shalt be at special pains that it may be watered and pruned, in order that it may produce abundantly.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:11

11. Make thy plant to grow — On the very day of (or, quite at the immediate) planting of his pleasant garden-ground, (of his overture with Damascus,) he assiduously guarded it by a hedge. He turned away totally from Jehovah.

Sermons on Isaiah 17:11

	Sermon	Description
	How’s Your Sowing Coming Along? by Allan Halton	Allan Halton preaches about the current state of the world, highlighting the increase of evil and instability, and the imminent harvest of evil that God will eradicate. He emphasiz
	Genesis #18 Ch. 27-29 God's Principle of Retribution by Chuck Missler	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing the author of the Bible, just as in business, it's not what you know but who you know. The story of Jacob and Esau
	Sowing and Reaping by Catherine Booth	Catherine Booth preaches on the universal principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing that just as in the physical world, there is a direct correlation between what one sows and w
	A Message for America and Its Cultural Religion by Carter Conlon	In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of understanding the times we live in and the need for spiritual discernment. He mentions a gathering of churches in New York
	Sowing the Wind by Chuck Smith	This sermon emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping, highlighting the consequences of our actions and the importance of sowing seeds of righteousness and value. It warns aga
	Reaping the Whirlwind by D.L. Moody	D.L. Moody shares a poignant story about a young boy from Newcastle-on-Tyne who, despite his parents' love and care, fell into a life of crime and ultimately faced dire consequence
	Worthy - or Unworthy? by A.W. Tozer	Greek Word Studies delves into the concept of sowing, emphasizing the significance of scattering the seed of the Word of God, the Gospel, into people's hearts. Through various Bibl