Isaiah 17:3
Isaiah 17:3 in Multiple Translations
The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the sovereignty from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites,” declares the LORD of Hosts.
The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.
And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith Jehovah of hosts.
The strong tower has gone from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus: the rest of Aram will come to destruction, and be made like the glory of the children of Israel, says the Lord of armies.
The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, Damascus will no longer be a kingdom, and those that are left of the Arameans will be like the lost glory of Israel, declares the Lord Almighty.
The munition also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdome from Damascus, and the remnant of Aram shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, sayeth the Lord of hostes.
And ceased hath the fortress from Ephraim, And the kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Aram are as the honour of the sons of Israel, The affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts!
The fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria. They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” says the LORD of Armies.
The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.
And aid shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus: and the remnant of Syria shall be as the glory of the children of Israel: saith the Lord of hosts.
The cities in Israel will not have walls around them to protect them. The power of the kingdom of Damascus will be ended, and the few people who will remain in Damascus will be disgraced like the people in Israel were disgraced.” That is what the Commander of the armies of angels says.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 17:3
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 17:3 Interlinear (Deep 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 17:3
Study Notes — Isaiah 17:3
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 17:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:3
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
- Sermons on Isaiah 17:3
Context — The Burden against Damascus
3The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the sovereignty from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites,” declares the LORD of Hosts.
4“In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away, 5as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosea 9:11 | Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception. |
| 2 | Isaiah 8:4 | For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” |
| 3 | Isaiah 7:16 | For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. |
| 4 | Isaiah 7:8 | For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people. |
| 5 | Micah 1:4–9 | The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations. All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute. Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself. |
| 6 | Isaiah 28:1–4 | Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground. The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot. The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it. |
| 7 | Hosea 3:4 | For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. |
| 8 | Hosea 8:8 | Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel. |
| 9 | 2 Kings 17:6 | In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. |
| 10 | Hosea 9:16–17 | 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. My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations. |
Isaiah 17:3 Summary
This verse, Isaiah 17:3, is saying that God is going to remove the strong defenses of Ephraim and the power of Damascus, and only a small remnant of Aram will be left. This is a reminder that God is in control of all nations and kingdoms, as we see in Daniel 4:17, and that He will bring glory to those who trust in Him, as promised in Romans 8:18. Just like the Israelites, we can experience God's splendor and glory when we put our trust in Him, as seen in Psalm 37:4. By surrendering our lives to God, we can partner with Him to bring about His plans and purposes, as encouraged in Jeremiah 29:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fortress that will disappear from Ephraim?
The fortress refers to the strongholds or fortified cities of Ephraim, which will be destroyed, as prophesied in Isaiah 17:3, similar to the destruction of strongholds in Deuteronomy 3:5.
What does it mean that the sovereignty will disappear from Damascus?
The sovereignty of Damascus refers to its power and control, which will be taken away, as stated in Isaiah 17:3, much like the fall of Babylon in Isaiah 47:5.
How can the remnant of Aram be like the splendor of the Israelites?
This means that despite the destruction and judgment, a small remnant of Aram will remain and experience a measure of God's glory and splendor, much like the Israelites, as promised in Isaiah 17:3 and echoed in Romans 11:5.
Who is the LORD of Hosts mentioned in this verse?
The LORD of Hosts is a title for God, emphasizing His power and control over all the armies of heaven and earth, as seen in Isaiah 6:3 and Psalm 24:10.
Reflection Questions
- What strongholds in my life need to be surrendered to God, just like the fortress of Ephraim will disappear?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty, even when I see powerful nations or systems falling, like Damascus?
- What does it mean for me to experience the splendor of God, like the remnant of Aram, and how can I pursue that in my daily life?
- In what ways can I partnering with God, who is the LORD of Hosts, to bring about His plans and purposes in my life and in the world?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:3
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:3
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:3
Sermons on Isaiah 17:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding Isaiah's prophecies in the context of the surrounding nations that influenced Israel's history. He explains how Judah and |
|
Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding the geopolitical context of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly the neighboring nations that influenced Israel and Judah. He |
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 28:16 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the dream of Nebuchadnezzar as recorded in the book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a great image with different materials |
|
The Conviction We Need by Robert Wurtz II | In this sermon, the preacher, Brother Finney, speaks for two hours on the subject of God's love. The congregation becomes intensely interested, with many people rising to their fee |
|
Drinking - What John R. Rice Wrote About It by John R. Rice | John R. Rice preaches about the curses of alcoholism, emphasizing the woes pronounced on the crown of pride and the drunkards of Ephraim in the Bible. He highlights the detrimental |
|
Wine for Gospel wantons... by Thomas Shepard | Thomas Shepard preaches on the consequences of spiritual drunkenness as described in Jeremiah 13:12-15, where God fills the inhabitants of the land with a spirit of drunkenness, le |
|
An Outpouring of the Holy Ghost (Part 1) by Robert Wurtz II | Robert Wurtz II preaches about the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit that works in the children of disobedience. He emphasizes the deception of those who believe they are |





