Isaiah 17:4
Isaiah 17:4 in Multiple Translations
“In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away,
And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.
And it will be in that day that the glory of Jacob will be made small, and the strength of his body will become feeble.
At that time the glory of Jacob will fade away; he will lose his strength.
And in that day the glorie of Iaakob shall be impouerished, and the fatnes of his flesh shalbe made leane.
And it hath come to pass, in that day, Wax poor doth the honour of Jacob, And the fatness of his flesh doth wax lean.
“It will happen in that day that the glory of Jacob will be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh will become lean.
And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be diminished, and the fatness of his flesh shall become lean.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall grow lean.
“At that time, Israel will become insignificant. It will be like [MET] a fat person who has become very thin.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 17:4
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 17:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיָה֙
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
הַ/ה֔וּא
יִדַּ֖ל
כְּב֣וֹד
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
וּ/מִשְׁמַ֥ן
בְּשָׂר֖/וֹ
יֵרָזֶֽה
וְ/הָיָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
הַ/ה֔וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Art | Pron
יִדַּ֖ל
dâlal
H1809
to languish
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כְּב֣וֹד
kâbôwd
H3519
glory
N-cs
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
וּ/מִשְׁמַ֥ן
mashmân
H4924
fat
Conj | N-ms
בְּשָׂר֖/וֹ
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
N-ms | Suff
יֵרָזֶֽה
râzâh
H7329
to starve
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 17:4
וְ/הָיָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
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.
הַ/ה֔וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Art | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
יִדַּ֖ל
dâlal
H1809
"to languish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To languish means to feel weak or oppressed. It can describe something that is hanging low or being brought low. The word is used to convey a sense of distress or weakness.
Definition: 1) to hang, languish, hang down, be low 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hang low 1a2) to be low 1a3) of distress (fig.) 1a4) to languish, look weakly (of eyes) 1b) (Niphal) to be brought low, be laid low
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: bring low, dry up, be emptied, be not equal, fail, be impoverished, be made thin. See also: Judges 6:6; Psalms 142:7; Psalms 79:8.
כְּב֣וֹד
kâbôwd
H3519
"glory"
N-cs
Glory refers to great honor or splendor, often used to describe God's majesty, as in Psalm 138:5 where David praises God's glorious name. It can also refer to wealth or abundance, like in Genesis 31:1 where Jacob's wealth is described.
Definition: 1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance 1a) abundance, riches 1b) honour, splendour, glory 1c) honour, dignity 1d) honour, reputation 1e) honour, reverence, glory 1f) glory
Usage: Occurs in 189 OT verses. KJV: glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able). See also: Genesis 31:1; Psalms 113:4; Psalms 3:4.
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
וּ/מִשְׁמַ֥ן
mashmân
H4924
"fat"
Conj | N-ms
Mashman means a rich or fertile thing, such as a fat piece of food, a robust person, or a productive field, emphasizing abundance and richness.
Definition: fatness, fat, fertile place
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: fat (one, -ness, -test, -test place). See also: Genesis 27:28; Psalms 78:31; Isaiah 10:16.
בְּשָׂר֖/וֹ
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
יֵרָזֶֽה
râzâh
H7329
"to starve"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
To starve or become thin is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It describes a state of being lean or weak, whether physically or spiritually. The KJV translates it as famish or wax lean.
Definition: 1) to be or become or grow lean 1a) (Qal) to make lean 1b) (Niphal) to be made lean
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: famish, wax lean. See also: Isaiah 17:4; Zephaniah 2:11.
Study Notes — Isaiah 17:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 17:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:4
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
- Sermons on Isaiah 17:4
Context — The Burden against Damascus
2The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.
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. 6Yet gleanings will remain, like an olive tree that has been beaten— two or three berries atop the tree, four or five on its fruitful branches,” declares the LORD, the God of Israel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 10:16 | Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 32:15–27 | But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear. You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth. When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters. He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation— children of unfaithfulness. They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding. For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains. I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them. They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust. Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man. I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind, if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest their adversaries misunderstand and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed; it was not the LORD who did all this.’” |
| 3 | Isaiah 24:13 | So will it be on the earth and among the nations, like a harvested olive tree, like a gleaning after a grape harvest. |
| 4 | Zephaniah 2:11 | The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place. |
| 5 | Isaiah 24:16 | From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery. |
| 6 | Isaiah 9:21 | Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised. |
| 7 | Isaiah 10:4 | Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 34:20 | Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. |
| 9 | Isaiah 9:8 | The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel. |
Isaiah 17:4 Summary
This verse, Isaiah 17:4, is saying that the great nation of Israel will lose its power and influence, like a strong and healthy body that starts to weaken and waste away. This is happening because the people have turned away from God and are no longer following His commands, as seen in Isaiah 1:4-6. Just like our bodies need food and exercise to stay healthy, our spirits need prayer, worship, and obedience to God to stay strong, as taught in Matthew 4:4 and John 15:1-11. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves if there are areas in our own lives where we are 'wasting away' spiritually, and if so, how we can seek renewal and restoration in God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the splendor of Jacob to fade?
The splendor of Jacob refers to the glory and prosperity of God's people, Israel, and in this context, it fading means that their strength and vitality will diminish, as prophesied in Isaiah 17:4, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 8:14-16 where Israel's heart became proud and they forgot the Lord their God.
Is this verse talking about a physical or spiritual body?
The 'body' in Isaiah 17:4 is likely referring to the corporate body of Israel, rather than individual physical bodies, and the 'fat' wasting away symbolizes the loss of their material and spiritual richness, as also seen in Ezekiel 34:20 where God judges between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
How does this verse relate to God's judgment on Israel?
This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah 17, where God is pronouncing judgment on Israel for their rebellion and sin, and the fading of their splendor is a consequence of their disobedience, as warned in Leviticus 26:14-20 where God says He will set His face against them if they do not obey His commandments.
Is there any hope for Israel in this verse?
While Isaiah 17:4 describes judgment, the surrounding verses, such as Isaiah 17:6, suggest that even in judgment, God will preserve a remnant of His people, and this offers a glimmer of hope for their future restoration, as promised in Isaiah 10:20-22 where a remnant will return to the Mighty God.
Reflection Questions
- What are the ways in which I see the 'splendor' of God's people fading in my own life or community, and how can I pray for restoration?
- How do I prioritize spiritual richness over material wealth, and what are the consequences of prioritizing the wrong thing, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10?
- In what ways can I identify with the 'body' of Israel in this verse, and how can I apply the lessons of this prophecy to my own life, considering Romans 11:17-24 where Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree?
- What does it mean for me to 'waste away' spiritually, and how can I ensure that I am being nourished and strengthened in my faith, as encouraged in 2 Peter 3:18?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 17:4
And in that day it shall come to pass,.... It being much about the same time that both kingdoms were destroyed by the Assyrians: [that] the glory of Jacob shall be made thin; the same with Ephraim
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 17:4
And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
Shall be made thin; or, shall be emptied, as this word is rendered, .
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
Isaiah 17:4 And in that day it shall come to pass, [that] the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.Ver. 4. The glory of Jacob shall be made thin.] Their multitudes wherein they gloried shall be greatly impaired. And the fatness.] He shall be cast into a deadly consumption, know the consumption of a kingdom is poverty, and the death of it is loss of authority, saith Scultetus, wickedness being the root of its wretchedness, like as the causes of diseases are in the body itself.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
(4) The glory of Jacob shall be made thin.—The word is the same as that rendered “impoverished” in Judges 6:8. “Jacob” stands as commonly in the prophets, like Israel, for the northern kingdom, and the words point, therefore, to the downfall, or, adopting the prophet’s figurative language, the emaciation, of that kingdom.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
Verse 4. In that day] That is, says Kimchi, the time when the ten tribes of Israel, which were the glory of Jacob, should be carried into captivity.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 17:4
4–6. The fate of Ephraim, in three figures: wasting disease; the reaping of corn; the gathering of olives.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 17:4
The glory of Jacob - “Jacob” is used here to denote the kingdom of Israel, or Samaria. The word ‘glory’ here denotes dignity, power; that on which they relied, and of which they boasted.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 17:4
4. The glory of Jacob — That of the ten tribes, to which the prophet now turns. This is humbled indeed, when the Assyrian power shall carry away its men in crowds. Shall wax lean — Poor, attenuated, sick Israel!
Sermons on Isaiah 17:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
When Tears Come to a Religious Man's House by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on a story from Luke Chapter 7 where Jesus is dining at the house of a man named Simon. The preacher highlights how Simon, a religious man, fai |
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Isaiah (Part 1) - Introduction by Ron Bailey | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God does not shy away from hopeless cases, despite our limited resources and narrow hearts. He highlights how God speaks to nations and |
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The Depravity of Jealousy by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not being spiritually "fattened" in the wrong way. He uses the example of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai and finding th |
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America's Godly Heritage by John Franklin | In this sermon, the speaker recounts the story of the early pilgrims and Puritans who settled in America, seeing themselves as a type of the children of Israel. The sermon referenc |
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The Rock in Scripture by Ken Baird | In this sermon, the preacher begins by emphasizing the attributes of God, highlighting His truth, righteousness, and perfection. Moving on to verse 15, the preacher focuses on the |
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The Divine Names and Titles by E.W. Bullinger | E.W. Bullinger delves into the significance of various names of God in the Bible, highlighting the different aspects of His character and relationship with His people. Elohim, ment |
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1 Corinthians 15:11 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the dangers of luxury and the importance of self-control, highlighting how indulging in excess leads to spiritual and physical harm, causing the soul |