Isaiah 47:14
Isaiah 47:14 in Multiple Translations
Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There will be no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside.
Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.
Truly, they have become like dry stems, they have been burned in the fire; they are not able to keep themselves safe from the power of the flame: it is not a coal for warming them, or a fire by which a man may be seated.
But look at them! They're like stubble that fire burns up completely—they can't even save their own lives from the flames. This is no fire to sit beside and grow warm!
Beholde, they shall be as stubble: the fire shall burne them: they shall not deliuer their owne liues from the power of the flame: there shalbe no coles to warme at, nor light to sit by.
Lo, they have been as stubble! Fire hath burned them, They deliver not themselves from the power of the flame, There is not a coal to warm them, a light to sit before it.
Behold, they are like stubble. The fire will burn them. They won’t deliver themselves from the power of the flame. It won’t be a coal to warm at or a fire to sit by.
Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
Behold they are as stubble, fire hath burnt them, they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the dames: there are no coals wherewith they may be warmed, nor fire, that they may sit thereat.
But they cannot do that, because they are like [SIM] straw that is burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from being burned up in the flames. Those men are unable to help you [MET]; they are as useless as stubble that burns quickly and produces no heat for you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 47:14
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Isaiah 47:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 47:14
Study Notes — Isaiah 47:14
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 47:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 47:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 47:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 47:14
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 47:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
- Sermons on Isaiah 47:14
Context — The Humiliation of Babylon
14Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There will be no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside.
15This is what they are to you— those with whom you have labored and traded from youth— each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malachi 4:1 | “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” |
| 2 | Nahum 1:10 | For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 15:7 | And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD. |
| 4 | Isaiah 10:17 | And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. |
| 5 | Isaiah 41:2 | Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow. |
| 6 | Matthew 10:28 | Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 51:58 | This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.” |
| 8 | Joel 2:5 | With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. |
| 9 | Isaiah 40:24 | No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble. |
| 10 | Psalms 83:13–15 | Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm. |
Isaiah 47:14 Summary
[Isaiah 47:14 is saying that people who trust in things like magic or astrology are like dry straw that will easily burn up in the fires of trouble. They can't save themselves from the flames because their trust is in the wrong things, as we see in Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Instead, we should trust in God, who is our rock and refuge, as described in Psalm 46:1. By putting our trust in Him, we can find true comfort and safety, even in the midst of challenges.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be like stubble in Isaiah 47:14?
To be like stubble means to be fragile and easily consumed by fire, much like the Israelites were warned about in Isaiah 5:24, where it says their roots will be like rot and their blossoms will blow away like dust.
Why can't those who practice sorcery deliver themselves from the power of the flame?
Those who practice sorcery cannot deliver themselves because their power is not from God, but from the enemy, as seen in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, where God warns against such practices, and in Revelation 21:8, where sorcerers are listed among those who will be thrown into the lake of fire.
What is the significance of there being no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside?
The absence of coals or fire to sit beside signifies a complete lack of comfort or refuge, much like the desolate landscape described in Jeremiah 2:6, where the Israelites are reminded of their journey through the wilderness, and in Matthew 25:41, where the wicked are sent away from God's presence into eternal fire.
How does this verse relate to trusting in God versus trusting in other things?
This verse highlights the foolishness of trusting in things that are fleeting and powerless, like sorcery, rather than in the all-powerful God, as seen in Psalm 20:7, where it says some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do I seek comfort or protection in things that are like stubble, easily consumed by the fires of life?
- How do I prioritize my trust in God versus my trust in other things, like money, relationships, or my own abilities?
- What are some 'sorceries' or false sources of power that I may be tempted to turn to in times of trouble, and how can I turn instead to God's power and promises?
- In what ways can I apply the lesson of Isaiah 47:14 to my own life, recognizing the limits of human power and the superiority of God's power and provision?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 47:14
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 47:14
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 47:14
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 47:14
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 47:14
Sermons on Isaiah 47:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Portion of the Ungodly by C.H. Spurgeon | The sermon transcript discusses three truths about the punishment of the wicked: it will be easily inflicted, most dreadful in its character, and most inevitable. The speaker addre |
|
A Cry Against the Wicked Youth of America by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher talks about a man, a Hebrew, who is running through the streets proclaiming that there are only 40 days left before everyone will die because of their |
|
Christless Pentecost - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for repentance and holiness in the church. He predicts a revival among young people and the downfall of drug abuse, alcoholism, and |
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A Vision of the Latter-Day Glories by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the unstoppable growth of the church and the gathering of all nations to worship God. He uses the imagery of a dry riverbed gradually fillin |
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(Saved Through the Fire) 01 - the Path of True Salvation by Milton Green | In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing Malachi 3:1, which speaks of the coming of John the Baptist as a messenger to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The speaker emphas |
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(Through the Bible) Malachi by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of giving and receiving in accordance with a divine spiritual law. He compares it to the natural laws that govern our universe, s |
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The Coming of the Elijah Ministry by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need to turn away from the greed and materialism of society. He urges listeners to live for God and not for money, asking for deliveranc |





