Isaiah 7:21
Isaiah 7:21 in Multiple Translations
On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep;
And it will be in that day that a man will give food to a young cow and two sheep;
At that time someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive
And in the same day shall a man nourish a yong kow, and two sheepe.
And it hath come to pass, in that day, A man keepeth alive a heifer of the herd, And two of the flock,
It shall happen in that day that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep.
When that happens, a farmer will be able to have only one cow and two goats/sheep.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 7:21
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 7:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
הַ/ה֑וּא
יְחַיֶּה
אִ֛ישׁ
עֶגְלַ֥ת
בָּקָ֖ר
וּ/שְׁתֵּי
צֹֽאן
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
הַ/ה֑וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Art | Pron
יְחַיֶּה
châyâh
H2421
to live
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
אִ֛ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
עֶגְלַ֥ת
ʻeglâh
H5697
heifer
N-fs
בָּקָ֖ר
bâqâr
H1241
cattle
N-cs
וּ/שְׁתֵּי
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Conj | Adj
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
Sheep (Gate)
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 7:21
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
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/ה֑וּא
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.
יְחַיֶּה
châyâh
H2421
"to live"
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Definition: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life
Usage: Occurs in 239 OT verses. KJV: keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. See also: Genesis 5:3; 2 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 22:27.
אִ֛ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
עֶגְלַ֥ת
ʻeglâh
H5697
"heifer"
N-fs
This word refers to a young female calf, nearly grown into a heifer. It is also the name of a place near Zoar and south of Moab. The word is often translated as 'calf', 'cow', or 'heifer'.
Definition: heifer
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: calf, cow, heifer. See also: Genesis 15:9; Isaiah 7:21; Isaiah 15:5.
בָּקָ֖ר
bâqâr
H1241
"cattle"
N-cs
Domesticated cattle or oxen, used for work or sacrifice, like the animals used in the temple sacrifices in 1 Kings 8:63.
Definition: 1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox 1a) cattle (generic pl. but sing. in form-coll) 1b) herd (particular one) 1c) head of cattle (individually)
Usage: Occurs in 172 OT verses. KJV: beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. See also: Genesis 12:16; Deuteronomy 8:13; Psalms 66:15.
וּ/שְׁתֵּי
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Conj | Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
"Sheep (Gate)"
N-cs
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Definition: This name means sheep and goats Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
Usage: Occurs in 247 OT verses. KJV: (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). See also: Genesis 4:2; Deuteronomy 28:31; Psalms 44:12.
Study Notes — Isaiah 7:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 7:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 7:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 7:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 7:21
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 7:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
Context — Judgment to Come
19And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes.
20On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates —the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.
21On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,
22and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. 23And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 5:17 | Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 39:10 | But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:30 | And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. |
| 4 | Isaiah 17:2 | The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear. |
| 5 | Isaiah 7:25 | For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample. |
Isaiah 7:21 Summary
In Isaiah 7:21, the prophet is describing a time when people will have very limited resources, so much so that they will only be able to raise a young cow and two sheep. This is a picture of scarcity and hardship, but it also reminds us that God is our provider and that He can take care of us even in difficult times (as seen in Psalm 23:1-4 and Matthew 6:25-34). This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even when our circumstances seem bleak, and to look to Him for our daily needs, just as the Israelites were supposed to do in Deuteronomy 8:3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to raise a young cow and two sheep in Isaiah 7:21?
Raising a young cow and two sheep refers to a significant reduction in livestock, indicating a time of scarcity and hardship, as described in this verse and supported by Isaiah 7:23, which mentions the lack of productivity in the land.
Is Isaiah 7:21 talking about a literal famine or is it symbolic?
While the verse may have a literal fulfillment, it also has spiritual implications, as seen in Isaiah 55:1-2, where God invites those who are thirsty to come and buy milk and wine, symbolizing spiritual nourishment.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Isaiah 7:21 is part of a larger prophecy about the judgment of God on Israel, as seen in Isaiah 7:20, where the Lord will use the king of Assyria to punish His people, and Isaiah 7:22, which describes the resulting desolation and lack of productivity.
What is the significance of the young cow and two sheep in this context?
The young cow and two sheep represent the limited resources available during a time of judgment and hardship, highlighting God's sovereignty and the consequences of disobedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-68, which describes the blessings and curses associated with obedience and disobedience to God's commands.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am experiencing scarcity or lack, and how can I trust God to provide for me in those areas, just as He promised to provide for His people in Isaiah 7:22?
- How can I apply the principles of simplicity and contentment, as illustrated in this verse, to my own life and circumstances, and what would be the benefits of doing so, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:6-10?
- In what ways can I use the resources God has given me to glorify Him and bless others, even in times of hardship, and what example can I learn from the Israelites in Isaiah 7:21-23?
- What are some spiritual lessons or principles that I can learn from this verse, and how can I apply them to my daily life, as encouraged in Romans 15:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 7:21
And it shall come to pass in that day,.... Not in the days of Hezekiah, after the destruction of Sennacherib's army, when there followed great fruitfulness and plenty, Isaiah 37:30 as Kimchi and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 7:21
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; In that day ... a man shall nourish - i:e., own. A young cow - a heifer giving milk.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
This and the following verse contain either, 1. A mitigation of the foregoing calamity, or some comfort for the remainders of the people, after the public devastation; or rather, 2. A further declaration of the threatened desolation; which best agrees not only with the foregoing, but also with the following verses. So the sense of this verse is this, They who formerly used to keep great herds of cattle, and many flocks of sheep, shall esteem it a great happiness if they can keep but one cow and two sheep, to keep themselves from extremity of famine.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
Isaiah 7:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;Ver. 21. A man shall nourish two sheep.] He that was wont to say, Mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agnae, shall now be reduced to so great penury as to be glad of two sheep, and have scarce a young heifer left for his necessary subsistence, who was wont to have many ploughs going. They shall not now, as heretofore, "join house to house, and land to land"; they shall not keep race horses, or hunting dogs, &c. Virg. Eclog.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 7:21
18–25. Further announcements (not addressed to Ahaz, but probably compiled from fragments of several of Isaiah’s prophecies) of the Assyrian invasion (18–20) and its consequences (21–25).
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 7:21
In that day - In the time specified in the previous verses - in the judgments that should be brought upon the land by the Egyptians and Assyrians. A man shall nourish - Hebrew ‘Make to live:’ that is, he shall own, or feed.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 7:21
21, 22. From such spoliations, as well as removals of the population, agriculture ceases, and the land goes to rough pasturage. When cultivation in that land is neglected, the tendency is to briers and thorns and thistles.