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Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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The NET Bible®

Isaiah 37:27

Their residents are powerless; they are terrified and ashamed. They are as short-lived as plants in the field or green vegetation. They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops when it is scorched by the east wind.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blasphemy;   Libnah;   Thompson Chain Reference - Grass, Man as;   Man;   Mortality;   Mortality-Immortality;   Righteous-Wicked;   Wicked, the;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;   Grass;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Grass;   House;   Isaiah;   Sennacherib;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Predestination;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mediator, Mediation;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Grass;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   King;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Blasting;   Hezekiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Herb;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Sennacherib;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ararat;   Assyria;   Dwelling;   Hezekiah;   Interesting facts about the bible;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Herb;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Leek;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Color;   Grass;   Herb;   Hezekiah (2);   Isaiah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Color;   Isaiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Their inhabitants have become powerless,dismayed, and ashamed.They are plants of the field,tender grass,grass on the rooftops,blasted by the east wind.
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field [of grain] before it is grown up.
King James Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
English Standard Version
while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.
New American Standard Bible
"Therefore their inhabitants were powerless, They were shattered and put to shame; They were like the vegetation of the field and the green grass, Like grass on the housetops that is scorched before it has grown.
New Century Version
The people in those cities were weak; they were frightened and put to shame. They were like grass in the field, like tender, young grass, like grass on the housetop that is burned by the wind before it can grow.
Amplified Bible
"Therefore their inhabitants had little power, They were terrorized and shamed; They were like the grass of the field and the green vegetation, Like grass on the housetops and like a field [of grain] scorched before it is grown.
World English Bible
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field [of grain] before it is grown up.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Whose inhabitants haue small power, and are afrayd & confounded: they are like the grasse of the field & greene herbe, or grasse on the house tops, or corne blassed afore it be growen.
Legacy Standard Bible
So their inhabitants were short of power;They were dismayed and put to shame;They were as the plant of the field and as the green herb,As grass on the rooftops is scorched before it rises.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are plants of the field, tender green shoots, grass on the roofs, scorched before it is grown.
Contemporary English Version
Their people became weak, terribly confused. They were like wild flowers or like tender young grass growing on a flat roof or like a field of grain before it matures.
Complete Jewish Bible
while their inhabitants, shorn of power, are disheartened and ashamed, weak as grass, frail as plants, like grass on the rooftops or grain scorched by the east wind.
Darby Translation
And their inhabitants were powerless, they were dismayed and put to shame; they were [as] the grass of the field and the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and grain blighted before it be grown up.
Easy-to-Read Version
The people living there had no power. They were afraid and confused. They were about to be cut down like grass and plants in the field. They were like grass growing on the housetops, dying before it grows tall.
George Lamsa Translation
Whose inhabitants were weak, and were defeated and confounded, and became like the grass of the field and the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, as tender blades of wheat blasted before it is grown up.
Good News Translation
The people who lived there were powerless; they were frightened and stunned. They were like grass in a field or weeds growing on a roof when the hot east wind blasts them.
Lexham English Bible
And their inhabitants are weak; they are dismayed, and they are ashamed; they have become like plants of the field, and like greens of grass, like grass on the roofs and a cultivated field before the standing grain.
Literal Translation
And those living in it were short of hand, dismayed and ashamed. They were as the field grass and the green herbs; like the grass of the housetops, even blasted before it has risen.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For their inhabitours shalbe like lame men, brought in feare & confounded. They shalbe like the grasse & grene herbes in the felde, like the hay vpo house toppes, that wythereth, afore it be growne vp.
American Standard Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field of grain before it is grown up.
Bible in Basic English
This is why their townsmen had no power, they were broken and put to shame; they were like the grass of the field, or a green plant; like the grass on the house-tops, which a cold wind makes waste.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field of corn before it is grown up.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grasse of the field, and as the greene herbe, as the grasse on the house tops, and as corne blasted before it be growen vp.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For their inhabitours shalbe like lame men brought in feare and confounded: they shalbe lyke grasse and greene hearbes in the fielde, lyke the hay vpon house toppes, that wythereth before it be growen vp.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I weakened their hands, and they withered; and they became as dry grass on the house-tops, and as grass.
English Revised Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field of corn before it be grown up.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The dwelleris of tho citees trembliden togidere with hond maad schort, and ben aschamed; thei ben maad as hei of the feeld, and the gras of lesewe, and as erbe of roouys, that driede vp bifore that it wexide ripe.
Update Bible Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, which is blighted before the east wind.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore their inhabitants [were] of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the house-tops, and [as corn] blasted before it is grown up.
New King James Version
Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown.
New Living Translation
That is why their people have so little power and are so frightened and confused. They are as weak as grass, as easily trampled as tender green shoots. They are like grass sprouting on a housetop, scorched before it can grow lush and tall.
New Life Bible
So their people did not have any more strength. They were troubled and put to shame. They were like the grass of the field and like the green plant. They were like grass on the housetops, dried up before it is grown.
New Revised Standard
while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded; they have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And their inhabitants, being powerless, were overthrown and put to shame - They became - Grass of the field and Young herbage, Grass on housetops, and Seed parched before it came up.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The inhabitants of them were weak of hand, they trembled, and were confounded: they became like the grass of the field, and the herb of the pasture, and like the grass of the housetops, which withered before it was ripe.
Revised Standard Version
while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.
Young's Literal Translation
And their inhabitants are feeble-handed, They were broken down, and are dried up. They have been the herb of the field, And the greenness of the tender grass, Grass of the roofs, And blasted corn, before it hath risen up.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up.

Contextual Overview

21 Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: "This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Because you prayed to me concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria, 22 this is what the Lord says about him: "The virgin daughter Zion despises you—she makes fun of you; daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you. 23 Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at? At whom have you shouted and looked so arrogantly? At the Holy One of Israel! 24 Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, ‘With my many chariots I climbed up the high mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tall cedars and its best evergreens. I invaded its most remote regions, its thickest woods. 25 I dug wells and drank water. With the soles of my feet I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.' 26 Certainly you must have heard! Long ago I worked it out, in ancient times I planned it, and now I am bringing it to pass. The plan is this: Fortified cities will crash into heaps of ruins. 27 Their residents are powerless; they are terrified and ashamed. They are as short-lived as plants in the field or green vegetation. They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops when it is scorched by the east wind. 28 I know where you live and everything you do and how you rage against me. 29 Because you rage against me and the uproar you create has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle between your lips, and I will lead you back the way you came." 30 "This will be your reminder that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own. But the year after that you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

their inhabitants: Isaiah 19:16, Numbers 14:9, 2 Kings 19:26, Psalms 127:1, Psalms 127:2, Jeremiah 5:10, Jeremiah 37:10

of small power: Heb. short of hand

as the grass of: Isaiah 40:6-8, Psalms 37:2, Psalms 90:5, Psalms 90:6, Psalms 92:7, Psalms 103:15, Psalms 129:6, James 1:10, James 1:11, 1 Peter 1:24

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 3:25 - beat down 2 Kings 19:25 - Hast thou not Isaiah 7:2 - And his heart Isaiah 10:6 - will I give Isaiah 13:7 - shall all Jeremiah 46:17 - Pharaoh Ezekiel 28:14 - and I Haggai 2:17 - with blasting Revelation 6:4 - power

Cross-References

Genesis 29:14
Then Laban said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." So Jacob stayed with him for a month.
Genesis 37:14
So Jacob said to him, "Go now and check on the welfare of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word." So Jacob sent him from the valley of Hebron.
Genesis 37:17
The man said, "They left this area, for I heard them say, ‘Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
Genesis 37:22
Reuben continued, "Don't shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don't lay a hand on him." (Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.)
Genesis 42:21
They said to one another, "Surely we're being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!"
Exodus 21:16
"Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death.
Exodus 21:21
However, if the injured servant survives one or two days, the owner will not be punished, for he has suffered the loss.
1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, "Here's my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the Lord ." For Saul thought, "There's no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!"
2 Samuel 12:9
Why have you shown contempt for the word of the Lord by doing evil in my sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife as your own! You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
Nehemiah 5:8
I said to them, "To the extent possible we have bought back our fellow Jews who had been sold to the Gentiles. But now you yourselves want to sell your own countrymen, so that we can then buy them back!" They were utterly silent, and could find nothing to say.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power,.... Or, "short of hand" u; it was not in the power of their hands to help themselves, because the Lord took away their strength, having determined that they should be destroyed for their sins; otherwise it would not have been in the power of Sennacherib to have subdued them; this takes off greatly from the king of Assyria's triumph, that they were a weak people, whom he had conquered, and were given up into his hands by the Lord, according to his purposes, or he had never been lord over them:

they were dismayed and confounded; not so much at the sight of Sennacherib's army, but because the Lord had dispirited them, and took away their natural courage from them, so that they became an easy prey to him:

they were as the grass of the field: which has no strength to stand before the mower:

and as the green herb; which is easily cropped with the hand of man, or eaten by the beasts of the field:

as the grass on the housetops: which has no matter of root, and is dried up with the heat of the sun:

and as corn blasted before it be grown up; before it rises up into anything of a stalk, and much less into ears; so the Targum,

"which is blasted before it comes to be ears;''

all which represent the feeble condition of the people overcome by him; so that he had not so much to glory of, as having done mighty things.

u קצרי יד breviati, "vel breves manu", Forerius; "abbreviati manu", Vatablus, Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore - Not because you have so great power; but because I have rendered them incapable of resisting you.

Were of small power - Hebrew, ‘Short of hand;’ they were feeble, imbecile, unable to resist you.

They were dismayed - Hebrew, ‘They were broken and ashamed.’ Their spirits sank; they were ashamed of their feeble powers of resistance; and they submitted to the ignominy of a surrender.

They were as the grass of the field - The same idea is expressed by Sennacherib himself in Isaiah 10:15, though under a different image (see the note on that verse). The idea here is, as the grass of the field offers no resistance to the march of an army, so it was with the strongly fortified towns in the way of Sennacherib.

As the grass on the housetops - In eastern countries the roofs of houses are always flat. They are made of a mixture of sand gravel, or earth; and on the houses of the rich there is a firmly constructed flooring made of coals, chalk, gypsum, and ashes, made hard by being beaten or rolled. On these roofs spears of wheat, barley, or grass sometimes spring up, but they are soon withered by the heat of the sun Psalms 129:6-8. The idea here, therefore, is that of the greatest feebleness. His enemies were not simply like the grass in the field, but they were like the thin, slender, and delicate blade that sprung up in the little earth on the roof of a house, where there was no room for the roots to strike down, and where it soon withered beneath the burning sun.

As corn blasted before it is grown up - Before it acquires any strength. The idea in all these phrases is substantially the same - that they were incapable of offering even the feeblest resistance.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 37:27. Corn blasted — שדמה shedemah, parched: it does not appear that there is any good authority for this word. The true reading seems to be שדפה shedephah, blasted, as it is in six MSS. (two ancient) here, and in the other copy.


 
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