Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Isaiah 10:12

in Isaiah 10

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

KJV

Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

⋯

This verse in Isaiah 10

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The Lord “Jehovah” - For אדני Adonai, fourteen MSS. and three editions read יהוה Yehovah. The fruit “The effect” - “פרי peri, f. צבי tsebi, vid. Isa 13:19, sed confer, Pro 1:31; Pro 31:16, Pro 31:31.” - Secker. The Chaldee renders the word פרי peri by עיבדי obadey, works; which seems to be the true sense; and I have followed it. - L.

This site's exposition

So when the Lord has completed

on Isaiah 10:12-14

He will punish Assyria "for the fruit of his arrogant heart" once He has finished His work against Mount Zion. The king credits nothing to heaven, claiming as skill a commission he never knew he carried. He gathered the earth's wealth "Like one gathering abandoned eggs," conquest as effortless plunder.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Isaiah · Written before 420.

proposed

"And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has completed all his works on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, that I will visit the fruit of the noble heart of the king of Assyria, and upon the glory of the height of his eyes." After the captivity of Samaria and the victory of the Assyrians, and the threat against Jerusalem, because they imitated the idols of Samaria, they should be punished with a similar sentence; now against Assyria itself, which has become proud and thought its own strength was what led to victory, the Prophet speaks.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Isaiah · Written before 1274.

proposed

And it shall come to pass. Here he denounces his pride. And first, his proud boasting is set out, second, the occasion of his boasting: for he has said (Isa 10:13); third, the rebuke of the boaster: shall the axe boast? (Isa 10:15). Therefore he …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

35 ), to bring sin to their remembrance and humble them for it, and to awaken them to a sense of their duty, to teach them to pray and to love and help one another; and this must be the fruit, even the taking away of sin, ch. xxvii. When these points are, in some measure, gained by the affliction, it shall be removed, in mercy ( Lev. xxvi.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Now here we are told what that work should be, a twofold work:-- I. The conversion of some, to whom this providence should be sanctified and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness, though for the present it was not joyous, but grievous; these are but a remnant (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

Wherefore it shall come to pass,.... It shall surely be; what God has purposed in his heart, and published in his word, shall certainly be fulfilled: that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Zion, and on Jerusalem; in correcting, chastising, and humbling the inhabitants thereof, by suffering them to be besieged by the Assyrian army.
3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

A promise of grace to the people of God, to enable them to bear up under the affliction, and to get good by it,

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

whole work--His entire plan is regard to the punishment of the Jews (Isa 10:5-7). Zion--the royal residence, the court, princes and nobles; as distinguished from "Jerusalem," the people in general. fruit--the result of, that is, the plants emanating from. stout--Hebrew, "greatness of," that is, pride of. glory--haughtiness.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

Wherefore ... - In this verse God, by the prophet, threatens punishment to the king of Assyria for his pride, and wicked designs. His whole work - His entire plan in regard to the punishment of the Jews. He sent the king of Assyria for a specific purpose to execute his justice on the people of Jerusalem. That plan he would execute entirely by the hand of Sennacherib, and would “then” inflict deserved, punishment on Sennacherib himself, for his wicked purposes. Upon mount Zion - Mount Zion was a part of Jerusalem (see the note at Isa 1:8), but it was the residence of the court, the dwelling-place of David and his successors; and perhaps here, where it is mentioned as distinct from Jerusalem, it refers to the court, the princes, nobles, or the government. ‘I will execute my purposes against the government, and the people of the city.’ I will punish - Hebrew, ‘I will visit;’ but here, evidently used to denote punishment; see the note at Isa 10:3. The fruit of the stout heart - Hebrew, ‘The fruit of the greatness of the heart.’ The ‘greatness of the heart,’ is a Hebraism for pride of heart, or great swelling designs and plans formed in the heart. “Fruit” is that which a tree or the earth produces; and then anything which is produced or brought forth in any way. Here it means that which a proud heart had produced or designed, that is, plans of pride and ambition; schemes of conquest and of blood. The glory of his high looks - Hebrew, ‘The glory of the lifting up of his eyes’ - an expression indicative of pride and haughtiness. The word “glory,” here, evidently refers to the self-complacency, and the air of majesty and haughtiness, which a proud man assumes. In this verse we see - (1) That God will accomplish all the purposes of which he designs to make wicked people the instruments. […]

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

as I did to Samaria He shall say this after he conquers Samaria.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Isaiah 10:11:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
For he said, With the strength of my hand I accomplished this None of my might is from the Holy One, blessed be He.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Isaiah 10:13:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

21 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְהָיָ֗הand it will be

    vehayahH1961 →3559 times

  • כִּֽי־that

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • יְבַצַּ֤עhe will finish

    yevatza'H1214 →

  • אֲדֹנָי֙[the] Lord

    ʾadonaiH136 →440 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • מַֽעֲשֵׂ֔הוּwork his

    maasehuH4639 →236 times

  • בְּהַ֥רon [the] mountain of

    beharH2022 →546 times

  • צִיּ֖וֹןZion

    tziyonH6726 →154 times

  • וּבִירוּשָׁלִָ֑םand in Jerusalem

    uvirushalimH3389 →643 times

  • אֶפְקֹ֗דI will visit [judgment]

    ʾefkodH6485 →303 times

  • עַל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • פְּרִי־[the] fruit of

    peri-H6529 →119 times

  • גֹ֙דֶל֙[the] greatness of

    godelH1433 →

  • לְבַ֣ב[the] heart of

    levavH3824 →252 times

  • מֶֽלֶךְ־[the] king of

    melekh-H4428 →2525 times

  • אַשּׁ֔וּרAssyria

    ʾashurH804 →151 times

  • וְעַל־and on

    veal-H5921 →5755 times

  • תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת[the] glory of

    tiferetH8597 →51 times

  • ר֥וּם[the] haughtiness of

    rumH7312 →6 times

  • עֵינָֽיו׃eyes his

    ʾeinavH5869 →887 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Isaiah 37:36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!8 worksJeremiah 50:18Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.5 worksIsaiah 37:29Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’4 works1 Peter 4:17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?4 worksIsaiah 24:21In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.4 worksIsaiah 17:12–14Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 2:11The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.3 worksIsaiah 30:30–33And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.3 worksPsalms 18:27For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.3 worksIsaiah 10:5–6Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.3 worksIsaiah 50:11Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who array yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and of the firebrands you have lit! This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in a place of torment.3 worksEzekiel 31:10Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height,3 worksIsaiah 28:21–22For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.3 worksIsaiah 14:24–27The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.3 worksIsaiah 27:9Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.3 worksMatthew 12:33Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.3 worksIsaiah 46:10–11I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’3 worksIsaiah 5:15So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Isaiah 2:11

    The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 5:15–16

      So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes.

    • Psalms 18:27

      For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

    • Isaiah 2:17

      So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

  • Through

    Psalms 18:27

    For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 66:2

      Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles…

    • Isaiah 57:15

      For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,…

    • James 2:5

      Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

    • 2 Samuel 22:28

      You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

    • Psalms 101:5

      Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.

Where this verse is studied

About Isaiah

The Prophet Isaiah, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Prophet Isaiah, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Isaiah: the study guide →Read Isaiah 10 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.

Read on in Isaiah 10 →