Isaiah 11:14
in Isaiah 11They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; together shall they despoil the children of the east: they shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
KJV
But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
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This verse in Isaiah 11
Commentary
10 notes on this verseOn that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. LXX: On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall seek him out, and his dwelling shall be honored. For his resting place has been chosen in Hebrew, Mnuatho (), which all have likewise translated. And for his honor, in Hebrew it is read as Chabod (), which clearly signifies glory.
This site's exposition
the jealousy of Ephraim will depart
on Isaiah 11:13-14
"Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart," and the old rivalry between the two kingdoms, visible through Israel's whole monarchy, is healed. The united people turn outward, swooping on the slopes of the Philistines and laying hands on Edom, Moab and the Ammonites, their old regional enemies.
This site's exposition
They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab
Philistia, Edom, Moab and the Ammonites were the old neighbours David subdued in 2 Samuel 8. Barnes read the swoop on the slopes of the Philistines as the spread of the gospel, and noted that the Jews read it literally. Ephraim and Judah, reconciled in verse 13, now act together.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
380. Second, as to power in the subjugation of enemies, either that which occurred literally in the time of the Maccabees, as to the first explanation; or through the preaching of the apostles, as to the second; or as to the prosperity which the Lord …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Note, Those who have been sharers with each other in afflictions and mercies, dangers and deliverances, ought in consideration thereof to unite for their joint and mutual safety and protection; and it is likely to be well with the church when Ephraim and Judah are one against the Philistines.
Fly - It is a metaphor from birds and beasts of prey. Spoil - They shall subdue them, which is to be understood of the spiritual victory which the Messiah shall obtain by his apostles and ministers over all nations.
But they shall flee upon the shoulders of the Philistines towards the west,....
The gospel of Christ shall be successful in all parts, and some of all nations shall become obedient to the faith. Every thing that might hinder the progress and success of the gospel shall be taken out of the way.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But they shall fly - The design of this verse is, to show the rapid and certain spiritual conquests which would result from the conversion of the scattered Jewish people. The Jews understood this literally, as referring to the conquests over their enemies. But if the exposition which has been given of this chapter thus far is correct, the passage is to be interpreted as a figurative description of the triumph of the people of God under the Messiah. The “time” to which it refers, is that which shall succeed the conversion of the scattered Jews.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
With united forces they shall subdue their foes (Am 9:12). fly--as a bird of prey (Hab 1:8). upon the shoulders--This expresses an attack made unexpectedly on one from behind. The image is the more apt, as the Hebrew for "shoulders" in Nu 34:11 is used also of a maritime coast ("side of the sea": Hebrew, "shoulder of the sea," Margin).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Ephraim shall not envy Judah The Messiah, the son of David, and the Messiah, the son of Joseph, shall not envy each other.
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. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעָפ֨וּ | veafu | and they will fly | H5774 → | 26 times |
| בְכָתֵ֤ף | vekhatef | on [the] shoulder | H3802 → | 67 times |
| פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ | pelishtim | [the] Philistines | H6430 → | 287 times |
| יָ֔מָּה | yamah | west -ward | H3220 → | 396 times |
| יַחְדָּ֖ו | yachdav | together | H3162 → | 141 times |
| יָבֹ֣זּוּ | yavozu | they will plunder | H962 → | 43 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| בְּנֵי־ | benei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| קֶ֑דֶם | kedem | [the] east | H6924 → | 87 times |
| אֱד֤וֹם | ʾedom | Edom | H123 → | 99 times |
| וּמוֹאָב֙ | umoav | and Moab | H4124 → | 181 times |
| מִשְׁל֣וֹח | mishloch | [will be] [the] stretching out of | H4916 → | |
| יָדָ֔ם | yadam | hand their | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וּבְנֵ֥י | uvenei | and [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| עַמּ֖וֹן | amon | Ammon | H5983 → | |
| מִשְׁמַעְתָּֽם׃ | mishma'tam | [will be] subjects their | H4928 → |
וְעָפ֨וּand they will fly
veafuH5774 →26 times
בְכָתֵ֤ףon [the] shoulder
vekhatefH3802 →67 times
פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙[the] Philistines
pelishtimH6430 →287 times
יָ֔מָּהwest -ward
yamahH3220 →396 times
יַחְדָּ֖וtogether
yachdavH3162 →141 times
יָבֹ֣זּוּthey will plunder
yavozuH962 →43 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
בְּנֵי־[the] people of
benei-H1121 →4930 times
קֶ֑דֶם[the] east
kedemH6924 →87 times
אֱד֤וֹםEdom
ʾedomH123 →99 times
וּמוֹאָב֙and Moab
umoavH4124 →181 times
מִשְׁל֣וֹח[will be] [the] stretching out of
mishlochH4916 →
יָדָ֔םhand their
yadamH3027 →1618 times
וּבְנֵ֥יand [the] people of
uveneiH1121 →4930 times
עַמּ֖וֹןAmmon
amonH5983 →
מִשְׁמַעְתָּֽם׃[will be] subjects their
mishma'tamH4928 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Amos 9:12that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do this.
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:7
everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
- Acts 15:17
so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things
- Isaiah 65:1
“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I…
- Isaiah 43:7
Through
Daniel 11:41He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 48:47
Yet in the latter days I will restore Moab from captivity,” declares the LORD. Here ends the judgment on Moab.
- Jeremiah 49:6
Yet afterward I will restore the Ammonites from captivity,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 11:13–15
Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and the adversaries of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, nor will Judah harass Ephraim.
- Jeremiah 48:47
Through
Joel 3:19Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
it leads to
- Isaiah 19:1–15
This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will…
- Isaiah 19:1–15
Through
Jeremiah 49:28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says: “Rise up, advance against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east!
it leads to
- Genesis 25:13
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
- Genesis 25:13
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceTransjordanEdomThe highland nation descended from Esau that refused Israel passage on the King's Highway, and whose pride the prophets answered.
- PlaceTransjordanMoabThe high country east of the Dead Sea, home of Lot's descendants, where Balak hired Balaam, where Ruth was born, and where Moses l…
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.