Isaiah 10:16

"Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood."

Key Reflection

In Isaiah 10:16, God contrasts the Assyrian Empire's pride with its role as an instrument of divine judgment. The imagery suggests that the empire is merely a tool in God’s hand, much like an ax brags against the one wielding it. This metaphor would have struck the original audience as particularly striking, given that the Assyrians saw themselves as conquerors and wielders of power. Instead, Isaiah presents them as subjects rather than masters, emphasizing their dependence on divine providence for their victories.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Therefore shall the Lord -Hebrew,אדון'ādôn. The Lord of hosts -In the present Hebrew text, the original word is alsoאדני'ădonāy, but fifty-two manuscripts and six editions read Jehovah. On the meaning of the phrase, “the Lord of hosts,” see the note atIsaiah 1:9. This verse contains a threatening of the punishment that would come upon the Assyrian for his insolence and pride, and the remainder of the chapter is mainly occupied with the details of that punishment. The punishment here threatened is, that while he appeared to be a victor, and was boasting of success and of his plunder, God would send leanness - as a body becomes wasted with disease.

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