Isaiah 7 · Verse 1

Isaiah 7:1

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

Isaiah 7:1, King James Version

Isaiah 7:1 in other translations

BSB	Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.
WEB	In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
ASV	And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
YLT	And it cometh to pass in the days of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, gone up hath Rezin king of Aram, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, to Jerusalem, to battle against it, and he is not able to fight against it.
DARBY	And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but they were not able to fight against it.
BBE	Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, the king of Aram, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but were not able to overcome it.
Webster	And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up towards Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

What does Isaiah 7:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Is 7:1-9:7. Prediction of the Ill Success of the Syro- Israelitish Invasion of Judah--Ahaz's Alliance with Assyria, and Its Fatal Results to Judea--Yet the Certainty of Final Preservation and of the Coming of Messiah. In the Assyrian inscriptions the name of Rezin, king of Damascus, is found among the tributaries of Tiglath-pileser, of whose reign the annals of seventeen years have been deciphered. For the historical facts in this chapter, compare 2Ki 15:37-16:9. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel, as confederates, advanced against Jerusalem. In the first campaign they "smote Ahaz with a great slaughter" (2Ch 28:5). Their object was probably to unite the three kingdoms against Assyria. Egypt seems to have favored the plan, so as to interpose these confederate kingdoms between her own frontier and Assyria (compare Is 7:18, "Egypt"; and 2Ki 17:4, Hoshea's league with Egypt). Rezin and Pekah may have perceived Ahaz' inclination towards Assyria rather than towards their own confederacy; this and the old feud between Israel and Judah (1Ki 12:16) occasioned their invasion of Judah. Ahaz, at the second inroad of his enemies (compare 2Ch 28:1-26 and 2Ki 15:37, with Is 16:5), smarting under his former defeat, applied to Tiglath-pileser, in spite of Isaiah's warning in this chapter, that he should rather rely on God; that king accordingly attacked Damascus, and slew Rezin (2Ki 16:9); and probably it was at the same time that he carried away part of Israel captive (2Ki 15:29), unless there were two assaults on Pekah--that in 2Ki 15:29, the earlier, and that in which Tiglath helped Ahaz subsequently [G. V. Smith]. Ahaz was saved at the sacrifice of Judah's independence and the payment of a large tribute, which continued till the overthrow of Sennacherib under Hezekiah (Is 37:37; 2Ki 16:8, 17, 18; 2Ch 28:20). Ahaz' reign began about 741 B.C., and Pekah was slain in 738 [Winer]. 1. Ahaz--In the first years of his reign the design of the two kings against Judah was carried out, which was formed in Jotham's reign (2Ki 15:37). Syria--Hebrew, Aram (Ge 10:22, 23), originally the whole region between the Euphrates and Mediterranean, including Assyria, of which Syria is an abbreviation; here the region round Damascus, and along Mount Libanus. Jerusalem--An actual siege of it took place, but was foiled (2Ki 16:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The king of Judah and the royal family being in the utmost consternation on receiving accounts of the invasion of the kings of Syria and Israel, the prophet is sent to assure them that God would make good his promises to David and his house; so that, although they might be corrected, they could not be destroyed, while these prophecies remained to be accomplished, Isa 7:1-9. The Lord gives Ahaz a sign that the confederacy against Judah shall be broken, which sign strikingly points out the miraculous conception of the Messiah, who was to spring from the tribe of Judah, Isa 7:10-16. Prediction of very heavy calamities which the Assyrians would inflict upon the land of Judea, Isa 7:17-25. The confederacy of Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, against the kingdom of Judah, was formed in the time of Jotham; and perhaps the effects of it were felt in the latter part of his reign; see 2Kgs 15:37, and note on Isa 1:7-9 (note). However, in the very beginning of the reign of Ahaz, they jointly invaded Judah with a powerful army, and threatened to destroy or to dethrone the house of David. The king and royal family being in the utmost consternation on receiving advises of their designs, Isaiah is sent to them to support and comfort them in their present distress, by assuring them that God would make good his promises to David and his house. This makes the subject of this, and the following, and the beginning of the ninth chapters, in which there are many and great difficulties. Chap. 7 begins with an historical account of the occasion of this prophecy; and then follows, Isa 7:4-16, a prediction of the ill success of the designs of the Israelites and Syrians against Judah; and from thence to the end of the chapter, a denunciation of the calamities to be brought upon the king and people of Judah by the Assyrians, whom they had now hired to assist them. Chap. 8 has a pretty close connection with the foregoing; it contains a confirmation of the prophecy before given of the approaching destruction of the kingdoms of Israel and Syria by the Assyrians, of the denunciation of the invasion of Judah by the same Assyrians. Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10, give a repeated general assurance, that all the designs of the enemies of God's people shall be in the end disappointed and brought to naught; Isa 8:11, etc., admonitions and threatenings, (I do not attempt a more particular explanation of this very difficult part), concluding with an illustrious prophecy Isa 9:1-6, of the manifestation of Messiah, the transcendent dignity of his character, and the universality and eternal duration of his kingdom.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 7:1-9

Ahaz threatened by Israel and Syria; and is assured their attack would be in vain. (Is. 7:1-9) God gives a sure sign by the promise of the long-expected Messiah. (Is. 7:10-16) The folly and sin of seeking relief from Assyria are reproved. (Is. 7:17-25) Verses 1-9 Ungodly men are often punished by others as bad as themselves. Being in great distress and confusion, the Jews gave up all for lost. They had made God their enemy, and knew not how to make him their friend. The prophet must teach them to despise their enemies, in faith and dependence on God. Ahaz, in fear, called them two powerful princes. No, says the prophet, they are but tails of smoking firebrands, burnt out already. The two kingdoms of Syria and Israel were nearly expiring. While God has work for the firebrands of the earth, they consume all before them; but when their work is fulfilled, they will be extinguished in smoke. That which Ahaz thought most formidable, is made the ground of their defeat; because they have taken evil counsel against thee; which is an offence to God. God scorns the scorners, and gives his word that the attempt should not succeed. Man purposes, but God disposes. It was folly for those to be trying to ruin their neighbours, who were themselves near to ruin. Isaiah must urge the Jews to rely on the assurances given them. Faith is absolutely necessary to quiet and compose the mind in trials.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 7:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֡יvay.Hiand it wasH1961

בִּימֵ֣יbi.Meiin [the] days ofH3117

אָ֠חָז'A.chozAhazH271

בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121

יוֹתָ֨םyo.TamJothamH3147

בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121

עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ'u.zi.Ya.huUzziahH5818

מֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekh[the] king ofH4428

יְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahJudahH3063

עָלָ֣ה'a.Lahhe went upH5927

רְצִ֣יןre.TzinRezinH7526

מֶֽלֶךְ\־Me.lekh-[the] king ofH4428

אֲ֠רָם'A.romAramH758

וּפֶ֨קַחu.Fe.kachand PekahH6492

בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121

רְמַלְיָ֤הוּre.mal.Ya.huRemaliahH7425

מֶֽלֶךְ\־Me.lekh-[the] king ofH4428

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389

לַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.Mahfor <the> battleH4421

עָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haon itH5921

וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808

יָכֹ֖לya.Kholhe was ableH3201

לְהִלָּחֵ֥םle.hi.la.Chemto engage in battleH3898

עָלֶֽיהָ\׃'a.Lei.haon itH5921

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 7:1

2 Kings 15:37
In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
2 Kings 16:1
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Isaiah 7:4-9
And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. …
Isaiah 8:6
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
Psalms 83:3-5
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
Isaiah 8:9-10
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Isaiah 1:1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Kings 15:25
But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
2 Chronicles 28:1-6
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah.
10 Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, hath for a sign, Christ promised.
17 His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria.

the days.
2Ki 16:1; 2Ch 28:1-6
Rezin.
8:6; 2Ki 15:37; Ps 83:3-5
but could.
4-9; 8:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Isaiah 7:1
And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
Isaiah 7:2
And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

Read all of Isaiah 7

Isaiah 7:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	ACONTECIÓ en los días de Achâz hijo de Jotham, hijo de Uzzías, rey de Judá, que Rezín rey de Siria, y Peca hijo de Remalías, rey de Israel, subieron á Jerusalem para combatirla; mas no la pudieron tomar.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	*Et il arriva, dans les jours d’Achaz, fils de Jotham, fils d’Ozias, roi de Juda, que Retsin, roi de Syrie, et Pékakh, fils de Remalia, roi d’Israël, montèrent à Jérusalem pour lui faire la guerre; mais ils ne purent pas l’assiéger.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es geschah in den Tagen Ahas, des Sohnes Jothams, des Sohnes Ussijas, des Königs von Juda, da zog Rezin, der König von Syrien, und Pekach, der Sohn Remaljas, der König von Israel, nach Jerusalem hinauf zum Streit wider dasselbe; aber er vermochte nicht wider dasselbe zu streiten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et factum est in diebus Achaz, filii Joathan, filii Oziæ, regis Juda, ascendit Rasin, rex Syriæ, et Phacee, filius Romeliæ, rex Israël, in Jerusalem, ad præliandum contra eam: et non potuerunt