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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Isaiah 10:7

Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

Howbeit he meaneth not so - He is only thinking of his own schemes, while God is overruling them to His purposes.

Neither doth his heart think so - intend so. Sinners' plans are no less culpable, though they by them unconsciously fulfill God's designs (; ). So Joseph's brethren (; ). The sinners' motive, not the result (which depends on God), will be the test in judgment.

But (it is) in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Sennacherib's ambition was not confined to Judea. His plan was also to conquer Egypt and Ethiopia (Isaiah 20:1; ).

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See also Isaiah 10:7 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HOWBEIT HE MEANETH NOT SO - It is not his purpose to be the instrument, in the hand of God, of executing his designs. He has a different plan; a plan of his own which he intends to accomplish. NEITHE...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 10 The Assyrian, His invasion of Immanuel's land, and His end 1. _The first four verses belong to the preceding chapter. A description of the Assyrian enemy (Isaiah 10:5)_ 2. _The overthrow o...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ASSYRIA'S BOASTFULNESS AND ITS PUNISHMENT. This prophecy, so far as it is Isaiah's, must be later than the capture of Carchemish in 717 and before Sennacherib's invasion in 701. Narrower limits cannot...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HE MEANETH NOT SO. will not mean. The blindness of the instrument emphasizes the truth of the prophecy. THINK SO. so intend....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Howbeit he meaneth not so_ The charge is not so much that Asshur exceeds his commission (as in Zechariah 1:15), as that he recognises no commission at all; his policy is entirely oblivious of moral i...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jehovah's plan contrasted with Assyria's purpose....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HOWBEIT, HE MEANETH NOT SO, &C.— The prophet had taught the pious in what light they should consider the Assyrian, leading a large army with a splendid apparatus, and bringing under his power the peop...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SCOURGE OF GOD TEXT: Isaiah 10:5-11 5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation! 6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wra...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    5. AND THE STAFF IN THEIR HAND] RV 'the staff in whose hand': Jehovah speaks, declaring the Assyrian the minister of His wrath....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S PLANS FOR JUDAH, ASSYRIA AND EGYPT ISAIAH CHAPTER S 10 TO 20 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 10 GOD’S JUDGEMENT AGAINST EVIL LAWS V1 *Woe to those who make crue...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HOWBEIT HE MEANETH NOT SO. — The thoughts which Isaiah puts into the mouth of the Assyrian are exactly in accord with the supreme egotism of the Sargon inscription, “I conquered,” “I besieged,” “I bur...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ הוּא֙ לֹא ־כֵ֣ן יְדַמֶּ֔ה וּ לְבָבֹ֖ו

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER IX ATHEISM OF FORCE AND ATHEISM OF FEAR ABOUT 721 B.C. Isaiah 10:5 IN chapter 28 Isaiah, speaking in the year 725 when Salmanassar IV was marching on Samaria, had explained to the politicia...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE MIGHTY LAID LOW Isaiah 10:5-19 This question is addressed to the Assyrian invader, described as God's staff and rod. He was the means of inflicting deserved penalty on the world of that age, and...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is a prophecy of judgment on Assyria, and is full of interest. Assyria is the power which Jehovah is using for the punishment of His people, but because it fails to understand its true relation t...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _So. He will not think that he is executing my vengeance, supposing that he conquers by his own power._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I pray the Reader to remark with me, how the Lord taketh to himself the whole of the destruction of Judah. If the Assyrian destroy the kingdom, it is because the Lord hath commissioned and appointed i...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _AN UNCONSCIOUS INSTRUMENT_ ‘He meaneth not so.’ Isaiah 10:7 I. LITTLE DO BAD MEN WEEN, IN ALL THEIR PRIDE AND POWER, THAT THEY ARE BUT RODS AND INSTRUMENTS IN THE HAND OF GOD, AND THAT HE WILL LAY...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    7._Yet he will not think so. _(161) When wicked men vomit out their rage, they disturb weak minds, as if it were not in the power of God to restrain their pride and fury. The Prophet therefore steps f...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 9:8-21, 10, 11, AND 12. In Isaiah 9:8 the Spirit, having given the great leading facts as to Messiah, Immanuel, resumes the general history of Israel without...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    HOWBEIT HE MEANETH NOT SO, NEITHER DOTH HIS HEART THINK SO,.... His purposes, intentions, and thoughts, were not as the Lord's; he did not imagine that he was only the rod of his anger, and the staff...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Ver. 7. _Howbeit he meaneth not so._] He is otherwise minded and affecte...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I will send him_ By my providence, giving him both opportunity and inclination to undertake this expedition; _against a hypocritical nation_ Or, _a profane nation_, as the word חנ Šrather signifies;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Howbeit he, that is, Assyria, MEANETH NOT SO, does not hold the same idea that the Lord holds, NEITHER DOTH HIS HEART THINK SO, BUT IT IS IN HIS HEART TO DESTROY AND CUT OFF NATIONS NOT A FEW, that is...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WOE AGAINST ASSYRIA...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    5-19 See what a change sin made. The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought to act by his own will. The tyrants of the world are tools of Providence. God designs to correct his people for their hypoc...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HE MEANETH NOT SO; he doth not at all design the execution of my will. and the glory of my justice, in punishing mine enemies; but only to enlarge his own empire, and satisfy his own lusts; which is s...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 10:7 mean H1819 (H8762) heart H3824 think H2803 (H8799) heart H3824 destroy H8045 (H8687) off...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    1). GOD FIRST CALLS ON HIS SELECTED INSTRUMENT TO ACT BUT THEN REBUKES HIM FOR OVERREACTING (ISAIAH 10:5). In this vivid illustration Assyria is depicted as being the rod of God's anger. Assyria migh...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER ISAIAH 10:5 ASSYRIA WILL ADVANCE AND CONQUER AS A JUDGMENT ON GOD'S PEOPLE BUT WILL FINALLY BE BROUGHT DOWN, FOR FINAL DELIVERANCE IS CERTAIN. In the remainder of this chapter is described God...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The commission to invade Judah and its execution. Threatening of the invaders ruin after serving God's purpose. New encouragement given to God's people. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: God som...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The first four verses, are properly a part of the preseding chapter, and contain a severe reproof of the magistrates who wrested the judgment of the poor and needy. Isaiah 10:5. _Oh Assyrian._ Hebrews...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Howbeit he meaneth not so_ MAN PROPOSES, BUT GOD DISPOSES “He meaneth not so. ” 1. The wise God often makes even the sinful passions and projects of men subservient to His own great and holy purp...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _O Assyrian_ “O ASSYRIAN” “Ho Asshur,” the name both of the people and its national god. (_Prof. J. Skinner, D. D._) THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD POWER The leading idea of the passage is the contrast...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 10:7 BUT HE DOES NOT SO INTEND. Events unfold through human intentions but also, more deeply, through God’s intention (see Luke 22:22;...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES Isaiah 10:7. _Howbeit He meaneth not so, &c._ “Man appoints, but God disappoints,” “Man proposes, but God disposes,” are proverbs which sum up a good deal of human experien...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE ASSYRIAN INVASION OF JUDAH Isaiah 10:5. _O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, &c._ This prophecy may be used to illustrate the following truths of abiding interest. I. THE POWER OF EMPIRES AND THE...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ISAIAH 10:1 The prophecy begun in Isaiah 9:8 terminates with this stanza, which contains a warning against injustice and oppression, addressed to Israel and Judah equally, and accompanied...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, tha...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 13:27; Acts 2:23; Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 36:18; Isaiah 37:11;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Howbeit — He doth not design the execution of my will, but only to enlarge his own empire. Which is seasonably added, to justify God in his judgments threatened to the Assyrian. To cut off — To sacrif...

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