The Meaning of Isaiah 7:8 Explained

Isaiah 7:8

KJV: For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

YLT: For the head of Aram is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin, And within sixty and five years Is Ephraim broken from being a people.

Darby: for the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty-five years shall Ephraim be broken, so as to be no more a people;

ASV: For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken in pieces, so that is shall not be a people:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the head  of Syria  [is] Damascus,  and the head  of Damascus  [is] Rezin;  and within threescore  and five  years  shall Ephraim  be broken,  that it be not a people. 

What does Isaiah 7:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 7:1-17 - The Sign Of Immanuel
A new cycle of prophecy begins here, covering the reign of Ahaz. The complete history which illustrates these chapters is given in 2 Chronicles 28:5. The invasion of Judah by Syria and Samaria was permitted because a severe warning was needed to enforce Isaiah's remonstrances and appeals. See 2 Kings 15:37. The Holy City, as Isaiah predicted, was not to be trodden by the invader, though it would pass through severe suffering and anxiety. This immunity, which neither Ahaz nor his people deserved, was secured by Isaiah's faith and prayer, pleading as he did, God's ancient covenant.
This great prophecy of the coming Immanuel must have greatly encouraged that generation, as it has all succeeding ones. It inspired Psalms 46:1-11. What greater comfort have we than that Jesus is the companion of our pilgrimage? See Matthew 1:21-23. Though the corn-lands were desolate, the cattle on the mountain-pastures would yield butter and the wild bees honey; and this would supply the nation's needs till the invader had withdrawn. Though God chastens us, He will not forget our daily bread. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 7

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, has for a sign, Christ promised
17  His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 7:8 mean?

For the head of Syria [is] Damascus and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin and Within sixty and five years will be broken Ephraim [So that it will] not [be] a people
כִּ֣י רֹ֤אשׁ אֲרָם֙ דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְרֹ֥אשׁ דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק רְצִ֑ין וּבְע֗וֹד שִׁשִּׁ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה יֵחַ֥ת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מֵעָֽם

רֹ֤אשׁ  the  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
אֲרָם֙  of  Syria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרָם 
Sense: Aram or Syria the nation.
דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק  [is]  Damascus 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמֶּשֶׂק 
Sense: an ancient trading city, capital of Syria, located in the plain east of Hermon, 30 (205 km) miles northeast of Jerusalem.
וְרֹ֥אשׁ  and  the  head 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק  of  Damascus 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמֶּשֶׂק 
Sense: an ancient trading city, capital of Syria, located in the plain east of Hermon, 30 (205 km) miles northeast of Jerusalem.
רְצִ֑ין  [is]  Rezin 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְצִין  
Sense: king of Damascus during the reigns of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah.
וּבְע֗וֹד  and  Within 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: בַּעַד 
Sense: behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about.
שִׁשִּׁ֤ים  sixty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: שִׁשִּׁים  
Sense: sixty, three score.
וְחָמֵשׁ֙  and  five 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
שָׁנָ֔ה  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
יֵחַ֥ת  will  be  broken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חַת 
Sense: fear, terror.
אֶפְרַ֖יִם  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
מֵעָֽם  [So  that  it  will]  not  [be]  a  people 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.