The Meaning of Isaiah 10:13 Explained

Isaiah 10:13

KJV: For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

YLT: For he hath said, 'By the power of my hand I have wrought, And by my wisdom, for I have been intelligent, And I remove borders of the peoples, And their chief ones I have spoiled, And I put down as a mighty one the inhabitants,

Darby: For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am intelligent; and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and, like a valiant man, I have brought down them that sit on thrones;

ASV: For he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and like a valiant man I have brought down them that sit on thrones :

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he saith,  By the strength  of my hand  I have done  [it], and by my wisdom;  for I am prudent:  and I have removed  the bounds  of the people,  and have robbed  their treasures,  and I have put down  the inhabitants  like a valiant  [man]: 

What does Isaiah 10:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 10:5-19 - The Mighty Laid Low
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 especially on the Chosen People. He had no thought of this, but considered himself free to wreak his will without reference to that Higher Power whose agent he was. But the ruthless manner in which he carried out his work was destined to come under the divine judgment, Isaiah 10:12-15.
The capture of Jerusalem seemed as sure as the taking of a nest of eggs. The strongest barriers that the nations could oppose to his arms had fallen before the Assyrian king; and surely the Hebrew city should not escape. But God had yet to be reckoned with, Isaiah 10:16-19. The conception here is borrowed from a forest fire, which begins among the brushwood and presently consumes the loftiest and stoutest trees; so would the fire of destruction be kindled during the attack on the Holy City, which finally would involve the whole Assyrian empire. Let us not fear the wrath of man. God makes some portion of it to praise Him, and He restrains the remainder. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 10

1  The woe of tyrants
5  Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, for its pride shall be broken
20  A remnant of Israel shall be saved
23  Judah is comforted with promise of deliverance from Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 10:13 mean?

For he says by the strength of my hand I have done [it] and by my wisdom I am prudent and I have removed the boundaries of the people - and their treasuries have robbed so I have put down like a mighty [man] the inhabitants
כִּ֣י אָמַ֗ר בְּכֹ֤חַ יָדִי֙ עָשִׂ֔יתִי וּבְחָכְמָתִ֖י נְבֻנ֑וֹתִי וְאָסִ֣יר ׀ גְּבוּלֹ֣ת עַמִּ֗ים [ועתידתיהם] (וַעֲתוּדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙) שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי וְאוֹרִ֥יד כַּאבִּ֖יר יוֹשְׁבִֽים

אָמַ֗ר  he  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּכֹ֤חַ  by  the  strength 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
יָדִי֙  of  my  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עָשִׂ֔יתִי  I  have  done  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וּבְחָכְמָתִ֖י  and  by  my  wisdom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
נְבֻנ֑וֹתִי  I  am  prudent 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
וְאָסִ֣יר ׀  and  I  have  removed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
גְּבוּלֹ֣ת  the  boundaries 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: גְּבוּלָה  
Sense: border, boundary.
עַמִּ֗ים  of  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
[ועתידתיהם]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
(וַעֲתוּדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙)  and  their  treasuries 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עָתִיד  
Sense: ready, prepared.
שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי  have  robbed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁסָה  
Sense: to spoil, plunder, take spoil.
וְאוֹרִ֥יד  so  I  have  put  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
כַּאבִּ֖יר  like  a  mighty  [man] 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַבִּיר  
Sense: mighty, valiant.
יוֹשְׁבִֽים  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.