The Meaning of Isaiah 10:9 Explained

Isaiah 10:9

KJV: Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

YLT: Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?

Darby: Is not Calno as Karkemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?

ASV: Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Is] not Calno  as Carchemish?  [is] not Hamath  as Arpad?  [is] not Samaria  as Damascus? 

What does Isaiah 10:9 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 10:9 mean?

[Is] not like Carchemish Calneh Or [Is] not like Arpad Hamath like Damascus Samaria
הֲלֹ֥א ؟ כְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ כַּלְנ֑וֹ אִם־ לֹ֤א ؟ כְאַרְפַּד֙ חֲמָ֔ת כְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק ؟ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן

הֲלֹ֥א  [Is]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
؟ כְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ  like  Carchemish 
Parse: Preposition-k, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כַּרְכְּמִישׁ  
Sense: a Hittite capital northeast of Israel on the Euphrates river captured by Pharaoh Necho and then from him by Nebuchadnezzar.
כַּלְנ֑וֹ  Calneh 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כַּלְנֵה 
Sense: a city of Babylonia named among the cities of Nimrod.
לֹ֤א  [Is]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
؟ כְאַרְפַּד֙  like  Arpad 
Parse: Preposition-k, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַרְפָּד  
Sense: a city in northern Syria cited as an example of the Assyrian conquest.
חֲמָ֔ת  Hamath 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֲמָת 
Sense: the principle city of upper Syria in the valley of the Orontes.
כְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק  like  Damascus 
Parse: Preposition-k, 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.
؟ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן  Samaria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁמְרֹון  
Sense: the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the 0 tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam.