The Meaning of Isaiah 7:4 Explained

Isaiah 7:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: and thou hast said unto him: 'Take heed, and be quiet, fear not, And let not thy heart be timid, Because of these two tails of smoking brands, For the fierceness of the anger of Rezin and Aram, And the son of Remaliah.

Darby: and thou shalt say unto him, Take heed and be quiet; fear not, and let not thy heart faint before these two ends of smoking firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

ASV: and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 7:4 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would yield butter and the wild bees honey; and this would supply the nation's needs till the invader had withdrawn.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 7:4 mean?

And say to him take heed and be quiet not do fear and or be fainthearted for two stubs of firebrands smoking these for fierce the anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵ֠לָיו הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט אַל־ תִּירָ֗א וּלְבָבְךָ֙ אַל־ יֵרַ֔ךְ מִשְּׁנֵ֨י זַנְב֧וֹת הָאוּדִ֛ים הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בָּחֳרִי־ אַ֛ף רְצִ֥ין וַאֲרָ֖ם וּבֶן־ רְמַלְיָֽהוּ

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣  And  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵ֠לָיו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט  and  be  quiet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁקַט  
Sense: to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed.
תִּירָ֗א  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
יֵרַ֔ךְ  be  fainthearted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָכַךְ  
Sense: to be tender, be soft, be weak.
מִשְּׁנֵ֨י  for  two 
Parse: Preposition-m, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
זַנְב֧וֹת  stubs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: זָנָב  
Sense: tail, end, stump.
הָאוּדִ֛ים  of  firebrands 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אוּד  
Sense: brand, fire brand.
הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים  smoking 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עָשֵׁן  
Sense: smoking.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בָּחֳרִי־  for  fierce 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֳרִי  
Sense: heat (of anger), burning (of anger).
אַ֛ף  the  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
רְצִ֥ין  of  Rezin 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְצִין  
Sense: king of Damascus during the reigns of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah.
וַאֲרָ֖ם  and  Syria 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרָם 
Sense: Aram or Syria the nation.
וּבֶן־  and  the  son 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
רְמַלְיָֽהוּ  of  Remaliah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְמַלְיָהוּ  
Sense: father of king Pekah of the northern kingdom of Israel.