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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 7:8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/7-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/23_Isa_07_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 7:8 - A Message to Ahaz" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/7-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/7-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/7-7.htm" title="Isaiah 7:7">◄</a> Isaiah 7:8 <a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm" title="Isaiah 7:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/7.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/7.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/7.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/7.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Syria <i>is</i> Damascus, and the head of Damascus <i>is</i> Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For the head of Syria <i>is</i> Damascus, And the head of Damascus <i>is</i> Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, <i>So that it will</i> not <i>be</i> a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces, <i>so that it is</i> no longer a people),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another 65 years Ephraim will be shattered, so that it is no longer a people),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another 65 years Ephraim will be shattered, <i>so that it is</i> no longer a people),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, <i>so that it is</i> no longer a people),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For the head (capital) of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is [King] Rezin (now within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces and will no longer be a people).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The chief city of Aram is Damascus, the chief of Damascus is Rezin (within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people),<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The head of Aram is Damascus, the head of Damascus is Rezin (within 65 years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people), <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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 it shall not be a people:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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, that it be not a people:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The capital of Aram is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Ephraim will be shattered within 65 years so that it will no longer be a nation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Why? Because Syria is no stronger than Damascus, its capital city, and Damascus is no stronger than King Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be too shattered to survive as a nation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Because Aram's head is Damascus, and Rezin is its king, within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For Syria's leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken in pieces, so that it shall not be a people;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken in pieces, so that it shall not be a people. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For the head of Aram [is] Damascus, "" And the head of Damascus [is] Rezin, "" And within sixty-five years "" Is Ephraim broken from [being] a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For the head of Aram, Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rezin, and in yet sixty and five years Ephraim shall be broken from a people.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Basin: and within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall cease to be a people: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty-five years from now, Ephraim will cease to be a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.)<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and after sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken, so that it will no longer be a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/7.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because the head of Aram is Darmsuq, and the head of Darmsuq, Retsan, and after sixty and five years Aphreim shall fall from the people<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/7.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For the head of Aram 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;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/7.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rasim; and yet within sixty and five years the kingdom of Ephraim shall cease from <i>being</i> a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/7-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=1440" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/7.htm">A Message to Ahaz</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rōš (N-msc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">the head</a> <a href="/hebrew/758.htm" title="758: ’ă·rām (N-proper-fs) -- Syria and its inhab., also the names of a son of Shem, a grandson of Nahor, and an Isr. ">of Aram</a> <a href="/hebrew/1834.htm" title="1834: dam·me·śeq (N-proper-fs) -- A city in Aram (Syria). Or Duwmeseq; or Darmeseq; of foreign origin; Damascus, a city of Syria.">is Damascus,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: wə·rōš (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">and the head</a> <a href="/hebrew/1834.htm" title="1834: dam·me·śeq (N-proper-fs) -- A city in Aram (Syria). Or Duwmeseq; or Darmeseq; of foreign origin; Damascus, a city of Syria.">of Damascus</a> <a href="/hebrew/7526.htm" title="7526: rə·ṣîn (N-proper-ms) -- A king of Aram (Syria), also an Isr. Probably for ratsown; Retsin, the name of a Syrian and of an Israelite.">is Rezin.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5750.htm" title="5750: ū·ḇə·‘ō·wḏ (Conj-w, Prep-b:: Adv) -- Or rod; from uwd; properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially, again, repeatedly, still, more.">Within</a> <a href="/hebrew/8346.htm" title="8346: šiš·šîm (Number-cp) -- Sixty. Multiple of shesh; sixty.">sixty-five</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: wə·ḥā·mêš (Conj-w:: Number-fs) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nāh (N-fs) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years</a> <a href="/hebrew/669.htm" title="669: ’ep̄·ra·yim (N-proper-ms) -- Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hebrew/2865.htm" title="2865: yê·ḥaṯ (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either by violence, or by confusion and fear.">will be shattered</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: mê·‘ām (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">as a people.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’ ”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/15-29.htm">2 Kings 15:29</a></span><br />In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/16-9.htm">2 Kings 16:9</a></span><br />So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/5-9.htm">Hosea 5:9</a></span><br />Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-3.htm">Hosea 9:3</a></span><br />They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-6.htm">Hosea 10:6</a></span><br />Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/11-5.htm">Hosea 11:5</a></span><br />Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/1-3.htm">Amos 1:3-5</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. / So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad. / I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-27.htm">Amos 5:27</a></span><br />Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/7-17.htm">Amos 7:17</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/5-26.htm">1 Chronicles 5:26</a></span><br />So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-4.htm">Isaiah 8:4</a></span><br />For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-1.htm">Isaiah 17:1-3</a></span><br />This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins. / The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear. / The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the sovereignty from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites,” declares the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/28-1.htm">Isaiah 28:1-4</a></span><br />Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. / Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground. / The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/49-23.htm">Jeremiah 49:23-27</a></span><br />Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed. / Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor. / How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-15.htm">Matthew 4:15</a></span><br />“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.</p><p class="hdg">for the head.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">Isaiah 7:9</a></b></br> And the head of Ephraim <i>is</i> Samaria, and the head of Samaria <i>is</i> Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/8-6.htm">2 Samuel 8:6</a></b></br> Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, <i>and</i> brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.</p><p class="hdg">within</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/8-4.htm">Isaiah 8:4</a></b></br> For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/17-1.htm">Isaiah 17:1-3</a></b></br> The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from <i>being</i> a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/17-5.htm">2 Kings 17:5</a></b></br> Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.</p><p class="hdg">that it be not a people.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/1-6.htm">Hosea 1:6-10</a></b></br> And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And <i>God</i> said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/7-5.htm">Aram</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-13.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/songs/7-4.htm">Damascus</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-5.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-5.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/job/1-3.htm">Five</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-15.htm">Head</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-22.htm">Longer</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-15.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-4.htm">Rezin</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Shattered</a> <a href="/songs/6-8.htm">Sixty</a> <a href="/numbers/3-50.htm">Sixty-Five</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-5.htm">Syria</a> <a href="/songs/6-8.htm">Threescore</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-14.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/9-12.htm">Aram</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-4.htm">Damascus</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-6.htm">Five</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">Head</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-1.htm">Longer</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-23.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-6.htm">Rezin</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-9.htm">Shattered</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-25.htm">Sixty</a> <a href="/genesis/5-15.htm">Sixty-Five</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-3.htm">Syria</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-25.htm">Threescore</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-22.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/7-1.htm">Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/7-10.htm">Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, has for a sign, Christ promised</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/7-17.htm">His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For the head of Aram is Damascus</b><br>This phrase identifies the capital city of Aram, which is Damascus. Aram, also known as Syria, was a significant kingdom located to the northeast of Israel. Damascus was a major city in the ancient Near East, known for its strategic location and trade routes. The mention of Damascus as the head signifies its political and military importance. In biblical history, Aram was often in conflict with Israel, as seen in various accounts throughout the Old Testament, such as in <a href="/2_kings/16-5.htm">2 Kings 16:5-9</a>, where Aram allied with Israel against Judah.<p><b>and the head of Damascus is Rezin</b><br>Rezin was the king of Aram during the time of Isaiah's prophecy. His reign is noted for forming an alliance with Pekah, the king of Israel (Ephraim), against Judah. This coalition aimed to resist the growing threat of Assyria. The mention of Rezin as the head of Damascus highlights his role as the leader of this alliance. Historically, Rezin's reign ended when the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III captured Damascus and executed Rezin, as recorded in <a href="/2_kings/16-9.htm">2 Kings 16:9</a>.<p><b>Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people</b><br>Ephraim refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, often called by the name of its dominant tribe. This prophecy foretells the downfall of the northern kingdom, which would occur within sixty-five years. Historically, this aligns with the Assyrian conquest and the subsequent deportation of the Israelites, leading to the loss of their national identity. The prophecy underscores the theme of divine judgment due to Israel's unfaithfulness. This event is further detailed in <a href="/2_kings/17-6.htm">2 Kings 17:6</a>, where the Assyrians capture Samaria and exile the Israelites. The shattering of Ephraim serves as a warning and a call to repentance, emphasizing God's sovereignty over nations.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/aram.htm">Aram</a></b><br>A region often associated with modern-day Syria. In the context of Isaiah, Aram was a significant political and military power.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/damascus.htm">Damascus</a></b><br>The capital city of Aram, known for its strategic and economic importance in the ancient Near East.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/rezin.htm">Rezin</a></b><br>The king of Aram during the time of Isaiah's prophecy. He was involved in a coalition against Judah.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a></b><br>Refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often called Ephraim after one of its dominant tribes. It was in alliance with Aram against Judah.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, who delivered God's messages to the people of Judah and surrounding nations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a></b><br><a href="/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8</a> reminds us that God is in control of the rise and fall of nations. Despite human alliances and strategies, God's purposes prevail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">The Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>Ephraim's downfall serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God. It highlights the importance of faithfulness and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_certainty_of_prophecy.htm">The Certainty of Prophecy</a></b><br>The specific timeframe given ("within sixty-five years") underscores the reliability of God's word. Believers can trust in the fulfillment of God's promises and warnings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_protection.htm">Trust in God's Protection</a></b><br>In the face of political and military threats, Judah was called to trust in God rather than fear. This teaches us to rely on God amidst our own challenges.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_isaiah_7_8-9_with_history.htm">How do we reconcile Isaiah 7:8–9, which promises an end to Ephraim’s threat within 65 years, with other biblical or historical records of that period?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_isaiah_7_14-16_fulfilled_then.htm">Does historical or archaeological evidence confirm that the sign promised in Isaiah 7:14-16 was recognized or fulfilled in Isaiah's time?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/isaiah_8_4__align_with_assyrian_records.htm">Isaiah 8:4: Does the swift judgment on Damascus and Samaria align with known Assyrian records or is it purely a biblical claim?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/gad's_visions_and_prophecies.htm">What does the Bible say about Damascus's destruction?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">The head of Syria is Damascus . . .</span>--The prediction of the failure of the alliance is emphasised. Each city, Damascus and Samaria, should continue to be what it was, the head of a comparatively weak kingdom, and should not be aggrandised by the conquest of Judah and Jerusalem. There is an implied comparison of the two hostile cities and their kings with Jerusalem and its supreme King, Jehovah. Bolder critics, like Ewald, assume that a clause expressing that contrast has been displaced by that which now follows, and which they reject as a later interpolation.<p><span class= "bld">Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken.</span>--Assuming the genuineness of the clause, we have in it the first direct chronological prediction in the prophet's utterances. Others follow in <a href="/isaiah/16-14.htm" title="But now the LORD has spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.">Isaiah 16:14</a>; <a href="/isaiah/17-1.htm" title="The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.">Isaiah 17:1</a>; <a href="/isaiah/21-6.htm" title="For thus has the LORD said to me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.">Isaiah 21:6</a>; <a href="/isaiah/23-1.htm" title="The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.">Isaiah 23:1</a>. Reckoning from B.C. 736 as the probable date of the prophecy, the sixty-five years bring us to B.C. 671. At that date Assyrian inscriptions show that Assurbanipal, the "Asnapper" of <a href="/context/ezra/4-2.htm" title="Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up here.">Ezra 4:2-10</a>, co-regent with his father Esarhaddon, had carried off the last remnant of the people of Samaria, and peopled it with an alien race (Smith's <span class= "ital">Assurbanipal, </span>p. 363). This completed the work which had been begun by Salmaneser and Sargon (<a href="/2_kings/17-6.htm" title="In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.">2Kings 17:6</a>). Ephraim then was no more a people. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For the head of Syria is Damascus,</span> etc. Syria and Ephraim have merely human heads - the one Rezin, the other (ver. 9) Pekah; but Judah, it is implied, has a Divine Head, even Jehovah. How, then, should mere mortals think to oppose their will and their designs to God's? <span class="accented">Of course</span>, their designs must come to naught. <span class="cmt_word">Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken</span>, etc. If this prophecy was delivered, as we have supposed, in <span class="date">B.C. 733</span> (see note on ver. 1), sixty-five years later would bring us to <span class="date">B.C. 669</span>. This was the year in which Esar-haddon, having made his son, Asshur-bani-pal, King of Assyria, transferred his own residence to Babylon, and probably the year in which he sent from Babylonia and the adjacent countries a number of colonists who occupied Samaria, and entirely destroyed the nationality, which, fifty-three years earlier, had received a rude blow from Sargon (comp. <a href="/ezra/4-2.htm">Ezra 4:2, 9, 10</a>, with <a href="/2_kings/17-6.htm">2 Kings 17:6-24</a> and <a href="/2_chronicles/33-11.htm">2 Chronicles 33:11</a>). It is questioned whether, under the circumstances, the prophet can have comforted Ahaz with this distant prospect, and suggested that in the present chapter prophecies pronounced at widely distant periods have been mixed up (Cheyne); but there is no such appearance of dislocation in <a href="/isaiah/7.htm">Isaiah 7</a>, in its present form, as necessitates any such theory; and, while it may be granted that the comfort of the promise given in ver. 8 would be slight, it cannot be said that it would be <span class="accented">nil</span>; it may, therefore, have been (as it seems to us) without impropriety added to the main promise, which is that of ver. 7. The entire clause, from "and within" to "not a people," must be regarded as parenthetic. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/7-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the head</span><br /><span class="heb">רֹ֤אשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Aram</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_758.htm">Strong's 758: </a> </span><span class="str2">Aram -- Syria</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is Damascus,</span><br /><span class="heb">דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק</span> <span class="translit">(dam·me·śeq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1834.htm">Strong's 1834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Damascus -- a city in Aram (Syria)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] the head</span><br /><span class="heb">וְרֹ֥אשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Damascus</span><br /><span class="heb">דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק</span> <span class="translit">(dam·me·śeq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1834.htm">Strong's 1834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Damascus -- a city in Aram (Syria)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is Rezin.</span><br /><span class="heb">רְצִ֑ין</span> <span class="translit">(rə·ṣîn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7526.htm">Strong's 7526: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rezin -- a king of Aram (Syria), also an Israelite</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Within</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְע֗וֹד</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·‘ō·wḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1157.htm">Strong's 1157: </a> </span><span class="str2">In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sixty-five</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁשִּׁ֤ים</span> <span class="translit">(šiš·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8346.htm">Strong's 8346: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sixty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">years</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁנָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(šā·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> </span><span class="str2">A year</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Ephraim</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(’ep̄·ra·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_669.htm">Strong's 669: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be too shattered</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵחַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2844.htm">Strong's 2844: </a> </span><span class="str2">Crushed, afraid, terror</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to be a people.</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/7-8.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 7:8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/7-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 7:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 7:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 7:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 7:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>