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Isaiah 17 · the made things fall
A seraph carries the coal on tongs to Isaiah’s lips, while the Lord sits enthroned above the Temple. Woodcut headed “Isaiae VI”. · Hans Holbein the Younger (design), Veit Rudolf Specklin (cutter), Lyon, 1538 · Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-4511 · CC0
17.7
The Book of Isaiah 17.7 · People will look to their Maker17.7People will look to their Maker
This oracle about Damascus and Ephraim (Isaiah 17) pictures a coming day when the proud are brought low. Here the survivors turn from their own creations to God.
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בַּיּוֹם1
ba-yyôm
In the day
הַהוּא2
ha-hûʾ
thatthe that
הָאָדָם3
hā-ʾādām
the humanthe man
יִשְׁעֶה4
yišʿeh
will gazewill look
עַל־5
ʿal-
toupon
עֹשֵׂהוּ6
ʿōśēhû
his Makerhis doer
, וְעֵינָיו7
wə-ʿênāyw
and his eyes
תִּרְאֶינָה׃8
tirʾênâ
will lookwill see
אֶל־9
ʾel-
towardto
קְדוֹשׁ10
qəḏôš
the Holy Oneholy one of
יִשְׂרָאֵל11
yiśrāʾēl
of Israel
. In that day people will look to their Maker, and their eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.
In that day people will look to their Maker, and their eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.
17.8
The Book of Isaiah 17.8 · They will not look to their altars17.8They will not look to their altars
Still in the oracle against Damascus and Ephraim. The same day brings a turning away from the shrines people built themselves.
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He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands; what his fingers made he will not see, the Asherah poles and the incense altars.
↔ echoes in other books:····
“On that day” marks a turn: after a prophecy against Damascus and northern Israel, people will look to ʿōśēhû, “the one who made him”. The next verse sets it against the things people make. Many commentators think verses 7 and 8 are a later prose addition to Isaiah’s poem, written by someone who wanted the point about idols spelled out.