The Sign of Immanuel

Isaiah 7

When the kings of Aram and Israel march against Jerusalem to overthrow King Ahaz, Isaiah meets Ahaz and assures him their plot will fail, urging him to ask the Lord for a sign, which Ahaz refuses. The Lord gives the sign anyway, that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son called Immanuel, and before the child is grown the two threatening kings' lands will be forsaken, though Assyria will later bring unprecedented distress upon Judah itself.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIN the days of Achaz the son of Joatham, the son of Ozias king of Judah, Rasin king of Aram and Phakee, son of Romelias, king of Israel, came up against Jerusalem to war against it, but could not lay close siege to it.

BrentonAnd it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joatham, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, there came up Rasin king of Aram, and Phakee son of Romelias, king of Israel, against Jerusalem to war against it, but they could not take it.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἄχαζ τοῦ Ἰωάθαμ τοῦ υἱοῦ Ὀζίου βασιλέως Ἰούδα, ἀνέβη Ῥασὶν βασιλεὺς Ἀραμ, καὶ Φακεὲ υἱὸς Ῥομελίου βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ πολεμῆσαι αὐτὴν, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν πολιορκῆσαι αὐτήν.

KJVAnd it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

JPSAnd it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it; but could not prevail against it.

ThomsonWhen the house of David was informed that Aram had confederated with Ephraim, the heart of the king and the heart of his people was moved, as a tree in the forest is shaken by the wind.

BrentonAnd a message was brought to the house of David, saying, Aram has conspired with Ephraim. And his soul was amazed, and the soul of his people, as in a wood a tree is moved by the wind.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνηγγέλη εἰς τὸν οἶκον Δαυὶδ, λέγων, συνεφώνησεν Ἀρὰμ πρὸς τὸν Ἐφραίμ· καὶ ἐξέστη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὃν τρόπον ἐν δρυμῷ ξύλον ὑπὸ πνεύματος σαλευθῇ·

KJVAnd it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

JPSAnd it was told the house of David, saying: ‘Aram is confederate with Ephraim.’ And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.

ThomsonWhereupon the Lord said to Esaias, Go out and meet Achaz, thou and Forsaken-jasub thy son, at the pool on the upper road to the fuller’s field,

BrentonAnd the Lord said to Esaias, Go forth to meet Achaz, thou, and thy son Jasub who is left, to the pool of the upper way of the fuller's field.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Ἡσαΐαν, ἔξελθε εἰς συνάντησιν Ἄχαζ σὺ, καὶ ὁ καταλειφθεὶς Ἰασοὺβ ὁ υἱός σου, πρὸς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τῆς ἄνω ὁδοῦ ἀγροῦ τοῦ κναφέως.

KJVThen said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field;

JPSThen said the LORD unto Isaiah: ‘Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers’field;

Thomsonand thou shalt say to him, Take heed and be quiet; be not terrified, nor let thy soul be dismayed on the account of these two smoking firebrands: for when My fierce wrath is come I will again heal.

BrentonAnd thou shalt say to him, Take care to be quiet, and fear not, neither let thy soul be disheartened because of these two smoking firebrands: for when my fierce anger is over, I will heal again.

GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτῷ, φύλαξαι τοῦ ἡσυχάσαι, καὶ μὴ φοβοῦ, μηδὲ ἡ ψυχή σου ἀσθενείτω ἀπὸ τῶν δύο ξύλων τῶν δαλῶν τῶν καπνιζομένων τούτων· ὅταν γὰρ ὀργὴ τοῦ θυμοῦ μου γένηται, πάλιν ἰάσομαι.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSand say unto him: Keep calm, 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 Aram, and of the son of Remaliah.

ThomsonAnd as for the son of Aram and the son of Romelias; because they have taken evil counsel, saying,

BrentonAnd as for the son of Aram, and the son of Romelias, forasmuch as they have devised an evil counsel, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀρὰμ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Ῥομελίου, ὅτι ἐβουλεύσαντο βουλὴν πονηράν·

KJVBecause Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

JPSBecause Aram hath counselled evil against thee, Ephraim also, and the son of Remaliah, saying:

ThomsonLet us go up to Judea and confer with the people and bring them into our measures; and let us make the son of Tabeel king over it,

BrentonWe will go up against Judea, and having conferred with them we will turn them away to our side, and we will make the son of Tabeel king of it;

GreekἈναβησόμεθα εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν, καὶ συλλαλήσαντες αὐτοῖς, ἀποστρέψομεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ βασιλεύσομεν αὐτῆς τὸν υἱὸν Ταβεήλ·

KJVLet us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

JPSLet us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;

Thomsonthus saith the Lord of Hosts. This counsel shall not stand; nor shall it take effect.

Brentonthus saith the Lord of hosts, This counsel shall not abide, nor come to pass.

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος σαβαὼθ, οὐ μὴ μείνῃ ἡ βουλὴ αὕτη, οὐδὲ ἔσται,

KJVThus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

JPSthus saith the Lord GOD: It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

ThomsonBut the head of Aram shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rasin—but further, in threescore and five years, the kingdom of Ephraim shall cease from being a people,

BrentonBut 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 being a people.

Greekἀλλʼ ἡ κεφαλὴ Ἀρὰμ, Δαμασκὸς, καὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ Δαμασκοῦ, Ῥασίμ· ἀλλʼ ἔτι ἐξήκοντα καὶ πέντε ἐτῶν ἐκλείψει ἡ βασιλεία Ἐφραίμ ἀπὸ λαοῦ,

KJVFor the head of Syria 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.

JPSFor 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;

Thomsonthough Somoron is the head of Ephraim, and the son of Romelias, the head of Somoron, yes though you may not believe nor understand.

BrentonAnd the head of Ephraim is Somoron, and the head of Somoron the son of Romelias: but if ye believe not, neither will ye at all understand.

Greekκαὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ Ἐφραὶμ Σομόρων, καὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ Σομορων, υἱὸς τοῦ Ῥομελίου, καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πιστεύσητε, οὐδὲ μὴ συνῆτε.

KJVAnd the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

JPSAnd the head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not have faith, surely ye shall not be established.’

ThomsonMoreover the Lord proceeded to speak to Achaz saying:

BrentonAnd the Lord again spoke to Achaz, saying,

GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο Κύριος λαλῆσαι τῷ Ἄχαζ, λέγων,

KJVMoreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke again unto Ahaz, saying:

ThomsonAsk thee a sign from the Lord thy God in the depth or in the height.

BrentonAsk for thyself a sign of the Lord thy God, in the depth or in the height.

Greekαἴτησαι σεαυτῷ σημεῖον παρὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ σου εἰς βάθος, ἢ εἰς ὕψος.

KJVAsk thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

JPS’Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God: ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.’

ThomsonAnd Achaz said: I will not ask, nor will I try the Lord.

BrentonAnd Achaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἄχαζ, οὐ μὴ αἰτήσω, οὐδὲ μὴ πειράσω Κύριον.

KJVBut Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

JPSBut Ahaz said: ‘I will not ask, neither will I try the LORD.’

ThomsonThereupon He said, Hear now, O house of David, Is it a small matter for you to contend with men? How is it then that you contend with the Lord?

BrentonAnd he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a little thing for you to contend with men? and how do ye contend against the Lord?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἀκούσατε δὴ οἶκος Δαυίδ· μὴ μικρὸν ὑμῖν ἀγῶνα παρέχειν ἀνθρώποις, καὶ πῶς Κυρίῳ παρέχετε ἀγῶνα;

KJVAnd he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

JPSAnd he said: ‘Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?

ThomsonTherefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel [God-with-us].

BrentonTherefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel.

GreekΔιατοῦτο δώσει Κύριος αὐτὸς ὑμῖν σημεῖον· ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ λήψεται, καὶ τέξεται υἱὸν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ.

KJVTherefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

JPSTherefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

ThomsonDoth this child,* before it hath known to choose good in preference to evil, eat butter and honey,

BrentonButter and honey shall he eat, before he knows either to prefer evil, or choose the good.

GreekΒούτυρον καὶ μέλι φάγεται πρινὴ γνῶναι αὐτὸν ἢ προελέσθαι πονηρὰ, ἐκλέξασθαι τὸ ἀγαθόν·

KJVButter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

JPSCurd and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Thomsonbecause previous to its knowing good or evil it disobeyeth evil to make choice of good? The land indeed which thou fearest on account of these two kings shall be relinquished;

BrentonFor before the child shall know good or evil, he refuses evil, to choose the good; and the land shall be forsaken which thou art afraid of because of the two kings.

GreekΔιότι πρινὴ γνῶναι τὸ παιδίον ἀγαθὸν ἢ κακὸν, ἀπειθεῖ πονηρίᾳ, ἐκλέξασθαι τὸ ἀγαθόν· καὶ καταλειφθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἣν σὺ φοβῇ, ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν δύο βασιλέων.

KJVFor before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

JPSYea, before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou hast a horror of shall be forsaken.

Thomsonbut God will bring upon thee, and upon thy people and upon the house of thy father, days which have not yet come. From the day He hath taken Ephraim from Juda, [He will bring forth] the king of the Assyrians.

BrentonBut God shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon the house of thy father, days which have never come, from the day that Ephraim took away from Juda the king of the Assyrians.

GreekἈλλὰ ἐπάξει ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν σου καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός σου ἡμέρας, αἳ οὔπω ἥκασιν ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἀφεῖλεν Ἐφραὶμ ἀπὸ Ἰούδα τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἀσσυρίων.

KJVThe LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

JPSThe LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.’

ThomsonIt shall come to pass that at that time the Lord will utter a call to the flies—to that part of them which rule over the river of Egypt; and to the bee which is in the country of the Assyrians;

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall hiss for the flies, which insect shall rule over a part of the river of Egypt, and for the bee which is in the land of the Assyrians.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ συριεῖ Κύριος μυίαις, ὃ κυριεύσει μέρος ποταμοῦ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ τῇ μελίσσῃ, ἥ ἐστιν ἐν χώρᾳ Ἀσσυρίων·

KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD shall hiss for the fly That is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

Thomsonand they shall all come into the valleys of this country; and into the holes of the rocks; and into the caves and into every cleft.

BrentonAnd they all shall enter into the clefts of the land, and into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves, and into every ravine.

GreekΚαὶ ἐλεύσονται πάντες ἐν ταῖς φάραγξι τῆς χώρας, καὶ ἐν ταῖς τρώγλαις τῶν πετρῶν, καὶ εἰς τὰ σπήλαια, καὶ εἰς πᾶσαν ῥαγάδα.

KJVAnd they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

JPSAnd they shall come, and shall rest all of them In the rugged valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, And upon all thorns, and upon all brambles.

ThomsonOn that day the Lord will shave with that razor—with that which was hired on the bank of the river—with that of the king of the Assyrians, the head and the hair of the feet: and take off the beard.

BrentonIn that day the Lord shall shave with the hired razor of the king of Assyria beyond the river the head, and the hairs of the feet, and will remove the beard.

GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ξυρήσει Κύριος ἐν τῷ ξυρῷ τῷ μεμισθωμένῳ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὰς τρίχας τῶν ποδῶν, καὶ τὸν πώγωνα ἀφελεῖ.

KJVIn the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

JPSIn that day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also sweep away the beard.

ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that a man will keep a young cow and two sheep;

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall rear a heifer, and two sheep.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ θρέψει ἄνθρωπος δάμαλιν βοῶν, καὶ δύο πρόβατα·

KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall rear a young cow, and two sheep;

Thomsonand by reason of the abundance he will drink milk—butter and honey will be eaten by everyone left in the land.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass from their drinking an abundance of milk, that every one that is left on the land shall eat butter and honey.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἀπὸ τοῦ πλεῖστον πιεῖν γάλα, βούτυρον καὶ μέλι φάγεται πᾶς ὁ καταλειφθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

JPSand it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat curd; for curd and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.

ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass in that day everywhere, though there may be a thousand vineyards, each valued at a thousand shekels income: they shall be for briars and thorns.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, for every place where there shall be a thousand vines at a thousand shekels, they shall become barren land and thorns.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, πᾶς τόπος οὗ ἐὰν ὦσι χίλιαι ἄμπελοι χιλίων σίκλων, εἰς χέρσον ἔσονται, καὶ εἰς ἄκανθαν.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall even be for briers and thorns.

ThomsonWith bows and arrows men will resort thither. Because the whole country shall be a waste of briars and thorns,

BrentonMen shall enter thither with arrow and bow; for all the land shall be barren ground and thorns.

GreekΜετὰ βέλους καὶ τοξεύματος εἰσελεύσονται ἐκεῖ· ὅτι χέρσος καὶ ἄκανθα ἔσται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ,

KJVWith arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

JPSWith arrows and with bow shall one come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd every mountain shall be certainly ploughed: there shall no fear come thither: for there shall be from among the barren ground and thorns that whereon cattle shall feed and oxen shall tread.

Greekκαὶ πᾶν ὄρος ἠροτριωμένον ἀροτριωθήσεται· οὐ μὴ ἐπέλθῃ ἐκεῖ φόβος· ἔσται γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς χέρσου καὶ ἀκάνθης εἰς βόσκημα προβάτου, καὶ καταπάτημα βοός.

KJVAnd on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

JPSAnd all the hills that were digged with the mattock, thou shalt not come thither for fear of briers and thorns, but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.