BibleWord.ai› Bible› Isaiah› Chapter 17› Verse 10

Isaiah 17:10

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 17:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.
Isaiah 17:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
8And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.
9In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.
10For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.
11In the day of thy planting thou hedgest it in, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom; but the harvest fleeth away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
12Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!
13The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.
← Isaiah 17:9Isaiah 17:11 →
← Full Chapter 17 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, &c.] Who had been the author of salvation to them many a time, in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in various instances since; and yet they had forgot his works of mercy and goodness, and had left his worship, and gone after idols; and this was the cause of their cities being forsaken, and becoming a desolation: and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; or strong Rock, who had supplied and supported them, protected and defended them: therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants; or “plants of pleasant fruit”f336, or “plants of Naamanim”; and so Aben Ezra takes it to be the proper name of a plant in the Arabic language, and which he…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“forgotten . . . God of . . . salvation . . . rock-- (Deu 32:15, Deu 32:18). plants--rather, "nursery grounds," "pleasure-grounds" [MAURER]. set in--rather, "set them," the pleasure-grounds. strange slips--cuttings of plants from far, and therefore valuable.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Because thou ... - Because the kingdom of Israel or Samaria had done it. The God of thy salvation - The God in whom alone was salvation; or who alone could protect thee (compare Micah 7:7; Hosea 2:15). The rock of thy strength - God. A rock of strength is a strongly fortified place; or a rock which an enemy could not successfully assail. High rocks were selected as a place of refuge from an invading foe (see the notes at Isaiah 1:10, Isaiah 1:21). In allusion to this, God is often called “a Rock,” and a strong tower Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:15, Deuteronomy 32:18, Deuteronomy 32:30-31, Deuteronomy 32:37; 1Sa 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2-3, 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalms 18:31, Psalms 18:46; Psalms…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou - O Israel. The rock - That God who was thy only sure defence. Plants - Excellent flowers and fruit - trees. Strange - Fetched from far countries, and therefore highly esteemed. Isaiah 17:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:10 The Israelites had mixed faith in the Lord with elements of Baal worship. They turned from the Lord, who alone is God and will not be held alongside an idol in people’s hearts. • The term Rock refers to the Lord’s ability to provide refuge (see 26:4; 30:29; Ps 18:2, 46).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou hast: Isa 51:13; Deu 6:12, Deu 8:11, Deu 8:14, Deu 8:19; Psa 9:17, Psa 106:13, Psa 106:21; Jer 2:32, Jer 17:13; Hos 2:13, Hos 2:14, Hos 4:6, Hos 8:14, Hos 13:6, Hos 13:7 the God: Isa 12:2; Ch1 16:35; Psa 65:5, Psa 68:19, Psa 68:20, Psa 79:9, Psa 85:4; Hab 3:18 the rock: Isa 26:4; Deu 32:4, Deu 32:15; Psa 18:2, Psa 31:2 shalt thou: Isa 65:21, Isa 65:22; Lev 26:16, Lev 26:20; Deu 28:30, Deu 28:38-42; Jer 12:13; Amo 5:11; Zep 1:13 Isaiah 17:11”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Isaiah 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification