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Isaiah 17:11

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 17:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In 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.
Isaiah 17:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
14At eventide, behold, terror; [and] before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In the day shall thou make thy plant to grow, &c.] Not that it is in the power of man to make it grow; but the sense is, that all means and methods should be used to make it grow, no cost nor pains should be spared: and in the morning shall thou make thy seed to flourish; which may denote both diligence in the early care of it, and seeming promising success; and yet all should be in vain, and to no purpose: [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day of grief; or “of inheritance”; when it was about to be possessed and enjoyed, according to expectation, it shall be all thrown together in a heap, and be spoiled by the enemy: or, “the harvest” shall be “removed in the day of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the day . . . thy plant--rather, "In the day of thy planting" [HORSLEY]. shalt . . . make . . . grow--MAURER translates, "Thou didst fence it," namely, the pleasure-ground. The parallel clause, "Make . . . flourish," favors English Version. As soon as thou plantest, it grows. in the morning--that is, immediately after; so in Psa 90:14, the Hebrew, "in the morning," is translated "early." but . . . shall be a heap--rather, "but (promising as was the prospect) the harvest is gone" [HORSLEY]. in . . . day of grief--rather, "in the day of (expected) possession" [MAURER]. "In the day of inundation" [HORSLEY]. of desperate sorrow--rather, "And the sorrow shall be desperate or irremediable." In…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the day ... - Thou shalt cultivate it assiduously and constantly. Thou shalt be at special pains that it may be watered and pruned, in order that it may produce abundantly. And in the morning - With early care and attention - denoting the pains that would be bestowed on the young plant. The harvest shall be a heap - The margin reads this, ‘the harvest shall be removed in the day of inheritance, rendering it as if the word נד nêd usually meaning a heap, were derived from נוד nûd, to shake, move, wander; or, as if it were to be removed. Probably the translation in the text is correct; and the sense is, ‘When from the plant which was so beautiful and valuable, and which you cherished with…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“In the day - Thou shalt from day to day, beginning early in the morning, use all diligence that what thou hast planted may thrive. But - When this grievous calamity shall come, all your harvest shall be but one heap. Isaiah 17:12”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the harvest: Isa 18:5, Isa 18:6; Job 4:8; Jer 5:31; Hos 8:7, Hos 9:1-4, Hos 9:16, Hos 10:12-15; Joe 1:5-12; Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8 a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow: or, removed in the day of inheritance, and there shall be deadly sorrow. Isa 65:13, Isa 65:14; Mat 8:11, Mat 8:12; Rom 2:5, Rom 2:8, Rom 2:9 Isaiah 17:12”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification