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Isaiah 17:13

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 17:13 say?

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

The verse

The 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 17:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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
“The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters, &c.] With great force and noise, and run over the whole land, as the Assyrian army did, until it came to Jerusalem, and there it stopped; (see <230807>Isaiah 8:7,8): but [God] shall rebuke them; as he did the waters of the Red Sea, (<19A609>Psalm 106:9) and as Christ rebuked the winds and sea, and made a calm, (<400826>Matthew 8:26). The word “God” is not in the text, but rightly supplied; for as none but he can rebuke the mighty waters of the sea, so none but he could have destroyed such an army in the manner it was, and wrought such a salvation for his people. The phrase, is expressive both of his wrath and power. And they shall flee…”
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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
“shall . . . shall--rather, "God rebuketh (Psa 9:5) them, and they flee--are chased"; the event is set before the eyes as actually present, not future. chaff of . . . mountains--Threshing floors in the East are in the open air on elevated places, so as to catch the wind which separates the chaff from the wheat (Psa 88:13; Hos 13:3). rolling thing--anything that rolls: stubble.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“God shall rebuke them - The word ‘God’ is not here in the original, but is evidently to be supplied. The word ‘rebuke’ means that he would disarrange their plans, prevent their success, and defeat their purposes. It shows the great power of God, that he can thus by a “rebuke” - a word - arrest mighty nations, and discomfit thom when they are tumultuously hastening onward in the confidence of victory. This discomfiture refers, doubtless, to the overthrow of Sennacherib and his army by the pestilence (2 Kings 19:35; see the notes at Isaiah 37:36). And they shall flee far off - The whole army of Sennacherib was not destroyed, but a part with himself returned to Assyria 2 Kings 19:36. And shall…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:13 God will silence them: The Lord is sovereign over the nations, as he is over the sea (Ps 65:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“but: Isa 10:15, Isa 10:16, Isa 10:33, Isa 10:34, Isa 14:25, Isa 25:4, Isa 25:5, Isa 27:1, Isa 30:30-33, Isa 31:8, Isa 31:9, Isa 33:1-3, Isa 33:9-12; Isa 37:29-38; Psa 9:5, Psa 46:5-11 rebuke: Job 38:11; Mar 4:39-41 shall be: Isa 29:5, Isa 41:15, Isa 41:16; Job 21:18; Psa 1:4, Psa 35:5, Psa 83:13-15; Dan 2:35; Hos 13:3 a rolling thing: or, thistle-down Isaiah 17:14”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification