BibleWord.ai› Bible› Isaiah› Chapter 27› Verse 10

Isaiah 27:10

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 27:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
Isaiah 27:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7Hath he smitten them as he smote those that smote them? or are they slain according to the slaughter of them that were slain by them?
8In measure, when thou sendest them away, thou dost contend with them; he hath removed [them] with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
9Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.
10For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
11When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off; the women shall come, and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have compassion upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.
12And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will beat off [his fruit] from the flood of the River unto the brook of Egypt; and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.
13And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown; and they shall come that were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and they that were outcasts in the land of Egypt; and they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
← Isaiah 27:9Isaiah 27:11 →
← Full Chapter 27 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
“Yet the defenced city [shall be] desolate, &c.] Or “but”, or “notwithstanding”f537; though the Lord deals mercifully with his own people, and mixes mercy with their afflictions, and causes them to issue well, and for their good; yet he does not deal so with others, his and their enemies: for by the “defenced city” is not meant Jerusalem, as many interpret it, so Kimchi; nor Samaria, as Aben Ezra; nor literal Babylon, as others; but mystical Babylon, the city of Rome, and the whole Roman or antichristian jurisdiction, called the “great” and “mighty” city, (<661810>Revelation 18:10) which will be destroyed, become desolate, or “alone”f538, without inhabitants: [and] the habitation forsaken and…”
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
“city--Jerusalem; the beating asunder of whose altars and images was mentioned in Isa 27:9 (compare Isa 24:10-12). calf feed-- (Isa 17:2); it shall be a vast wild pasture. branches--resuming the image of the vine (Isa 27:2, Isa 27:6).”
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
“Yet - Yet before this glorious promise be fulfilled, a dreadful and desolating judgment shall come. The city - Jerusalem and the rest of the defenced cities in the land. The habitation - The most inhabited and populous places. The calf - This is put for all sorts of cattle, which may securely feed there, because there shall be no men left to disturb them. Isaiah 27:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“27:10 Places previously associated with human power and accomplishment would be ruined to the extent that animals would graze in them.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the defenced: Isa 5:9, Isa 5:10, Isa 6:11, Isa 6:12, Isa 17:9, Isa 25:2, Isa 64:10; Jer 26:6, Jer 26:18; Lam 1:4, Lam 2:5-9; Lam 5:18; Eze 36:4; Mic 3:12; Luk 19:43, Luk 19:44, Luk 21:20-24 there shall the: Isa 7:25, Isa 17:2, Isa 32:13, Isa 32:14 Isaiah 27:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The prophet said this from out of the midst of the state of punishment, and was therefore able still further to confirm the fact, that the punishment would cease with the sin, by the punishment which followed the sin. "For the strong city is solitary, a dwelling given up and forsaken like the steppe: there calves feed, and there they lie down, and eat off its branches. When its branches become withered, they are broken: women come, make fires with them; for it is not a people of intelligence: therefore its Creator has no pity upon it, and its Former does not pardon it." The nation without any intelligence ( Isa 1:3), of which Jehovah was the Creator and Former ( Isa 22:11), is Israel; and…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Isaiah 27 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification