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Isaiah 51:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 51:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of Jehovah, the rebuke of thy God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of Jehovah, the rebuke of thy God.
Isaiah 51:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 51

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, that hast drunk at the hand of Jehovah the cup of his wrath; thou hast drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.
18There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand among all the sons that she hath brought up.
19These two things are befallen thee, who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; how shall I comfort thee?
20Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of Jehovah, the rebuke of thy God.
21Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but now with wine:
22Thus saith thy Lord Jehovah, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thy hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath; thou shalt no more drink it again:
23and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee, that have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.
← Isaiah 51:19Isaiah 51:21 →
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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
“Thy sons have fainted, &c.] Through want of food, or at the desolation made, and have no spirit in them to appear in the interest of true religion: they lie at the head of all the streets; emaciated by famine, and not able to walk, but drop down in the streets, and there lie panting and pining away; or slain by the enemy; or with the famine, and the sword, as Aben Ezra, and none to bury them; so the dead bodies of the witnesses shall lie in the street of the great city unburied, (<661108>Revelation 11:8,9) as a wild bull in a net; that is slain, being taken; or, if alive, however it flings about and struggles, cannot extricate itself: so it may denote such that survive the calamity, yet held…”
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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
“head of all . . . streets-- (Lam 2:19; Lam 4:1). wild bull--rather, "oryx" [JEROME], or gazelle [GESENIUS], or wild goat [BOCHART]; commonly in the East taken in a net, of a wide sweep, into which the beasts were hunted together. The streets of cities in the East often have gates, which are closed at night; a person wishing to escape would be stopped by them and caught, as a wild animal in a net.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thy sons - Jerusalem is here represented as a mother. Her sons, that is, her inhabitants, had become weak and prostrate everywhere, and were unable to afford consolation. They lie at the head of all the streets - The ‘head’ of the streets is the same which in Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 4:1, is denominated ‘the top of the streets.’ The head or top of the streets denotes, doubtless, the beginning of a way or street; the corner from which other streets diverge. These would be public places, where many would be naturally assembled, and where, in time of a siege, they would be driven together. This is a description of the state produced by famine. Weak, pale, and emaciated, the inhabitants…”
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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
“Fainted - They are so far from being able to comfort thee, that they themselves faint away. They lie - Dead by famine or the sword. As a bull - Those of them who are not slain are struggling for life. Isaiah 51:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“51:20 children have fainted: A sad commentary on Jerusalem’s desolation is provided in Lamentations 1:13, 22; 2:11-12, 19.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sons: Isa 40:30; Jer 14:18; Lam 1:15, Lam 1:19, Lam 2:11, Lam 2:12, Lam 4:2, Lam 5:13 a wild: Isa 8:21; Eze 12:13, Eze 17:20; Rev 16:9-11 full: Isa 51:17, Isa 51:21, Isa 9:19-21; Psa 88:15, Psa 88:16; Lam 3:15, Lam 3:16; Rev 14:10, but, Isa 29:9, Isa 49:26; Eze 39:19 Isaiah 51:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification