And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The unexpected twist here is that the "yoke" is broken "because of the anointing." This isn't just about God removing oppression; it points to something deeper – perhaps the "anointing" of a faithful king like David, or ultimately, the Messiah, whose coming and divine purpose make such burdens obsolete.
And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the Assyrian empire, which is portrayed as a rod of God's anger used to punish disobedient nations, including Israel. This passage follows the description of Assyria's aggressive advance, even threatening Jerusalem, and foreshadows its eventual defeat and the liberation of God's people. The verse promises a future day of relief from oppressive foreign powers, hinting at a deliverance that's deeply rooted in God's covenant faithfulness.
Imagine carrying a crushing weight, day in and day out. Isaiah speaks of such a burden, but also its dramatic removal. What was this burden, and why did it finally break?
The Weight of Oppression
The prophet Isaiah is speaking directly to the people of Judah, who are under the oppressive power of the Assyrian empire. The 'burden' and 'yoke' he describes are not just heavy loads, but represent the crushing political and economic demands, the constant threat of invasion, and the humiliation of being dominated by a foreign power. Assyria, a brutal military force, saw itself as God's instrument to punish nations.
A Divine Interruption
But this verse promises a radical shift. 'In that day' signifies a future turning point, a moment of divine intervention. The Assyrian's power over Judah would be broken. This wasn't just a political maneuver; it was God acting on behalf of His people. The imagery of the yoke being removed speaks of ultimate liberation, a restoration of freedom and dignity.
The verse ends with a curious phrase: 'because of the anointing.' What does this mean? Who or what is anointed, and how does it bring about the destruction of the yoke?
The Significance of the Anointing
The most debated part of this verse is the reason for the yoke's destruction: 'because of the anointing.' This 'anointing' has been understood in several ways throughout history.
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Divine Favor and Future Hope
Regardless of the specific interpretation, the 'anointing' signifies divine favor and a divinely appointed reason for deliverance. It speaks to God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate plan to redeem His people, not just from earthly oppressors, but from spiritual bondage.
Understand the original words
'ol · Hebrew Noun
A common biblical metaphor for oppression, servitude, subjection, or the weight of sin and tyranny. To have one's yoke broken signifies liberation from bondage.
shomen · Hebrew Noun
An archaic or figurative term often associated with prosperity, strength, or spiritual abundance, here used to describe the means by which the power of oppression is shattered.
This prophecy speaks of immediate relief from Assyrian oppression, which historically occurred during Sennacherib's failed siege of Jerusalem. However, the mention of 'anointing' hints at a deeper, messianic deliverance from sin and spiritual tyranny, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
The powerful Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-pileser III, conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its people. This event served as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrians. This solidified Assyrian dominance in the region and heightened the threat to Judah.
c. 705-701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian king Sennacherib launched a massive invasion aimed at subduing Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Hezekiah, king of Judah, had rebelled against Assyrian rule.
c. 701 BC
Siege and Miraculous Relief of Jerusalem
Sennacherib's forces besieged Jerusalem, but a sudden catastrophe struck the Assyrian army (traditionally understood as a plague), forcing them to withdraw. Isaiah's prophecy in this chapter foretold this divine intervention.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, having defeated the Assyrians, began deporting Judean elites to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Judah's decline and eventual destruction.
This passage describes God's deliverance from Egyptian bondage with a 'strong hand,' mirroring the burden and yoke being removed in Isaiah 10:27.
Jeremiah 51:20Jeremiah calls the Assyrian 'my battle axe and weapon of war,' aligning with Isaiah's portrayal of the Assyrian as God's instrument of judgment that will eventually be broken.
Matthew 11:29-30Jesus invites people to take His yoke, contrasting it with the heavy, oppressive yokes of the past, which directly parallels the theme of a yoke being removed and replaced.
2 Kings 19:34-36This historical account describes the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army, providing the immediate context for Isaiah's prophecy of the burden and yoke being broken.
Zechariah 4:6The word of the Lord comes to Zerubbabel, stating 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' which echoes the idea that deliverance comes through divine intervention ('the anointing'), not human strength.
wesleyIsaiah 10:27: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
10:27 Burden - The burden of the Assyrian. The anointing - Possibly this may be understood of David, who is often mentioned in scripture by the name of God's anointed; and for whose sake, God gave many deliverances to the succeeding kings and ages, as is expressly affirmed, 1Kings 11:32,34. God…
barnesIsaiah 10:27: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
His burden shall be taken away - The oppressions and exactions of the Assyrian. From off thy shoulder - We bear a burden on the shoulder; and hence, any grievous exaction or oppression is represented as borne upon the shoulder. And his yoke ... - Another image denoting deliverance from oppressi…
The unexpected twist here is that the "yoke" is broken "because of the anointing." This isn't just about God removing oppression; it points to something deeper – perhaps the "anointing" of a faithful king like David, or ultimately, the Messiah, whose coming and divine purpose make such burdens obsolete.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the Assyrian empire, which is portrayed as a rod of God's anger used to punish disobedient nations, including Israel. This passage follows the description of Assyria's aggressive advance, even threatening Jerusalem, and foreshadows its eventual defeat and the liberation of God's people. The verse promises a future day of relief from oppressive foreign powers, hinting at a deliverance that's deeply rooted in God's covenant faithfulness.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the Assyrian empire, which is portrayed as a rod of God's anger used to punish disobedient nations, including Israel. This passage follows the description of Assyria's aggressive advance, even threatening Jerusalem, and foreshadows its eventual defeat and the liberation of God's people. The verse promises a future day of relief from oppressive foreign powers, hinting at a deliverance that's deeply rooted in God's covenant faithfulness.
"And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”" — The unexpected twist here is that the "yoke" is broken "because of the anointing." This isn't just about God removing oppression; it points to something deeper – perhaps the "anointing" of a faithful…
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Last reviewed October 2026