Isaiah 10:30-32
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Isaiah masterfully uses a powerful wordplay here, describing Anathoth as "poor" while the original Hebrew word for "poor" sounds remarkably similar to the word for "answer." This suggests a dual meaning: Anathoth is not only suffering affliction, but its cries and laments will echo and "answer" back in the surrounding desolate hills, emphasizing the widespread devastation.
Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth! Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian army is marching relentlessly south toward Jerusalem, having already conquered several towns and instilled widespread fear. The prophet Isaiah vividly depicts this invasion by personifying the towns in the path of destruction, calling them to cry out in alarm as the enemy approaches. This dramatic scene sets the stage for God's ultimate judgment on the oppressor and deliverance for His people.
Why does the prophet call out to specific, seemingly obscure towns like Gallim, Laishah, and Anathoth?
This verse isn't just a poetic flourish; it's a strategic literary device. Isaiah personifies these locations, urging them to cry out in alarm. This paints a vivid picture of the Assyrian army's relentless advance, moving from town to town, leaving a trail of terror.
A Cascade of Fear
This creates a chain reaction of fear, showing how the enemy's approach would ripple through the land, affecting even seemingly small or distant communities.
The Hebrew wordplay here is fascinating. How does sound and the meaning of names add depth to this warning?
Isaiah masterfully uses sound and wordplay to enhance the impact of his prophecy. The Hebrew word associated with Anathoth has roots related to 'answering' or 'echoing.' This is significant because it suggests that the cries of distress would reverberate through the very landscape.
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An Echo of Despair
This isn't just about hearing a warning; it's about the sounds of fear themselves becoming a tangible presence, echoing the destruction that was coming.
Understand the original words
'aniyah · Hebrew Adjective
A term used to describe a state of helplessness, affliction, or humble circumstances, often associated with those who rely solely on God for deliverance.
bat Tsiyon · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent the people of God, the city of Jerusalem, or the covenant community. It evokes a sense of intimacy, vulnerability, and special relationship between God and His people.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
A designation for Jerusalem, signifying it as the site of the temple and the symbolic center of God's presence and kingdom on earth. It is frequently associated with divine protection, holiness, and the throne of David.
This prophecy vividly depicts the terror and chaos of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah. The specific mention of towns like Anathoth and Gallim grounds the prophecy in a real, terrifying moment for the people, emphasizing the immediate threat and the wide reach of the Assyrian advance before God's intervention.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, marking a significant shift in regional power and a prelude to further Assyrian expansion.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem, but ultimately fails to capture the capital. This event directly sets the stage for Isaiah's prophecy of judgment and deliverance.
c. 701 BC
Destruction of Sennacherib's Army
According to biblical accounts, a divine intervention leads to the swift and catastrophic destruction of Sennacherib's army outside Jerusalem, resulting in his withdrawal.
This passage introduces Jeremiah, who was from Anathoth, highlighting the prophet's connection to the very town mentioned in Isaiah as facing distress.
1 Samuel 25:44This verse mentions Gallim as the hometown of Phalti, providing a historical link to one of the towns called to cry out in alarm.
Judges 18:29This passage describes the conquest of Laish by the Danites, identifying it as a northern city and illustrating the wide reach of the Assyrian threat described by Isaiah.
Isaiah 37:22This verse offers a contrasting message of God's power against the Assyrian threat, showing that while Isaiah depicts fear and distress, God's ultimate plan is deliverance.
barnesIsaiah 10:30: "Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth."
Lift up thy voice - That is, cry aloud from alarm and terror. The prophet here changes the manner of describing the advance of Sennacherib. He had described his rapid march from place to place Isaiah 10:28-29 , and the consternation at Ramah and Gibeah; he now changes the mode of description, and calls on Gallim to lift up her voice of alarm at the approach of the army, so that it might re…
pulpitIsaiah 10:30: "Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth."
Verse 30. - Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim. Gallim and Laish must have been villages between Geba and Jerusalem; but it is impossible to fix their site. Anathoth (now Aaata) obtains mention in Joshua as a city of refuge in the territory of Benjamin (Joshua 21:18). It was Jeremiah's birthplace (Jeremiah 1:1). Gallim was the birthplace of the man who became the second husband of Mic…
Isaiah masterfully uses a powerful wordplay here, describing Anathoth as "poor" while the original Hebrew word for "poor" sounds remarkably similar to the word for "answer." This suggests a dual meaning: Anathoth is not only suffering affliction, but its cries and laments will echo and "answer" back in the surrounding desolate hills, emphasizing the widespread devastation.
The Assyrian army is marching relentlessly south toward Jerusalem, having already conquered several towns and instilled widespread fear. The prophet Isaiah vividly depicts this invasion by personifying the towns in the path of destruction, calling them to cry out in alarm as the enemy approaches. This dramatic scene sets the stage for God's ultimate judgment on the oppressor and deliverance for His people.
The Assyrian army is marching relentlessly south toward Jerusalem, having already conquered several towns and instilled widespread fear. The prophet Isaiah vividly depicts this invasion by personifying the towns in the path of destruction, calling them to cry out in alarm as the enemy approaches. This dramatic scene sets the stage for God's ultimate judgment on the oppressor and deliverance for His people.
"Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth! Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist…" — Isaiah masterfully uses a powerful wordplay here, describing Anathoth as "poor" while the original Hebrew word for "poor" sounds remarkably similar to the word for "answer." This suggests a dual mean…
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Last reviewed October 2026
