Isaiah 5:25
Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them, and the mountains quaked; and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that the earthquake and devastation, while severe, were not the culmination of God's judgment but rather a mere prelude. The repetition of "his hand is stretched out still" underscores God's ongoing displeasure and the certainty of further, perhaps even greater, retribution if the people do not repent.
Following a series of woes and a description of Israel's deep sinfulness, God declares that because they've rejected His law and word, His anger is kindled. This divine wrath has already manifested in devastating judgments, including earthquakes and widespread death, leaving corpses as refuse in the streets. Yet, despite these severe punishments, God's hand remains extended in judgment, indicating that worse is yet to come.
The earth quakes, mountains tremble, and the dead lie like refuse in the streets. What catastrophic event could cause such devastation and leave God's anger unappeased?
Isaiah 5:25 paints a vivid and terrifying picture of God's judgment. The shaking mountains and trembling hills aren't just poetic imagery; they likely allude to real, devastating earthquakes, like the one recorded in the days of King Uzziah, which would have been fresh in the people's minds.
But it's not just the earth that's shaken. The verse speaks of 'carcasses... as refuse in the midst of the streets.' This speaks of a population decimated by plague, war, or famine, their dead left unburied and dishonored. It’s a stark image of a society collapsing under the weight of divine wrath.
This judgment is a direct consequence of their sin, described in the preceding verses – their greed, injustice, idolatry, and rejection of God's law. God's anger is 'kindled,' a powerful expression of his deep displeasure with their rebellion.
Even after such destruction, the verse insists that God's anger is not appeased and his hand is still active. What does this relentless divine action reveal about God and about His people?
The most chilling part of Isaiah 5:25 is the concluding phrase: 'For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.' This isn't a one-time event; it's a state of ongoing judgment.
This reveals several critical truths:
Understand the original words
'ap · Hebrew Noun
The righteous indignation of God against sin and rebellion. It is a holy response to the violation of His covenant and character, manifesting in judgment.
This passage reflects the deep historical context of Judah's unfaithfulness and the encroaching judgment of God, likely referencing the aftermath of the great earthquake in the days of Uzziah and the escalating threats from powerful empires like Assyria.
c. 760 BC
Earthquake in Judah
A significant earthquake struck Judah, a sign that would have been fresh in the minds of Isaiah's audience. It is mentioned in Amos 1:1 and Zechariah 14:5.
Mid-8th Century BC— this verse
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah, likely during the reign of King Uzziah, delivering messages of judgment and hope.
734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria wage war against Judah, which Isaiah had prophesied against.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its people and marking a significant judgment for the covenant people.
This passage vividly describes a similar scene of divine judgment where the land itself trembles and is laid waste due to God's anger, mirroring Isaiah's depiction of quaking mountains and the land's desolation.
Amos 1:1The mention of earthquakes and mountains trembling in Isaiah connects directly with Amos's prophecy, which also begins by referencing an earthquake as a sign of God's judgment, potentially placing these events in a similar historical context.
Leviticus 26:14-16This passage from Leviticus outlines the consequences of disobedience to God's law, including His anger and punishment, which directly informs the reason for the judgment described in Isaiah 5:25.
Isaiah 9:12-17This section of Isaiah uses the same refrain, 'For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still,' underscoring a pattern of persistent divine judgment against unrepentant sin.
Zechariah 14:5Similar to Isaiah, Zechariah also speaks of mountains trembling, specifically in the context of God's future judgment and the establishment of His kingdom, providing a prophetic echo of the imagery used here.
clarkeIsaiah 5:25: "Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
The hills did tremble "And the mountains trembled" - Probably referring to the great earthquakes in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, in or not long before the time of the prophet hi…
barnesIsaiah 5:25: "Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled - The Lord is "enraged," or is angry. Similar expressions often occur; Numbers 11:33 ; 2 Kings 23:26 ; Deuteronomy 11:17 ; Psalm 56:1-13 :4…
The verse emphasizes that the earthquake and devastation, while severe, were not the culmination of God's judgment but rather a mere prelude. The repetition of "his hand is stretched out still" underscores God's ongoing displeasure and the certainty of further, perhaps even greater, retribution if the people do not repent.
Following a series of woes and a description of Israel's deep sinfulness, God declares that because they've rejected His law and word, His anger is kindled. This divine wrath has already manifested in devastating judgments, including earthquakes and widespread death, leaving corpses as refuse in the streets. Yet, despite these severe punishments, God's hand remains extended in judgment, indicating that worse is yet to come.
Following a series of woes and a description of Israel's deep sinfulness, God declares that because they've rejected His law and word, His anger is kindled. This divine wrath has already manifested in devastating judgments, including earthquakes and widespread death, leaving corpses as refuse in the streets. Yet, despite these severe punishments, God's hand remains extended in judgment, indicating that worse is yet to come.
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It underscores that judgment is not always a swift, completed act but can be a prolonged process when sin remains unaddressed.
701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, besieging Jerusalem. This event serves as a backdrop for much of Isaiah's prophecy.
"Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them, and the mountains quaked; and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets.…" — The verse emphasizes that the earthquake and devastation, while severe, were not the culmination of God's judgment but rather a mere prelude. The repetition of "his hand is stretched out still" under…
