Isaiah 62:8-9
The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God's solemn oath isn't just about protection, but about ensuring that the hard-won fruits of labor will actually be enjoyed by those who toiled for them, a poignant contrast to their past experiences of constant plunder. This isn't just a promise of physical security, but of restored dignity and the right to enjoy one's own hard-earned blessings.
The LORD is making a solemn promise, swearing by His own power, that His people will finally experience security and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This declaration directly contrasts their past suffering, where enemies would plunder their harvests and drink their wine, with the future peace and prosperity God intends for them. The context is one of restoration and divine protection following periods of invasion and oppression.
When God makes a promise, He doesn't just say it; He stakes His very being on it. How does He do that here?
In Isaiah 62:8, the Lord uses an oath, a solemn declaration, to underscore the certainty of His promises. But He doesn't swear by something external. He swears 'by his right hand and by his arm of strength.'
Imagine working tirelessly, only to have strangers steal your harvest and drink your wine. God promises an end to this violation.
The core of God's oath in this verse is a promise of security and peace for His people. It directly contrasts their past suffering with a future of undisturbed possession.
Understand the original words
nišbaʿ · Hebrew Verb
A solemn declaration made by God, using His own nature or power as the guarantee of the truth and immutability of His word. It signifies the absolute certainty of His fulfillment of a promise.
zĕrôaʿ ʿuzzô · Hebrew Noun phrase
A biblical idiom for divine intervention and the demonstration of sovereign power. It represents the strength with which God acts to deliver, defend, or judge on behalf of His people.
miqdāš · Hebrew Noun
A holy place or building dedicated to the worship of God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the tabernacle or temple where God's presence dwelt among His people and where sacrifices were offered.
This promise of security and undisturbed enjoyment of their labor is a powerful counterpoint to the repeated historical experiences of invasion and plunder that plagued Israel and Judah, especially in the post-exilic period.
c. 760 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah, delivering messages of judgment and hope during a period of both prosperity and underlying spiritual decay, and facing threats from surrounding nations.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling its inhabitants. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the surrounding lands are devastated, highlighting Judah's vulnerability.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population. This marks a period of profound loss and national devastation.
This passage describes the curse of conquest and loss of produce, directly contrasting with the promise in Isaiah 62:8 that such devastation will no longer happen.
Judges 6:4This verse illustrates the historical reality of Israelite crops being taken by enemies, highlighting the severity of the oppression that God is promising to end in Isaiah 62:8.
Jeremiah 31:12This prophecy speaks of future joy and abundance for restored Israel, mirroring the theme of enjoying the fruits of one's labor without fear of enemies, as promised in Isaiah 62:8.
Zechariah 9:17This passage describes the future prosperity and gladness of God's people, where their grain and new wine will bring joy, directly echoing the promise of enjoying one's labor in Isaiah 62:8.
Nehemiah 5:17This verse shows the burden of labor for daily needs, demonstrating the kind of struggle and hardship that the promise in Isaiah 62:8 seeks to alleviate for God's people.
barnesIsaiah 62:8: "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:"
The Lord hath sworn by his right hand - An oath was taken in various forms among the ancients. It was usually done by lifting up the hand toward beaten and appealing to God. As God could swear by no greater Hebrews 6:13 , he is represented as swearing by him…
pulpitIsaiah 62:8: "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:"
Verse 8. - The Lord hath sworn. In answer to the representations of the "remembrancers," God solemnly binds himself by an oath to come to the relief of the people, to restore them to their own land, and to give them the enjoyment of its fruits in peace. By h…
God's solemn oath isn't just about protection, but about ensuring that the hard-won fruits of labor will actually be enjoyed by those who toiled for them, a poignant contrast to their past experiences of constant plunder. This isn't just a promise of physical security, but of restored dignity and the right to enjoy one's own hard-earned blessings.
The LORD is making a solemn promise, swearing by His own power, that His people will finally experience security and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This declaration directly contrasts their past suffering, where enemies would plunder their harvests and drink their wine, with the future peace and prosperity God intends for them. The context is one of restoration and divine protection following periods of invasion and oppression.
The LORD is making a solemn promise, swearing by His own power, that His people will finally experience security and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This declaration directly contrasts their past suffering, where enemies would plunder their harvests and drink their wine, with the future peace and prosperity God intends for them. The context is one of restoration and divine protection following periods of invasion and oppression.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 62:8-9 is available in the Sola app.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and issues an edict allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people, under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
Post-Exilic Period (c. 5th-4th Century BC)— this verse
Continued Vulnerability After Exile
Even after returning and rebuilding, the returned Jewish community in Judah faced ongoing threats and depredations from neighboring peoples, impacting their agriculture and prosperity.
"The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who g…" — God's solemn oath isn't just about protection, but about ensuring that the hard-won fruits of labor will actually be enjoyed by those who toiled for them, a poignant contrast to their past experien…
