But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a divine turning of the tables: God isn't just passively observing; He is actively raising up and stirring the very enemies that Ephraim and Judah had been relying on or fighting against. It highlights God's sovereign hand in orchestrating even the conflicts between nations to bring about His judgment and purposes.
But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for its arrogance and refusal to repent despite previous judgments. God declares He will now bring even more formidable enemies against them, specifically stirring up those who are adversaries to Rezin, the king of Syria, whom Israel had allied with. This escalating divine punishment aims to bring them to their knees, underscoring that their boasts and alliances will fail them.
It sounds almost unbelievable, but Scripture presents God as actively involved in the rise of enemies against His own people. How can a loving God 'stir up' conflict?
This verse lands a powerful punch: 'the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stir up his enemies.' This isn't a passive observation; it's a declaration of divine action. Even when human leaders and nations clash, the prophets consistently point to God's hand at work.
God's Sovereign Purpose
Think of it like a master weaver. The threads might be individual nations or leaders, but the pattern is orchestrated by the divine hand. God uses these conflicts to discipline, to judge, and sometimes to refine His people.
Not Just 'Allowing' It
It's crucial to see that God isn't just allowing these conflicts to happen. The language here—'set up' and 'stir up'—implies direct involvement. This doesn't mean God causes evil or desires suffering, but rather that He sovereignly directs the course of human events, even when they bring hardship, to accomplish His ultimate purposes. He can use the very people or nations that oppose His people to bring about His judgment.
Why would God actively bring enemies against His people? Often, it’s a response to their own hardening hearts and misplaced trust.
Isaiah 9:11 is part of a larger message of judgment against Israel (referred to here as 'him,' meaning Ephraim). The nation had become arrogant and self-sufficient, ignoring God's previous warnings and judgments.
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The Sin of Pride
In verse 10, Isaiah refers to Israel's defiant declaration: 'The bricks have fallen, but we will build with stones; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.' This shows a stubborn pride and a refusal to acknowledge their vulnerability or God's hand in their troubles. They felt secure in their own strength and alliances, ignoring their sin.
God's Response: Cutting Off Security
God's response in verse 11 is to dismantle that false security. He stirs up the very forces they might have overlooked or underestimated. The 'adversaries of Rezin' and 'his enemies' represent powers that would humble their pride and expose their inability to save themselves. This judgment is designed to break their reliance on human strength and turn them back to Him.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name for the God of Israel, YHWH, revealing His self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping nature. It is the name by which He makes Himself known to His people.
tsar · Hebrew Noun
Refers to those who oppose, withstand, or are hostile toward an individual or a nation. In a biblical context, adversaries are often used by God as instruments of discipline or judgment against His people for their disobedience.
c. 738 BC
Assyrian Invasion and Tribute
Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III invades the region, forcing many Israelite towns into exile and demanding tribute from various kingdoms, including Damascus (Syria under Rezin) and Samaria (Israel).
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War Begins
King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel attempt to force King Ahaz of Judah into their anti-Assyrian coalition. Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help.
c. 732 BC— this verse
Assyrians Conquer Damascus
The Assyrian army, responding to Ahaz's appeal, attacks Syria. They conquer Damascus, kill King Rezin, and deport many Syrians. This fulfills part of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Rezin's downfall.
c. 724-722 BC
Samaria Besieged and Falls
Following the events of the Syro-Ephraimite war and the Assyrian conquest of Damascus, the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) faces further Assyrian aggression. Samaria is eventually besieged and falls, leading to the destruction of the northern kingdom.
This passage speaks of the Assyrian coming into the land and the judgment that follows, paralleling the prophecy in Isaiah 9 where foreign adversaries are raised up against Israel.
Jeremiah 46:17This verse describes the defeat of Egypt, calling it a 'noisy ruin' and a 'time appointed,' echoing the sense of divine judgment and the mobilization of enemies prophesied in Isaiah 9:11.
Psalm 83:7This Psalm lists various nations allied against God's people, presenting a similar picture to Isaiah 9:11 where multiple enemies are joined together to bring destruction.
2 Kings 15:29This historical account directly fulfills the prophetic context of Isaiah 9, detailing how Tiglath-pileser of Assyria conquered parts of Israel, thus acting as the adversary raised up by the Lord.
pulpitIsaiah 9:11: "Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;"
Verse 11. - Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him. "Against him" means "against Ephraim," or the kingdom of Israel. "The adversaries of Rezin" could only be the Assyrians; but these seem precluded by the next verse, which mentions only "Syrians" and Philistines." Hence many critics accept the variant reading of several manuscripts sarey for tsarey -…
cambridgeIsaiah 9:11: "Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;"
11 . Therefore the Lord shall set up ] Transl. And ( so ) Jehovah exalted . The adversaries of Rezin must, if the text be correct, denote the Assyrians. But this is not a natural designation (especially if the prophecy was written before the Syro-Ephraimitish coalition); and it is inconsistent with Isaiah 9:12 , unless, indeed, we suppose that there Syrians are referred to as auxi…
This verse reveals a divine turning of the tables: God isn't just passively observing; He is actively raising up and stirring the very enemies that Ephraim and Judah had been relying on or fighting against. It highlights God's sovereign hand in orchestrating even the conflicts between nations to bring about His judgment and purposes.
The prophecy is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for its arrogance and refusal to repent despite previous judgments. God declares He will now bring even more formidable enemies against them, specifically stirring up those who are adversaries to Rezin, the king of Syria, whom Israel had allied with. This escalating divine punishment aims to bring them to their knees, underscoring that their boasts and alliances will fail them.
The prophecy is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for its arrogance and refusal to repent despite previous judgments. God declares He will now bring even more formidable enemies against them, specifically stirring up those who are adversaries to Rezin, the king of Syria, whom Israel had allied with. This escalating divine punishment aims to bring them to their knees, underscoring that their boasts and alliances will fail them.
"But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies." — This verse reveals a divine turning of the tables: God isn't just passively observing; He is actively raising up and stirring the very enemies that Ephraim and Judah had been relying on or fighti…
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Last reviewed October 2026