They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The stark imagery of people consuming their own flesh isn't just a picture of extreme famine, but a profound symbol of societal collapse. It highlights how, in times of utter chaos and self-destruction, people will turn on those closest to them, their own "flesh and blood," because all natural bonds and reason have been broken.
They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is detailing the dire consequences of Israel's persistent sin and rebellion. Following a series of judgments and a grim prophecy of internal strife, this verse paints a picture of a society consumed by chaos. The people refuse to repent or turn back to the Lord, leading to a breakdown of all natural bonds and a self-destructive cycle of violence and insatiable greed.
Have you ever felt like you just couldn't get enough, even when it was clearly bad for you? This verse paints a picture of a nation consumed by a similar, destructive appetite.
Isaiah uses powerful imagery to describe a nation tearing itself apart. The phrases "snatch on the right hand, and be hungry" and "devour on the left hand, and are not satisfied" aren't just about physical hunger. They describe an unquenchable thirst for conflict and destruction. Even when they 'consume' from one side, they are driven to attack the other, finding no rest or fulfillment in their actions.
This insatiable hunger speaks to the nature of civil strife and internal division. It's a cycle that feeds on itself, where every act of aggression only leads to a greater desire for more, leaving no one satisfied or at peace.
What happens when a nation turns inward, attacking itself? This verse uses a shocking metaphor to describe the ultimate self-destruction of internal conflict.
The phrase 'each devours the flesh of his own arm' is incredibly visceral. The 'arm' is a source of strength and capability. To 'devour' it means to destroy one's own power, support, and very being. This isn't just about harming neighbors; it's about a society so broken by internal strife that its members are destroying the very things that sustain them.
Commentators suggest this refers to the closest kin or those who are like 'one's own flesh.' It paints a picture of a society where the bonds of family, community, and even humanity are broken. People are no longer protectors but destroyers of each other, leading to a complete unraveling of the social fabric.
Ask a follow-up
This prophecy describes a state of utter societal breakdown and civil war within the remnants of the northern kingdom of Israel following its partial destruction and deportation by Assyria. The imagery of devouring one's own flesh vividly portrays a people so consumed by internal hatred and desperation that they destroy themselves, a dire warning against continued rebellion and reliance on shifting political alliances.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Expansion and Northern Kingdom Weakness
The Neo-Assyrian Empire is a dominant superpower, exerting increasing pressure on the northern kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah. This era is marked by political instability and frequent conflicts.
c. 733-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
King Rezin of Aram-Damascus (Syria) and King Pekah of Israel attempt to force King Ahaz of Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance. Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help, leading to the invasion of Israel.
732 BC
Fall of Damascus and Assyrian Deportations
Assyrian forces under Tiglath-Pileser III conquer Damascus and deport a significant portion of the population of the northern kingdom of Israel (Galilee and Gilead). This event marks a severe blow to the northern kingdom.
c. 727-722 BC
Final Assyrian Conquest of Israel
Following a period of rebellion and Assyrian campaigns, the northern kingdom of Israel is finally conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The capital, Samaria, falls after a lengthy siege, and the elite are exiled.
c. 720 BC— this verse
Internal Strife and Devastation in Israel
In the aftermath of the Assyrian conquests and deportations, the remnants of the northern kingdom, along with any remaining factions, descend into brutal internal conflict and social collapse. This period of anarchy and self-destruction is depicted by Isaiah's graphic imagery of cannibalism and insatiable violence.
This passage uses almost identical language, describing people eating the flesh of their neighbors, which powerfully illustrates the self-destructive nature of internal conflict hinted at in Isaiah.
Micah 7:6This verse depicts a similar societal breakdown where family relationships are fractured, with sons dishonoring fathers and daughters rising against mothers, underscoring the theme of kinship ties dissolving in times of judgment.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57This section of Deuteronomy prophesies extreme famine and desperation during exile, where people will 'eat the flesh of your children' and their own kin, directly paralleling the horrific self-consumption described in Isaiah.
Galatians 5:15Paul warns about the danger of biting and devouring one another, showing that this theme of internal strife and destruction, where people harm each other, is a recurring problem that the Apostle also addresses.
barnesIsaiah 9:20: "And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:"
And he shall snatch - Hebrew, 'He shall cut off.' Many have supposed that this refers to a state of famine; but others regard it as descriptive of a state of faction extending throughout the whole community, dissolving the most tender ties, arid producing a dissolution of all the bonds of life. The context Isa…
pulpitIsaiah 9:20: "And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:"
Verse 20. - He shall snatch; rather, one shall devour. A man, i.e., shall plunder and ravage in one quarter, and yet not be satisfied; then he shall do the same in another, and still desire more. "Increase of appetite shall grow by what it feeds on." There shall be no sense of satiety anywhere. The flesh of hi…
The stark imagery of people consuming their own flesh isn't just a picture of extreme famine, but a profound symbol of societal collapse. It highlights how, in times of utter chaos and self-destruction, people will turn on those closest to them, their own "flesh and blood," because all natural bonds and reason have been broken.
The prophet Isaiah is detailing the dire consequences of Israel's persistent sin and rebellion. Following a series of judgments and a grim prophecy of internal strife, this verse paints a picture of a society consumed by chaos. The people refuse to repent or turn back to the Lord, leading to a breakdown of all natural bonds and a self-destructive cycle of violence and insatiable greed.
The prophet Isaiah is detailing the dire consequences of Israel's persistent sin and rebellion. Following a series of judgments and a grim prophecy of internal strife, this verse paints a picture of a society consumed by chaos. The people refuse to repent or turn back to the Lord, leading to a breakdown of all natural bonds and a self-destructive cycle of violence and insatiable greed.
"They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm," — The stark imagery of people consuming their own flesh isn't just a picture of extreme famine, but a profound symbol of societal collapse. It highlights how, in times of utter chaos and self-destructi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026