Lexical Summary meshusah: Exultation, rejoicing Original Word: מְשׁוּסָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spoil From an unused root meaning to plunder; spoilation -- spoil. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as meshissah, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs מְשׁוּסָּה Kt.= מְשְׁסָּהsee שׁסס Topical Lexicon Overview The term denotes a people or property handed over as plunder—prey seized and stripped by an enemy. In its lone appearance (Isaiah 42:24) it pictures the devastating outcome of covenant infidelity, highlighting both the righteousness of God’s judgment and the certainty of His sovereign control over the destinies of nations. Canonical Setting: Isaiah 42:24 “Who gave Jacob up to become plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law.” Here the prophet presses a courtroom question: who is ultimately responsible for Israel’s humiliating desolation? The answer—“the LORD”—underscores that no foreign power can touch God’s people apart from His decree. The verse stands within a larger salvation oracle (Isaiah 42:18-25) contrasting Israel’s chosen blindness with the servant’s obedient insight (Isaiah 42:1-9). The image of plunder functions as the climactic proof of Israel’s rebellion: covenant transgression inevitably produces covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:25-29; 2 Chronicles 36:17-19). Historical Background Isaiah prophesies in the eighth century B.C. yet looks forward to the Babylonian invasion (586 B.C.). Jerusalem’s treasures, temple vessels, and populace became spoil in Babylon’s hands (2 Kings 24:13-14; 2 Kings 25:13-17). Isaiah interprets this not as Babylonian triumph but as divine chastening designed to purge and ultimately restore the nation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 48:9-11). Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility God “gave” Jacob to plunder; nevertheless, Israel’s sin is the decisive cause. Scripture consistently holds both truths together (Lamentations 1:14-15; Acts 2:23). • Covenant Discipline Plunder fulfills warnings embedded in Torah. The curse texts of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 list defeat, robbery, and exile as sure outcomes of disobedience. Isaiah 42:24 validates those stipulations, reinforcing the unity of Scripture. • Hope through Judgment Even as plunder signifies judgment, it paradoxically paves the way for redemption. Following the “plunder” denunciation, Isaiah 43:1-3 proclaims, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you.” God’s discipline is purposed, measured, and restorative (Hebrews 12:5-11). Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching – Use Isaiah 42:24 to illustrate the serious consequences of sin while pointing to God’s gracious intent in discipline. – Show the continuity between Old Testament judgment and New Testament warnings (1 Corinthians 11:29-32; 1 Peter 4:17). 2. Pastoral Care – When believers suffer the fruit of disobedience, the passage urges honest confession and renewed obedience rather than attributing blame solely to external forces. – Emphasize that divine chastening aims at restoration, not destruction. 3. Missional Perspective – National calamities can become gospel opportunities. Israel’s exile eventually broadcasted God’s name among the nations (Ezekiel 36:23-24). Contemporary crises likewise invite proclamation of sovereign grace. Related Biblical Motifs Plunder as Judgment: Judges 2:14; Micah 1:6-9. Plunder Reversed: Isaiah 49:24-26; Zechariah 2:8-9. Christ and the Spoiling of Powers: Colossians 2:15—an ultimate inversion where the cross turns apparent defeat into triumph, prefigured by Israel’s experience. Practical Application Personal holiness and corporate fidelity guard against becoming spiritual plunder (Revelation 2:5). Yet, when defeat comes, God’s people may rest in the confidence that the same hand that delivers over also redeems, turning loss into a canvas for greater glory. Forms and Transliterations לִמְשִׁסָּ֧ה למשסה lim·šis·sāh limshisSah limšissāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 42:24 HEB: [לִמְשֹׁוסֶה כ] (לִמְשִׁסָּ֧ה ק) יַעֲקֹ֛ב INT: Who gave spoil Jacob and Israel 1 Occurrence |
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