Lexical Summary tsuth: To incite, to provoke Original Word: צוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burn A primitive root; to blaze -- burn. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as yatsath, q.v. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting and Immediate Context Isaiah 27 forms the climax of Isaiah’s “Little Apocalypse” (Isaiah 24–27), revealing God’s final defeat of evil and His tender care for the redeemed vineyard of Israel. Verse 4 stands at the heart of this oracle: “I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting Me! I would march against them in battle; I would burn them all” (Isaiah 27:4). The single verb translated “burn” conveys a swift, decisive conflagration that removes every hindrance to covenant blessing. The imagery reaches back to Isaiah 5:1-7, where the unfruitful vineyard faced judgment, and forward to the day when God’s people will “take root” and “blossom” (Isaiah 27:6). Usage and Imagery Though the verb occurs only here, its picture is vivid: thorns ignite rapidly, symbolizing how anything opposing God’s purposes is consumed without effort (Judges 9:14-15; Psalm 118:12). The Lord first declares the absence of “fury” toward His vineyard, yet immediately vows to kindle a purging blaze against hostile briars. The contrast underscores the consistency of divine love and holiness—no wrath toward the repentant, but unwavering zeal against persistent rebellion. Theological Themes 1. Divine Zeal and Purity: God’s love is not passive; He actively eradicates that which threatens His people’s fruitfulness (Malachi 3:2-3; John 15:2). Historical and Prophetic Significance Historically, Isaiah spoke amid looming Assyrian aggression. The “thorns” evoke foreign oppressors and internal idolatry. Prophetically, the verse anticipates the eschatological purging of all evil when the Lord “swallows up death forever” (Isaiah 25:8). The singular use of this verb accents the uniqueness of that final, consummate act of deliverance. Practical Ministry Application • Pastoral Assurance: Believers wrestling with sin may rest in God’s declared absence of fury toward those in Christ (Romans 8:1). Typological and Prophetic Connections • Exodus 3:2 – The unconsumed bush foreshadows God’s fiery yet preserving presence with His people. Summary The solitary occurrence of this verb in Isaiah 27:4 provides a concise yet profound revelation: the Lord who guards His vineyard harbors no lingering wrath toward the redeemed, yet He stands ready to ignite every obstacle with irresistible power. This truth sustains hope for Israel’s final restoration and invigorates the church’s mission and pursuit of holiness in anticipation of the day when every thorn is forever burned away. Forms and Transliterations אֲצִיתֶ֥נָּה אציתנה ’ă·ṣî·ṯen·nāh ’ăṣîṯennāh atziTennahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 27:4 HEB: אֶפְשְׂעָ֥ה בָ֖הּ אֲצִיתֶ֥נָּה יָּֽחַד׃ KJV: I would go through them, I would burn them together. INT: battle step burn completely 1 Occurrence |
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