Isaiah 7:15
New International Version
He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

New Living Translation
By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.

English Standard Version
He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Berean Standard Bible
By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

King James Bible
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

New King James Version
Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

New American Standard Bible
He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

NASB 1995
“He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

NASB 1977
“He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

Legacy Standard Bible
He will eat curds and honey in order that He will know to refuse evil and choose good.

Amplified Bible
He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

Christian Standard Bible
By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating curds and honey.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating butter and honey.

American Standard Version
Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

English Revised Version
Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will eat cheese and honey until he knows how to reject evil and choose good.

Good News Translation
By the time he is old enough to make his own decisions, people will be drinking milk and eating honey.

International Standard Version
He'll eat cheese and honey, when he knows enough to reject what's wrong and choose what's right.

Majority Standard Bible
By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

NET Bible
He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right.

New Heart English Bible
He will eat curds and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Webster's Bible Translation
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

World English Bible
He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He eats butter and honey, "" When He knows to refuse evil, and to fix on good.

Young's Literal Translation
Butter and honey he doth eat, When he knoweth to refuse evil, and to fix on good.

Smith's Literal Translation
Curdled milk and honey he shall eat, for his knowing to reject in evil, and to choose in good.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He will eat butter and honey, so that he may know to reject evil and to choose good.

New American Bible
Curds and honey he will eat so that he may learn to reject evil and choose good;

New Revised Standard Version
He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Butter and honey he will eat, that he will know to reject the evil and to choose the good
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Curd and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Butter and honey shall he eat, before he knows either to prefer evil or choose the good.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sign of Immanuel
14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. 15By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey. 16For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.…

Cross References
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

Luke 1:31-35
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. / He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” ...

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:3-4
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel. / He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Luke 2:40
And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 2:14-17
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, / and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. / For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham. ...

Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. / And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, / to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

1 John 4:2
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Isaiah 11:1-5
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. / The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. / And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, ...

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

butter.

Isaiah 7:22
And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

Matthew 3:4
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

know

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Amos 5:15
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

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Butter Choose Curd Curds Decision Eat Enough Evil Fix Food Good Honey Refuse Reject Right Time Wrong
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Butter Choose Curd Curds Decision Eat Enough Evil Fix Food Good Honey Refuse Reject Right Time Wrong
Isaiah 7
1. Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah
10. Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, has for a sign, Christ promised
17. His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria














By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good
This phrase refers to a developmental stage in a child's life when they can discern between right and wrong. In the context of Isaiah 7, this prophecy is given to King Ahaz as a sign from God. The child mentioned is often interpreted as a reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would embody perfect moral discernment. The ability to "reject evil and choose good" is a hallmark of wisdom and maturity, and in the case of Jesus, it signifies His sinless nature. This phrase also connects to the broader biblical theme of moral choice and accountability, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19, where God sets before the Israelites life and death, blessings and curses, urging them to choose life.

He will be eating curds and honey
Curds and honey were common foods in ancient Israel, often associated with abundance and prosperity. However, in the context of Isaiah 7, they also symbolize a time of hardship and simplicity. The land would be desolate due to the Assyrian invasion, and agriculture would be disrupted, leaving only basic foods like curds and honey. This reflects the historical context of the Syro-Ephraimite War, where Judah faced threats from surrounding nations. Theologically, this phrase can be seen as a type of Christ, who, despite His divine nature, lived a humble and simple life on earth. The reference to curds and honey also connects to the Promised Land described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), indicating both sustenance and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.

2. Ahaz
The king of Judah during the time of Isaiah's prophecy. He was known for his lack of faith and reliance on foreign alliances rather than trusting in God.

3. Immanuel
The child referred to in Isaiah 7:14-16, whose birth is a sign from God. The name means "God with us," and it is often associated with the prophecy of Jesus Christ's birth.

4. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Isaiah's prophecies were primarily directed. It was facing threats from surrounding nations during Ahaz's reign.

5. Curds and Honey
Symbolic foods representing abundance and simplicity. In the context of Isaiah's prophecy, they indicate a time of peace and provision from God.
Teaching Points
Discernment and Maturity
Just as the child in Isaiah 7:15 grows to discern good from evil, Christians are called to mature in their faith, developing the ability to make godly choices.

Provision and Trust
The mention of curds and honey signifies God's provision. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's provision, even in uncertain times.

Prophetic Fulfillment
Isaiah's prophecy points to the coming of Christ, reminding us of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

Simplicity and Contentment
The simple diet of curds and honey can teach us about contentment with God's provision, avoiding the excesses of the world.

God's Presence
The name Immanuel assures us of God's presence with His people, offering comfort and hope in every circumstance.(15) Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know . . .--Better, till he know, or, when he shall know. . . .--By a strange inversion of the familiar associations of the phrase (Exodus 3:17; Deuteronomy 31:20), probably, as the prophet spoke them, not without a certain touch of the irony of paradox, the words describe a time, not of plenty, but of scarcity. (Comp. Isaiah 7:22.) Fields and vineyards should be left uncultivated (Isaiah 5:9), and instead of bread and meat, and wine and oil, the people, flying from their cities and taking refuge in caves and mountains, should be left to the food of a nomadic tribe, such, e.g., as the Kenites (Judges 5:25; 1Samuel 14:26; Matthew 3:4). The "butter" of the Bible here, as in Judges 5:25, is the clotted milk which has always been a delicacy with Arabs. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
By the time He knows [enough]
לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ (lə·ḏa‘·tōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

to reject
מָא֥וֹס (mā·’ō·ws)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3988: To spurn, to disappear

evil
בָּרָ֖ע (bā·rā‘)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

and choose
וּבָח֥וֹר (ū·ḇā·ḥō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 977: To try, select

good,
בַּטּֽוֹב׃ (baṭ·ṭō·wḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

He will be eating
יֹאכֵ֑ל (yō·ḵêl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

curds
חֶמְאָ֥ה (ḥem·’āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2529: Curdled milk, cheese

and honey.
וּדְבַ֖שׁ (ū·ḏə·ḇaš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1706: Honey, syrup


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 7:15 He shall eat butter and honey when (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 7:14
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