What is the significance of "curds and honey" in Isaiah 7:22? Setting the Scene Isaiah 7:22: “And from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who remains in the land will eat curds and honey.” Immediate Context • Chapter 7 records God’s sign to King Ahaz: the birth of a child called Immanuel (7:14). • Verses 15–17 connect “curds and honey” with a time of national upheaval when Judah’s land is laid bare by Assyria. • Verse 22 zooms in on the remnant who survive that judgment. Literal Meaning of “Curds and Honey” • Curds: thick dairy produced by soured milk—simple, nourishing, and common in agrarian life. • Honey: naturally occurring sweetness, often wild honey rather than cultivated. • Together, these foods picture basic yet sustaining provisions available when farms, vineyards, and fields are ruined (cf. 7:23–25). Theological Significance • Divine Preservation – Even in judgment, the Lord preserves a faithful remnant (cf. Isaiah 10:20–22). – “Curds and honey” symbolize God’s ongoing care: not luxury, but enough (cf. Psalm 37:19). • Covenant Faithfulness – God had promised a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). – Though abundance is stripped to essentials, the covenant promise flickers on: milk still flows, wild honey still sweetens. • Messianic Foreshadowing – Immanuel (7:14) “will eat curds and honey when He knows to reject evil and choose good” (7:15). – The same diet links Judah’s remnant to the coming Savior, underscoring His identification with the humble and afflicted (cf. Isaiah 11:1). • Judgment and Renewal – Assyrian invasion levels cultivated land, forcing a return to pasture and uncultivated produce. – Out of desolation God supplies simple gifts, pointing to renewal beyond judgment (cf. Isaiah 35:1–2). Practical Takeaways • Rely on God’s provision even when circumstances strip life to “bare essentials.” • Recognize that material simplicity can be a stage for spiritual richness. • See God’s faithfulness in every season: He keeps remnants, fulfills promises, and prepares the way for Christ. |
    |