What is the meaning of Isaiah 7:21? On that day Isaiah frames the prophecy with a specific moment: “On that day.” This phrase signals a real, identifiable point when God’s word will come to pass—just as earlier in the chapter the Lord promised a sign to Ahaz (Isaiah 7:14). • Isaiah repeatedly uses “in that day” to mark God’s interventions (Isaiah 2:11; 10:20). • Here it points to the Assyrian invasion that would devastate Judah’s farmland (2 Kings 15:29; 2 Chronicles 28:20). • The certainty of the timing underscores the reliability of God’s warnings and comforts alike. a man will raise Instead of many herdsmen, Isaiah pictures just one “man.” The population loss from war and exile would leave the land sparsely inhabited (Isaiah 6:11-13; 7:23). • What was once cultivated by multitudes would be tended by a few survivors (Isaiah 24:6; 37:31-32). • The text stresses personal responsibility: each remaining household must rely directly on God’s provision (Genesis 45:6-7). a young cow The remnant keeps “a young cow,” not a full team of oxen. Diminished resources mirror the humbling of the nation (Deuteronomy 28:31). • Yet even a single heifer can produce ample milk, foreshadowing the next verse: “from the abundance of the milk they give he will eat curds” (Isaiah 7:22). • God strips away excess but still supplies what is necessary (Psalm 37:19; Matthew 6:31-33). and two sheep Only “two sheep” round out the meager flock. The image highlights both scarcity and sufficiency. • Desolation turns vineyards into pasture (Isaiah 5:17), making small livestock practical. • A pair of sheep, like the cow, will yield enough for daily needs—“curds and honey” (Isaiah 7:22)—repeating God’s pattern of caring for a faithful remnant (Exodus 16:12-18; Ezekiel 34:13-15). • The literal number underlines God’s intent: He disciplines Judah yet preserves life, offering hope alongside judgment (Habakkuk 3:17-19). summary Isaiah 7:21 paints a vivid, literal picture of post-invasion Judah: few people, minimal livestock, and simple fare. God’s judgment would reduce abundance, but His mercy would ensure survival. Even a lone man with one calf and two sheep could thrive by God’s provision. The verse calls believers to trust that the Lord both chastens and sustains, keeping His word in every detail. |
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