Isaiah 10:13

11 and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

12 So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.

14 My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”

15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.
KJV
For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
WEB
For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.
ASV
For he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and like a valiant man I have brought down them that sit [on thrones]:
DARBY
For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done [it], and by my wisdom, for I am intelligent; and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and, like a valiant man, I have brought down them that sit [on thrones];
BLB
For he says, ‘By the power of my hand I have done [this], and by my own wisdom, for I have understanding; and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and their treasuries I have plundered; and I have brought down like a mighty one those sitting!
ÅB
For han sier: Ved min hånds kraft har jeg gjort det og ved min visdom, for jeg er forstandig; jeg flyttet folkeslags landemerker, og deres skatter har jeg plyndret, og i mitt velde støtte jeg ned dem som satt i høysetet,
OTB
For han har sagt: "Ved styrken av min hånd og ved min visdom har jeg gjort dette, fordi jeg har forstand; jeg fjernet grensene for nasjoner og plyndret deres skatter; som en mektig enkuet jeg deres innbyggere.
B1930
For han sier: Ved min hånds kraft har jeg gjort det og ved min visdom, for jeg er forstandig; jeg flyttet folkeslags landemerker, og deres skatter har jeg plyndret, og i mitt velde støtte jeg ned dem som satt i høisetet,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 8:17

    You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”

    Read in context
  • Daniel 4:30

    the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 29:3

    Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’

    Read in context
  • Hosea 13:15–16

    Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come— a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 16:8

    Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:15

    Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 17:24

    Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:11

    The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

    Read in context