Isaiah 51:23

21 Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine.

22 Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God, who defends His people: “See, I have removed from your hand the cup of staggering. From that goblet, the cup of My fury, you will never drink again.

I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”

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
I will place it in the hands of your tormentors, who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’ so that you made your back like the ground, like a street to be traversed.”
KJV
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
WEB
I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, ‘Bow down, that we may walk over you;’ and you have laid your back as the ground, like a street to those who walk over.”
ASV
and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee, that have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.
DARBY
and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street to them that went over.
BLB
And I will put it into the hand of those afflicting you, who said to you, ‘Lie down, that we may walk over you!’ And you set your back like the ground, and like the street for walking over.”
ÅB
Og jeg gir det i dine undertrykkeres hånd, de som sa til deg: Bøy deg ned, så vi kan gå over deg, og så gjorde du din rygg lik jorden, til en gate for dem som gikk over den.
[^1]: Egypt. 2MO 14, 14; 6, 6; 15, 12. SLM 74, 13. 14; 89, 11. JES 27, 1; 30, 7. ESK 29, 3 fg.
OTB
Jeg vil legge det i hendene på dine plager, som sa til deg, ‘Legg deg ned så vi kan gå over deg.’ Og du la din rygg som bakken, som en gate å gå over.”
B1930
Og jeg gir det i dine undertrykkeres hånd, de som sa til dig: Bøi dig ned, så vi kan gå over dig, og så gjorde du din rygg lik jorden, til en gate for dem som gikk over den.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 10:24

    When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 12:2

    “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:18

    And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 13:16–17

    And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 21:18

    The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:6–8

    I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 11:2

    But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 25:15–29

    This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.

    Read in context