Isaiah 51:23

21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:

22 Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

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.

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

    And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 12:2

    Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:18

    And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 13:16–17

    And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 21:18

    The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:6–8

    And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 11:2

    But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 25:15–29

    For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

    Read in context