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Isaiah 9:20

Anger

18 For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets which roll upward in billows of smoke.

19 By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.

They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

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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
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
KJV
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
WEB
One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
ASV
And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
DARBY
and he snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry, and eateth on the left hand; and they are not satisfied. They eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
BLB
And one cuts down on the right, and is hungry, and he eats on the left, and they have not been satisfied; each man devours the flesh of his own arm.
ÅB
De biter til høyre og hungrer allikevel, de spiser til venstre og blir ikke mette; enhver spiser kjøttet av sin egen arm.
OTB
De fortærer på høyre hånd, men forblir sultne; de spiser på venstre hånd, men blir ikke mette. Hver og en fortærer kjøttet av sin egen arm.
B1930
De biter til høire og hungrer allikevel, de eter til venstre og blir ikke mette; enhver eter kjøttet av sin egen arm.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 49:26

    I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 19:9

    I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 8:21

    They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.

    Read in context

  • Leviticus 26:26–29

    When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

    Read in context

  • Lamentations 4:10

    The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

    Read in context