Isaiah 36:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

You say—it’s only empty words—‘I have advice and strength for war.’ But now, on whom do you trust that you have rebelled against me?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ אַךְ־דְּבַר־שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי

Transliteration

ʾāmartî ʾak-dəḇar-śəfāṯayim ʿēṣāh û-ḡəḇûrāh lam-milḥāmāh; now ʿattāh on whom ʿal-mî bāṭaḥtā that kî māraḏtā bî

Grammar Details

• *ʾāmartî*: qal perfect 1st person singular - I say/said
• *ʾak-dəḇar-śəfāṯayim*: particle + construct noun + dual noun - only word of lips
• *ʿēṣāh û-ḡəḇûrāh*: noun + waw conjunction + noun - counsel and strength
• *lam-milḥāmāh*: preposition + definite article + noun - for the war/battle
• *ʿattāh*: adverb of time - now
• *ʿal-mî*: preposition + interrogative pronoun - on whom
• *bāṭaḥtā*: qal perfect 2nd masculine singular - you have trusted
• *kî*: conjunction - that/because
• *māraḏtā*: qal perfect 2nd masculine singular - you have rebelled
• *bî*: preposition + 1st person singular suffix - against me

Word Meanings

• *ʾak*: only/surely/indeed
• *dəḇar-śəfāṯayim*: word of lips/empty talk/mere words
• *ʿēṣāh*: counsel/advice/plan
• *ḡəḇûrāh*: strength/might/power
• *māraḏtā*: you rebelled/revolted

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  I say that your words are empty: I have counsel and strength for war. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  I say, [thy] counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  I say, sayest thou,(but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Thou thinkest (peradueture) that thou hast councel & power ynough, to mayntene this warre: or els wher to trustest thou, that thou castest thi self of fro me?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  I say, Surely I haue eloquence, but counsell and strength are for the warre: on whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  I sayde surely that thou trustest in vayne wordes, when counsayle and strength are necessarie to battayle: but nowe wherto trustest thou, that thou rebellest agaynst me?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  I say, [sayest thou], (but [they are but] vain words) [I have] counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  I say, [your] counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  I have said: Only, a word of the lips! counsel and might `are' for battle: now, on whom hast thou trusted, that thou hast rebelled against me?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I say, `thy' counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I say, [thy] counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  You say you have a design and strength for war, but these are only words: now to whom are you looking for support, that you have gone against my authority?

• World English Bible (2000)

  I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only vain words. Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

Referenced Verses

• 2 Kgs 18:7 : 7 The LORD was with him; wherever he went, he succeeded. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
• 2 Kgs 24:1 : 1 During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
• Neh 2:19-20 : 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. They said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" 20 I answered them, saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will arise and build. But as for you, you have no share, no legal claim or historic right in Jerusalem."
• Prov 21:30-31 : 30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel that can stand against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
• Prov 24:5-6 : 5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. 6 For with wise counsel you wage war, and in an abundance of advisers there is victory.
• Jer 52:3 : 3 This happened because of the LORD's anger toward Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally cast them out of His presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
• Ezek 17:15 : 15 But he rebelled against him by sending his messengers to Egypt to obtain horses and a great army. Will he prosper? Will he escape if he does such things? Can a person break a covenant and still escape?