Isaiah 36:5

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?

📖 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

• 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?

• 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?

• 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; he prospered wherever he went, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
• 2 Kgs 24:1 : 1 In his days, 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 servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they mocked us and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? Will you rebel against the king? 20 Then I answered them and said to them, The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.
• Prov 21:30-31 : 30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the LORD.
• Prov 24:5-6 : 5 A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. 6 For by wise counsel you shall wage your war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
• Jer 52:3 : 3 For through the anger of the LORD it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
• Ezek 17:15 : 15 But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Or shall he break the covenant and be delivered?