Isaiah 17:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Israel's strength and prosperity will waste away.
The Context of Isaiah 17:4
Describing Israel's physical and economic decline from the judgment.
What Does Isaiah 17:4 Mean?
Jacob (Israel as a whole) is pictured as a person whose robust health decays. 'Glory' speaks to strength, reputation, and prosperity. 'Fatness of his flesh' is abundance—the wealth and well-fed security of the nation. These will become thin and lean, suggesting famine, loss of resources, and military defeat reducing the people to weakness and hunger.
The language of physical decline emphasizes the totality of the loss. This is not merely political setback but deep weakening of the nation's survival capacity. The shift from 'fat' to 'lean' describes a people stripped of their protective resources and left vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 17:4
What does Isaiah 17:4 mean?
Israel's strength and prosperity will waste away.
What is the context of Isaiah 17:4?
Describing Israel's physical and economic decline from the judgment.