Isaiah 62:8
“The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord swears by his strength that Jerusalem's enemies will no longer plunder the fruit of her labor; her harvests are protected and belong to her.
Context
The oath sworn by the right hand and arm of strength is the most solemn divine commitment. It addresses the concrete anxiety of exiles returning to a conquered land, promising protection and the restoration of livelihood.
What Does Isaiah 62:8 Mean?
An oath sworn by God's right hand and the arm of his strength is the uttermost pledge. He does not merely promise; he commits himself with the most binding language possible, sealing it by his own attributes of power and righteousness. The specific promise is rooted in the real fears of return: will enemies steal the harvest? Will the labor of rebuilding be seized by invaders? The Lord answers with absolute assurance. Your corn will not become meat for your enemies; your wine will not be drunk by strangers. The fruit of your labor belongs to you, protected by the one whose strength conquers all.
In our own lives, this promise speaks to the restoration of what the enemy has stolen. We labor in faith, and Christ promises that the fruit of our obedience will not be plundered. We sow in tears but will reap in joy, and no evil power can rob us of the harvest he has secured. His oath gives us permission to build, to plant, to work, knowing that he stands guard over what we create.
In the Original Language
nishma (נִשְׁמַע), 'sworn' -- oath, an absolute commitment made in the most solemn form; also 'heard,' the divine word spoken and binding
Application
What labor has the enemy stolen from you? What fruit are you learning to trust God to protect? Claim this oath today.