Lexical Summary skiyrah: Wages, hire, payment Original Word: שְׂכִירָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance that is hired Feminine of sakiyr; a hiring -- that is hired. see HEBREW sakiyr Topical Lexicon Scriptural Occurrence Isaiah 7:20 – “In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates— the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.” (Berean Standard Bible) Historical Context The prophecy is addressed to King Ahaz of Judah (circa 735 BC). Pressured by an anti-Assyrian coalition of Aram and the Northern Kingdom, Ahaz planned to purchase Assyrian help with temple silver and gold (2 Kings 16:7-9). Isaiah warned that relying on human alliances would invite disaster. The “razor hired” represents Assyria—paid by Ahaz yet ultimately commissioned by the Lord—to bring humiliating judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations. Shaving the head, legs, and beard was a vivid Near-Eastern image of disgrace, captivity, and total subjugation (2 Samuel 10:4-5; Ezekiel 5:1-4). Theological Emphasis 1. Divine Sovereignty over Political Powers: Though Assyria marches for its own gain, Scripture presents it as a tool “hired” by the Lord (compare Isaiah 10:5-15). Human rulers act freely, yet their actions fulfill God’s pre-ordained purposes. Prophetic Symbolism • Razor – Instrument of precise, swift, and often painful removal; an apt image of Assyrian campaigns that stripped land, wealth, and dignity. Intertextual Connections • 2 Kings 16:7-9 – Historical narrative of Ahaz sending tribute to Assyria. Ministry Applications 1. Warning against Worldly Dependence – Churches and believers who trust political or financial alliances over the Lord may unwittingly hire their own “razor.” Homiletical Suggestions • Sermon Theme: “The Razor Hired by God – When Help Becomes Humiliation.” 1. Ahaz’s Bargain (Historical setting) Summary שְׂכִירָה highlights a single but potent idea: God may temporarily “hire” even hostile powers to accomplish His righteous purposes. The concept underscores both the futility of trusting in human schemes and the certainty that God’s redemptive plan—ultimately realized in Immanuel—prevails through and beyond judgment. Forms and Transliterations הַשְּׂכִירָ֜ה השכירה haś·śə·ḵî·rāh hassechiRah haśśəḵîrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 7:20 HEB: אֲדֹנָי֩ בְּתַ֨עַר הַשְּׂכִירָ֜ה בְּעֶבְרֵ֤י נָהָר֙ NAS: with a razor, hired from regions beyond KJV: with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond INT: the Lord A razor hired regions the Euphrates 1 Occurrence |