Isaiah 17:12
New International Version
Woe to the many nations that rage— they rage like the raging sea! Woe to the peoples who roar— they roar like the roaring of great waters!

New Living Translation
Listen! The armies of many nations roar like the roaring of the sea. Hear the thunder of the mighty forces as they rush forward like thundering waves.

English Standard Version
Ah, the thunder of many peoples; they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations; they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!

Berean Standard Bible
Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.

King James Bible
Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

New King James Version
Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

New American Standard Bible
Oh, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

NASB 1995
Alas, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

NASB 1977
Alas, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

Legacy Standard Bible
Alas, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rumble on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

Amplified Bible
Oh, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the noise of nations Who roar like the rumbling of mighty waters!

Christian Standard Bible
Ah! The roar of many peoples — they roar like the roaring of the seas. The raging of the nations — they rage like the rumble of rushing water.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ah! The roar of many peoples— they roar like the roaring of the seas. The raging of the nations— they rage like the raging of mighty waters.

American Standard Version
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

Contemporary English Version
The nations are a noisy, thunderous sea.

English Revised Version
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, which roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How horrible it will be for many people! They will roar like the roaring sea. The noise that the people make will be like the noise from rushing water.

Good News Translation
Powerful nations are in commotion with a sound like the roar of the sea, like the crashing of huge waves.

International Standard Version
"How terrible it will be for many peoples, who rage like the roaring sea! Oh, how the uproar of nations is like the sound of rushing, mighty water— How they roar!

Majority Standard Bible
Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.

NET Bible
The many nations massing together are as good as dead, those who make a commotion as loud as the roaring of the sea's waves. The people making such an uproar are as good as dead, those who make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves.

New Heart English Bible
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to the multitude of many people, who make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

World English Bible
Ah, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Woe [to] the multitude of many peoples, "" They sound as the sounding of seas; And the roaring of nations, "" As the roaring of mighty waters [that] make a crashing.

Young's Literal Translation
Woe to the multitude of many peoples, As the sounding of seas they sound; And to the wasting of nations, As the wasting of mighty waters they are wasted.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wo to the multitude of many peoples; they will sound as the sound of the seas; and the tumult to the nations shall rage as the tumult of great waters.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to the multitude of many people, like the multitude of the roaring sea: and the tumult of crowds, like the noise of many waters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Woe to the multitude of many peoples, like the multitude of the roaring sea! Woe to the tumult of crowds, like the noise of many waters!

New American Bible
Ah! the roaring of many peoples— a roar like the roar of the seas! The thundering of nations— thunder like the thundering of mighty waters!

New Revised Standard Version
Ah, the thunder of many peoples, they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations, they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Woe to the armies of many people, which make a noise like the roaring of the seas! And to the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Woe to the army of many nations whose sound goes forth as the sound of the seas, and the roar of the peoples as the sound of many waters!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, That roar like the roaring of the seas; And the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Woe to the multitude of many nations, as the swelling sea, so shall ye be confounded; and the force of many nations shall sound like water;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
An Oracle Concerning Damascus
11though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout—yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain. 12Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters. 13The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.…

Cross References
Revelation 17:15
Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

Psalm 65:7
You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.

Jeremiah 46:7-8
Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? / Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’

Isaiah 8:7-8
the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks. / It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!

Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.

Jeremiah 51:42
The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.

Daniel 11:40
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.

Matthew 7:27
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Luke 21:25
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

Ezekiel 26:3
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.

Nahum 1:4
He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.

Psalm 93:3-4
The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves. / Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.

Isaiah 5:30
In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Isaiah 13:4
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.

Isaiah 14:31
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.


Treasury of Scripture

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

multitude.

Isaiah 9:5
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

make a noise

Isaiah 5:26-30
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: …

Isaiah 8:7,8
Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: …

Isaiah 28:17
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

mighty.

Psalm 29:3
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

Revelation 17:1,15
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: …

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Ah Alas Bursting Great Ha Loud Mighty Multitude Nations Noise Peoples Rage Raging Roar Roaring Rumbling Rush Rushing Sea Seas Sound Sounding Thunder Thundering Tumult Uproar Voice Wasted Wasting Waters Woe
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Ah Alas Bursting Great Ha Loud Mighty Multitude Nations Noise Peoples Rage Raging Roar Roaring Rumbling Rush Rushing Sea Seas Sound Sounding Thunder Thundering Tumult Uproar Voice Wasted Wasting Waters Woe
Isaiah 17
1. Syria and Israel are threatened
6. A remnant shall forsake idolatry
9. The rest shall be plagued for their impiety
12. The woe of Israel's enemies














Oh, the raging of many nations
The word "raging" in Hebrew is "hamon," which conveys a sense of tumult, noise, or commotion. This imagery is often used in the Bible to describe the chaotic and tumultuous nature of nations that are in rebellion against God. Historically, this can be seen in the context of the Assyrian Empire, which was a dominant force during Isaiah's time, causing fear and unrest among smaller nations. From a spiritual perspective, this phrase can be seen as a reminder of the futility of nations that rise against God's sovereign plan. Despite their power and noise, they are ultimately under God's control.

they rage like the raging sea
The sea is often used in Scripture as a symbol of chaos and disorder. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sea was seen as a place of danger and unpredictability. The comparison of nations to the "raging sea" emphasizes their instability and the threat they pose. Yet, it also serves as a reminder of God's power over creation, as He is the one who calms the seas (Psalm 89:9). This imagery reassures believers that no matter how tumultuous the world becomes, God remains sovereign and in control.

Oh, the uproar of the peoples
The term "uproar" is translated from the Hebrew word "sha'on," which implies a loud, confused noise or tumult. This reflects the collective unrest and rebellion of the peoples against God. Historically, this can be seen in the alliances and conflicts among nations surrounding Israel. Spiritually, it represents the clamor of humanity's rebellion against divine authority. Despite the noise and confusion, God's purposes remain unshaken, and His plans will ultimately prevail.

they roar like the roaring of mighty waters
The repetition of "roar" and "roaring" emphasizes the intensity and overwhelming nature of the nations' commotion. The "mighty waters" symbolize powerful and potentially destructive forces. In the biblical context, this can be seen as a metaphor for the overwhelming threats faced by God's people. However, it also serves as a reminder of God's power to subdue such forces, as seen in His control over the waters during creation and the Exodus. For believers, this is an assurance that no matter how formidable the opposition, God's power is greater, and His protection is sure.

(12) Woe to the multitude of many people.--The three Isaiah 17:12-14 stand as an isolated fragment, probably placed here as beginning like Isaiah 18:1. They may have been connected with the progress of Sennacherib's army. In the "rushing of mighty waters" to describe the march of an army we have a parallel to Isaiah 8:7-8.

Verses 12-14. - A PROPHECY AGAINST ASSYRIA. This passage is, apparently, out of place. At any rate, it is quite unconnected with what precedes, and almost equally so with what follows. Still, it must be borne in mind that, until the destruction of Sennacherib's army, Isaiah has the thought of the Assyrians, as the pressing danger, always before him, and continually reverts to it, often abruptly, and without preparation (see Isaiah 5:26-30; Isaiah 7:17-25; Isaiah 8:5-8; Isaiah 10:5-19, 24-34; Isaiah 14:24-27). The present prophecy seems, more distinctly than any other in the purely prophetical chapters, to point to the miraculous destruction of the hoot which Sennacherib was about to bring against Jerusalem. Verse 12. - Woe to the multitude of many people; rather, Ho for the tumult of many peoples! The advance of an army composed of soldiers from many nations is descried. They advance with noise and tumult - a tumult compared with that of "seas that are tumultuous." Under the circumstances of the time, it is reasonable to suppose the Assyrians to be intended (comp. Isaiah 22:6, 7). The rushing sound of the advance is borne in strongly upon the prophet's mind, and made the subject of three consecutive clauses.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Alas,
ה֗וֹי (hō·w)
Interjection
Strong's 1945: Ah! alas! ha!

the tumult
הֲמוֹן֙ (hă·mō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1995: A noise, tumult, crowd, disquietude, wealth

of many
רַבִּ֔ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

peoples—
עַמִּ֣ים (‘am·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

they rage
כַּהֲמ֥וֹת (ka·hă·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1993: To make a, loud sound, commotion, tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor

like the roaring
יֶהֱמָי֑וּן (ye·hĕ·mā·yūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1993: To make a, loud sound, commotion, tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor

seas;
יַמִּ֖ים (yam·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

the uproar
וּשְׁא֣וֹן (ū·šə·’ō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7588: A roar (of waters, etcetera), din, crash, uproar

of the nations—
לְאֻמִּ֔ים (lə·’um·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3816: A community

they rumble
יִשָּׁאֽוּן׃ (yiš·šā·’ūn)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7582: To make a din or crash, crash into ruins

like the crashing
כִּשְׁא֛וֹן (kiš·’ō·wn)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7588: A roar (of waters, etcetera), din, crash, uproar

of mighty
כַּבִּירִ֖ים (kab·bî·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3524: Great, mighty, much

waters.
מַ֥יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 17:12 Ah the uproar of many peoples who (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 17:11
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