Isaiah 17:13
New International Version
Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale.

New Living Translation
But though they thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind, like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm.

English Standard Version
The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.

Berean Standard Bible
The 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.

King James Bible
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

New King James Version
The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

New American Standard Bible
The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.

NASB 1995
The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.

NASB 1977
The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.

Legacy Standard Bible
The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, And be pursued like chaff in the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a whirlwind.

Amplified Bible
The nations roar on like the roaring of many waters, But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before the storm.

Christian Standard Bible
The nations rage like the rumble of a huge torrent. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills and like tumbleweeds before a gale.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The nations rage like the raging of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills and like tumbleweeds before a gale.

American Standard Version
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

Contemporary English Version
But even if they roar like a fearsome flood, God will give the command to turn them back. They will be like dust, or like a tumbleweed blowing across the hills in a windstorm.

English Revised Version
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people will make noise like raging water. But the LORD will yell at them, and they will run far away. They will be chased away like husks on the mountains being blown by the wind, like whirling dust being blown by a storm.

Good News Translation
The nations advance like rushing waves, but God reprimands them and they retreat, driven away like dust on a mountainside, like straw in a whirlwind.

International Standard Version
The nations roar like the rushing of many waters, but the LORD will rebuke them, and they will run far away, chased like chaff blown down from the mountains or like thick dust that rolls along, blown along by a wind storm.

Majority Standard Bible
The 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.

NET Bible
Though these people make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves, when he shouts at them, they will flee to a distant land, driven before the wind like dead weeds on the hills, or like dead thistles before a strong gale.

New Heart English Bible
The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters: but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far off, and will be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

Webster's Bible Translation
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God will rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

World English Bible
The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far off, and will be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Nations crash as the roaring of many waters, "" And He rebuked them, "" And they fled far off, "" And were pursued as chaff of hills before wind, "" And as a rolling thing before a windstorm.

Young's Literal Translation
Nations as the wasting of many waters are wasted, And He hath pushed against it, And it hath fled afar off, And been pursued as chaff of hills before wind, And as a rolling thing before a hurricane.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the nations as the tumult of many waters they shall rage, and he rebuked him and he fled from far off and was pursued as the chief of the mountains before the wind and as stubble before the whirlwind.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Nations shall make a noise like the noise of waters overflowing, but he shall rebuke him, and he shall flee far off: and he shall be carried away as the dust of the mountains before the wind, and as a whirlwind before a tempest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The peoples will make a noise, like the noise of waters overflowing, but he will rebuke him, and so he will flee far away. And he will be quickly taken away, like the dust of the mountains before the face of the wind, and like a whirlwind before a tempest.

New American Bible
But God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far away, Driven like chaff on the mountains before a wind, like tumbleweed before a storm.

New Revised Standard Version
The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off and shall be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like dry grass before the whirlwind.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He shall rebuke it and it will flee far away, and it shall run like the dust of the mountains before the wind and like a straw before a hurricane
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters; But He shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, And shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, And like the whirling dust before the storm.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
many nations like much water, as when much water rushes violently: and they shall drive him away, and pursue him afar, as the dust of chaff when men winnow before the wind, and as a storm whirling the dust of the wheel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
An Oracle Concerning Damascus
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. 14In the evening, there is sudden terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us and the lot of those who plunder us.…

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

Psalm 89:9
You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.

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.

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

Matthew 8:26-27
“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. / The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:39-41
Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. / “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” / Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Luke 8:24-25
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

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.

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.

Job 38:11
and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?

Psalm 46:3
though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah

Psalm 107:29
He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Jeremiah 5:22
Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

but

Isaiah 10:15,16,33,34
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood…

Isaiah 14:25
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

Isaiah 25:4,5
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall…

rebuke

Job 38:11
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Mark 4:39-41
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm…

shall be

Isaiah 29:5
Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

Isaiah 41:15,16
Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff…

Job 21:18
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

a rolling thing.

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Chaff Chased Dust Far Flee Gale Mountains Nations Rebuke Rolling Rumble Rumbling Rush Rushing Storm Waters Whirling Whirlwind Wind
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Chaff Chased Dust Far Flee Gale Mountains Nations Rebuke Rolling Rumble Rumbling Rush Rushing Storm Waters Whirling Whirlwind Wind
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














The nations rage
The phrase "The nations rage" evokes a vivid image of chaos and turmoil among the peoples of the world. The Hebrew word for "rage" here is "hāmôn," which can also mean a tumult or uproar. This suggests not just anger, but a loud, disorderly commotion. Historically, this reflects the constant state of unrest and conflict among the nations surrounding Israel, often seen as a threat to God's people. In a broader spiritual sense, it symbolizes the rebellion of humanity against God's order, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible.

like the rushing of many waters
This simile "like the rushing of many waters" conveys the overwhelming and uncontrollable nature of the nations' rage. The imagery of water is frequently used in Scripture to depict power and chaos, as seen in the Hebrew word "kĕmayim," meaning waters. This can be likened to the roaring seas, which are often used as a metaphor for nations in turmoil (Psalm 93:3-4). The historical context here may refer to the Assyrian empire's expansion, which was as relentless and consuming as a flood.

but He rebukes them
The phrase "but He rebukes them" introduces a divine intervention. The Hebrew word for "rebuke" is "gā‘ar," which implies a strong reprimand or command to cease. This highlights God's sovereign power over the nations, emphasizing that despite their might and fury, they are subject to His authority. This is a recurring theme in the Bible, where God's word alone can calm storms (Mark 4:39) and subdue nations.

and they flee far away
The result of God's rebuke is that "they flee far away." The Hebrew verb "nūs" means to flee or escape, indicating a sudden and complete retreat. This demonstrates the futility of opposing God, as even the most formidable forces cannot withstand His command. Historically, this could be seen in the retreat of enemy forces from Israel when God intervened on behalf of His people.

chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind
The imagery "chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind" paints a picture of utter helplessness and insignificance. Chaff, the husks separated from grain, is lightweight and easily blown away. The Hebrew word "mōts" for chaff emphasizes its worthlessness. This metaphor illustrates how the nations, despite their apparent strength, are powerless against God's will. The mountains amplify the effect of the wind, symbolizing the vastness of God's power.

like a tumbleweed before a gale
Finally, "like a tumbleweed before a gale" reinforces the idea of being driven away effortlessly. The Hebrew word "galgal," translated as tumbleweed, suggests something that is rootless and transient. A gale, a strong wind, represents God's overwhelming force. This imagery serves as a reminder of the temporary nature of human power and the enduring sovereignty of God. In a spiritual context, it calls believers to trust in God's ultimate control over the chaos of the world.

(13) But God shall rebuke them.--Better, He shall rebuke. The insertion of the word "God" weakens the force of the sublime indefiniteness of the Hebrew.

Like a rolling thing.--The Hebrew word is the same as the "wheel" of Psalm 83:13, and probably refers, like the "chaff of the mountains," to the whirling dust-clouds driven from an elevated threshing-floor before the wind (Psalm 1:4; Psalm 35:5). There is no sufficient authority for the "thistle-down" of the margin.

Verse 13. - God shall rebuke them; literally, he shall rebuke them - he who alone can do so. There is no need to mention his name. They shall flee far off. The destruction of the great bulk of Sennacherib's army in the night was followed, as soon as morning came, by the hasty flight of the survivors (2 Kings 19:36; Isaiah 37:37). And shall be chased. Herodotus says that the Egyptians pursued the army of Sennacherib and slew vast numbers (2:141). As the chaff of the mountains (comp. Hosea 13:3). Threshing-floors were ordinarily placed upon eminences (2 Samuel 24:18; 2 Chronicles 3:1), where the wind had freer course and consequently greater power. Like a rolling thing; or, like whirling dust (Kay). The word used commonly means "a wheel."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The nations
לְאֻמִּ֗ים (lə·’um·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3816: A community

rage
יִשָּׁא֔וּן (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 rush
כִּשְׁא֞וֹן (kiš·’ō·wn)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7588: A roar (of waters, etcetera), din, crash, uproar

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

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

He rebukes
וְגָ֥עַר (wə·ḡā·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1605: To rebuke

them,
בּ֖וֹ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and they flee
וְנָ֣ס (wə·nās)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

far away,
מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק (mim·mer·ḥāq)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4801: Remoteness, a distant place, from afar

driven
וְרֻדַּ֗ף (wə·rud·dap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

before
לִפְנֵי־ (lip̄·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the wind
ר֔וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

like chaff
כְּמֹ֤ץ (kə·mōṣ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4671: Chaff, threshed loose)

on the hills,
הָרִים֙ (hā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

like tumbleweeds
וּכְגַלְגַּ֖ל (ū·ḵə·ḡal·gal)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1534: A wheel, a whirlwind, dust

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

a gale.
סוּפָֽה׃ (sū·p̄āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5492: A storm wind


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 17:13 The nations will rush like the rushing (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 17:12
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