Isaiah – Chapter 7

Old Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 7 of Isaiah begins: "And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria and Phacee the son of…" The chapter centers on David, Emmanuel and Isaiah. Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's kingdom and kingship. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria and Phacee the son of Romelia king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem, to fight against it: but they could not prevail over it.

2And they told the house of David, saying: Syria hath rested upon Ephraim, and his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.

3And the Lord said to Isaiah: Go forth to meet Achaz, thou and Jasub thy son that is left, to the conduit of the upper pool in the way of the fuller's field.

4And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of Romelia.

5Because Syria hath taken counsel against thee, unto the evil of Ephraim and the son of Romelia, saying:

6Let us go up to Juda, and rouse it up, and draw it away to us, and make the son of Tabeel king in the midst thereof.

7Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, and this shall not be.

8But the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rasin: and within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall cease to be a people:

9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Romelia. If you will not believe, you shall not continue.

10And the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying:

11Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above.

12And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord.

13And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also?

14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

15He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

16For before the child know to refuse the evil and to choose the good, the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of the face of her two kings.

17The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon the house of thy father, days that have not come since the time of the separation of Ephraim from Juda with the king of the Assyrians.

18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly, that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19And they shall come, and shall all of them rest in the torrents of the valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all places set with shrubs, and in all hollow places.

20In that day the Lord shall shave with a razor that is hired by them that are beyond the river, by the king of the Assyrians, the head and the hairs of the feet, and the whole beard.

21And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep.

22And for the abundance of milk he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that shall be left in the midst of the land.

23And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place where there were a thousand vines, at a thousand pieces of silver, shall become thorns and briers.

24With arrows and with bows they shall go in thither: for briers and thorns shall be in all the land.

25And as for the hills that shall be raked with a rake, the fear of thorns and briers shall not come thither, but they shall be for the ox to feed on, and the lesser cattle to tread upon.

Important Verses in Isaiah 7

And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of Romelia.

Isaiah 7:4

Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, and this shall not be.

Isaiah 7:7

Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above.

Isaiah 7:11

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

Historical Context

Isaiah belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah. Chapter 7 of 66 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on David, Emmanuel and Isaiah, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria…" The final verse reads: "And as for the hills that shall be raked with a rake, the fear of thorns and briers shall not come thither, but they…" In terms of historical background, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 4: "And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the…" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Isaiah 7 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). St. Athanasius and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1362).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

David2 mentionsEmmanuel1 mentionIsaiah1 mention

Reflection for Today

Isaiah Chapter 7 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). Here the believer is invited to ponder gratitude as the foundation of prayer.

May your reading of Isaiah Chapter 7 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 7 about?

Isaiah 7 contains 25 verses. It opens with "And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria…" and closes with "And as for the hills that shall be raked with a rake, the fear of thorns and briers shall not come thither, but they…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 7?

One of the most significant verses is verse 4: "And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Isaiah Chapter 7?

This chapter mentions David, Emmanuel, Isaiah.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Deepen your understanding with these related articles