Isaiah 37:27
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
Isaiah 37:27 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse illustrates a powerful image of the weakness and vulnerability of the inhabitants being described. The phrase "of small power" emphasizes their lack of strength and ability to defend themselves. The mention of being "dismayed and confounded" shows their state of fear and confusion in the face of danger. The comparison to grass and green herbs highlights their frail and easily trampled nature, emphasizing their insignificance and susceptibility to destruction. Additionally, the reference to grass on the housetops and blasted corn further emphasizes the inhabitants' vulnerability and fragility. Overall, this verse serves as a stark reminder of the fleeting and fragile nature of life, urging readers to reflect on the importance of strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Theological Overview
The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the concept of human fragility and the fleeting nature of earthly power. The imagery of the inhabitants being of small power, dismayed and confounded, likened to grass and herbs, signifies the transience and vulnerability of human existence. Just as grass on the housetops withers quickly under the scorching sun, so too do human efforts and achievements fade away in the face of adversity and challenges.
Furthermore, the mention of corn blasted before it can grow emphasizes the idea of destruction and loss before true potential can be realized. This serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of humility and reliance on a higher power in the face of life's uncertainties. The verse can be seen as a call to acknowledge our limited power and to seek strength and guidance from a source beyond ourselves. It is a poignant reflection on the transient nature of human life and the need for humility and faith in the midst of challenges.
Isaiah 37:27 in other translations
American Standard Version
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field [of grain] before it is grown up.
World English Bible
Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like a field before its crop has grown.
Douay-Rheims
The inhabitants of them were weak of hand, they trembled, and were confounded: they became like the grass of the field, and the herb of the pasture, and like the grass of the housetops, which withered before it was ripe.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Whose inhabitants haue small power, and are afrayd and confounded: they are like the grasse of the field and greene herbe, or grasse on the house tops, or corne blassed afore it be growen.