Isaiah 10:13

For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Assyrian king (or his spokesperson) boasts to the conquered nations, claiming autonomous military success at the moment just before God declares judgment on his arrogance.

The words — בְּכֹחַ (be./Kho.ach) means “by strength,” and נְבֻנ֑וֹתִי (ne.vu.No.ti) translates as “I have understanding” or “I am clever.”

The thread — This self-attributed power echoes the warning in Deuteronomy 8:17 about claiming wealth comes from one’s own strength, and mirrors the imperial pride recorded in Daniel 4:30 and 2 Kings 15:29.

Why it lands — The text records the king’s explicit claim that his hand and wisdom accomplished the conquest, which demands the reader recognize human self-reliance as the direct precursor to divine correction.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkifor אָמַ֗ר'a.Marhe has said בְּכֹ֤חַbe./Kho.achby/ [the] strength of יָדִי֙ya.D/ihand/ my עָשִׂ֔יתִי'a.Si.tiI have acted וּבְחָכְמָתִ֖יu./ve./cha.khe.ma.T/iand/ by/ skill/ my כִּ֣יkifor נְבֻנ֑וֹתִיne.vu.No.tiI have understanding וְאָסִ֣יר׀ve./'a.Sirand/ I may remove גְּבוּלֹ֣תge.vu.Lot[the] boundaries of עַמִּ֗ים'a.Mimpeoples וַעֲתוּדֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙va./'a.ti.do.tei./hemand/ provisions/ their שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִיsho.Se.tiI have plundered וְאוֹרִ֥ידve./'o.Ridand/ I may bring down כַּאבִּ֖ירka./Birlike/ a mighty [man]יוֹשְׁבִֽים׃yo.she.Viminhabitants

King James Version

For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 8:17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”
Daniel 4:30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
2 Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
2 Kings 16:8 Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria.
2 Kings 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.
2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
2 Kings 18:11 The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.
2 Kings 18:15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.
2 Kings 18:32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’
2 Kings 19:22 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!