Isaiah 27:11

When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses Judah concerning Jerusalem’s desolation, noting that its abandoned defenses have become a pasture where animals strip its branches bare before the LORD’s future gathering.

The words — The Hebrew yibosh (dry up) and qetsirah (its branches) describe a withered vine or tree, while me'iroth (setting light to) denotes women gathering the dry wood for kindling.

The thread — The people’s failure to understand echoes Isaiah 1:3, and the Creator’s withheld favor aligns with the divine forming and calling noted in Isaiah 43:1 and 43:7.

Why it lands — The text states that spiritual blindness provokes divine withdrawal, requiring readers to confront whether their faith reflects understanding or mere survival.

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

King James Version

When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

Cross-references

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Isaiah 43:7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
Jeremiah 8:7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.
Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
Ezekiel 9:10 But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
Matthew 3:10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Genesis 6:6 And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.