And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.

ISAIAH 10:18KJV
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Isaiah 10:18 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 10:18 mean?

Isaiah 10:18 describes how God will destroy both the visible strength ("the glory of his forest") and the productive land ("his fruitful field") of Assyria, leaving nothing behind—neither soul nor body. The devastation will be so complete that those left will be as weak and helpless as a standardbearer who collapses.

In this verse, Isaiah is speaking God’s warning against Assyria, a powerful nation threatening Israel. The "forest" and "fruitful field" are poetic ways of describing Assyria’s people and resources. The verse uses vivid imagery to show that God’s judgment will strip away everything Assyria relies on, leaving it powerless and empty.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 10:18

  • consume (כָּלָה, kalah): This word means to finish, complete, or destroy. Here, it emphasizes that the destruction will be thorough and leave nothing untouched.
  • glory (כָּבוֹד, kavod): Often means weight or honor, but here it refers to the impressive appearance or strength of Assyria’s resources.
  • soul (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh) and body (בָּשָׂר, basar): These words together stress that the destruction will affect every aspect of Assyria—both the inner life and the physical being.
  • standardbearer (נֵס, nes) fainteth (מָסַס, masas): The image is of a flag-bearer collapsing in exhaustion or fear, symbolizing total defeat and loss of morale.

Why Isaiah 10:18 matters

  • Isaiah 10:18 makes clear that no matter how strong a nation appears, God can bring it down completely, affecting both its people and its resources.
  • The verse uses poetic images to show that God’s judgment is not just partial or symbolic—it is total, leaving nothing behind.
  • This verse fits into Isaiah’s larger message that prideful powers like Assyria will not escape God’s justice, reminding Israel that God is in control even over the mightiest empires.

Where else these words appear

“field” Hebrew H3759 · used in 11 verses

  • Leviticus 2:14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
  • Isaiah 16:10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
  • Isaiah 32:16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

“fainteth” Hebrew H4549 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 16:21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
  • Judges 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
  • Psalms 112:10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

“forest” Hebrew H3293 · used in 58 verses

  • Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
  • Psalms 83:14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
  • Isaiah 56:9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.