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Selected Verse: Isaiah 27:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 27:8	Strong Concordance	In measure [05432], when it shooteth forth [07971], thou wilt debate [07378] with it: he stayeth [01898] his rough [07186] wind [07307] in the day [03117] of the east wind [06921].
	King James	In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
In measure--not beyond measure; in moderation (Job 23:6; Psa 6:1; Jer 10:24; Jer 30:11; Jer 46:28). when it shooteth--image from the vine; rather, passing from the image to the thing itself, "when sending her away (namely, Israel to exile; Isa 50:1, God only putting the adulteress away when He might justly have put her to death), Thou didst punish her" [GESENIUS]. stayeth--rather, as Margin, "when He removeth it by His rough wind in the day," &c. east wind--especially violent in the East (Job 27:21; Jer 18:17).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

In measure--not beyond measure; in moderation (Job 23:6; Psa 6:1; Jer 10:24; Jer 30:11; Jer 46:28).

when it shooteth--image from the vine; rather, passing from the image to the thing itself, "when sending her away (namely, Israel to exile; Isa 50:1, God only putting the adulteress away when He might justly have put her to death), Thou didst punish her" [GESENIUS].

stayeth--rather, as Margin, "when He removeth it by His rough wind in the day," &c.

east wind--especially violent in the East (Job 27:21; Jer 18:17).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
In measure ... - This verse in our translation is exceedingly obscure, and indeed almost unintelligible. Nor is it much more intelligible in Lowth, or in Noyes; in the Vulgate, or the Septuagint. The various senses which have been given to the verse may be seen at length in Vitringa and Rosenmuller. The idea, which I suppose to be the true one, without going into an examination of others which have been proposed, is the following, which is as near as possible a literal translation: In moderation in sending her (the vineyard) Away didst thou judge her, Though carrying her away with a rough tempest In the time of the east wind. The word rendered 'measure' (סאסאה sa'se'âh) occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. It is probably derived from סאה se'âh, "a measure;" usually denoting a measure of grain, containing, according to the rabbis, a third part of an ephah, that is, about "a peck." The word used here is probably a contraction of סאה סאה se'âh se'âh literally, "measure by measure," i: e., "moderately," or in moderation. So the rabbis generally understand it. The idea is 'small measure by small measure,' not a large measure at a time; or, in other words, moderately, or in moderation. It refers, I suppose, to the fact that in inflicting judgment on his people, it had not been done with intolerable severity. The calamity had not been so overwhelming as entirely to cut them off, but had been tempered with mercy. When it shooteth forth - This expression does not convey an intelligible idea. The Hebrew, בשׁלחה beshallechâh - literally, "in sending her forth," from שׁלח shâlach "to send," or "to put forth" - refers, I suppose, to the fact that God had sent her, that is, his vineyard, his people, forth to Babylon; he had cast them out of their own land into a distant country, but when it was done it was tempered with mercy and kindness. In this expression there is indeed a mingling of a metaphor with a literal statement, since it appears rather incongruous to speak of sending forth a "vineyard;" but such changes in expressions are not uncommon in the Hebrew poets. Thou wilt debate with it - Or, rather, thou hast "judged" it; or hast punished it. The word ריב riyb means sometimes to debate, contend, or strive; but it means also to take vengeance Sa1 25:39, or to punish; to contend with anyone so as to overcome or punish him. Here it refers to the fact that God "had" had a contention with his people, and had punished them by removing them to Babylon. He stayeth - ( הגה hâgâh). This word means in one form "to meditate," to think, to speak; in another, "to separate," as dross from silver, to remove, to take away Pro 25:4-5. Here it means that he "had" removed, or separated his people from their land as with the sweepings of a tempest. The word 'stayeth' does not express the true sense of the passage. It is better expressed in the margin, 'when he removeth it.' His rough wind - A tempestuous, boisterous wind, which God sends. Winds are emblematic of judgment, as they sweep away everything before them. Here the word is emblematic of the calamities which came upon Judea by which the nation was removed to Babylon; and the sense is, that they were removed as in a tempest; they were carried away as if a violent storm had swept over the land. In the day of the east wind - The east wind in the climate of Judea was usually tempestuous and violent; Job 27:21 : The east wind carrieth him away and he departeth; And, as a storm, hurleth them out of his place. Jer 18:17 : I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy. (Compare Gen 41:6; Exo 10:13; Exo 14:21; Job 38:24; Psa 78:26; Hab 1:6). This wind was usually hot, noxious, blasting and scorching (Taylor).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

In measure ... - This verse in our translation is exceedingly obscure, and indeed almost unintelligible. Nor is it much more intelligible in Lowth, or in Noyes; in the Vulgate, or the Septuagint. The various senses which have been given to the verse may be seen at length in Vitringa and Rosenmuller. The idea, which I suppose to be the true one, without going into an examination of others which have been proposed, is the following, which is as near as possible a literal translation:

In moderation in sending her (the vineyard)

Away didst thou judge her,

Though carrying her away with a rough tempest

In the time of the east wind.

The word rendered 'measure' (סאסאה sa'se'âh) occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. It is probably derived from סאה se'âh, "a measure;" usually denoting a measure of grain, containing, according to the rabbis, a third part of an ephah, that is, about "a peck." The word used here is probably a contraction of סאה סאה se'âh se'âh literally, "measure by measure," i: e., "moderately," or in moderation. So the rabbis generally understand it. The idea is 'small measure by small measure,' not a large measure at a time; or, in other words, moderately, or in moderation. It refers, I suppose, to the fact that in inflicting judgment on his people, it had not been done with intolerable severity. The calamity had not been so overwhelming as entirely to cut them off, but had been tempered with mercy.

When it shooteth forth - This expression does not convey an intelligible idea. The Hebrew, בשׁלחה beshallechâh - literally, "in sending her forth," from שׁלח shâlach "to send," or "to put forth" - refers, I suppose, to the fact that God had sent her, that is, his vineyard, his people, forth to Babylon; he had cast them out of their own land into a distant country, but when it was done it was tempered with mercy and kindness. In this expression there is indeed a mingling of a metaphor with a literal statement, since it appears rather incongruous to speak of sending forth a "vineyard;" but such changes in expressions are not uncommon in the Hebrew poets.

Thou wilt debate with it - Or, rather, thou hast "judged" it; or hast punished it. The word ריב riyb means sometimes to debate, contend, or strive; but it means also to take vengeance Sa1 25:39, or to punish; to contend with anyone so as to overcome or punish him. Here it refers to the fact that God "had" had a contention with his people, and had punished them by removing them to Babylon.

He stayeth - ( הגה hâgâh). This word means in one form "to meditate," to think, to speak; in another, "to separate," as dross from silver, to remove, to take away Pro 25:4-5. Here it means that he "had" removed, or separated his people from their land as with the sweepings of a tempest. The word 'stayeth' does not express the true sense of the passage. It is better expressed in the margin, 'when he removeth it.'

His rough wind - A tempestuous, boisterous wind, which God sends. Winds are emblematic of judgment, as they sweep away everything before them. Here the word is emblematic of the calamities which came upon Judea by which the nation was removed to Babylon; and the sense is, that they were removed as in a tempest; they were carried away as if a violent storm had swept over the land.

In the day of the east wind - The east wind in the climate of Judea was usually tempestuous and violent; Job 27:21 :

The east wind carrieth him away and he departeth;

And, as a storm, hurleth them out of his place.

Jer 18:17 :

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy.

(Compare Gen 41:6; Exo 10:13; Exo 14:21; Job 38:24; Psa 78:26; Hab 1:6). This wind was usually hot, noxious, blasting and scorching (Taylor).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
In measure - With moderation. When - When the vine shooteth forth its luxuriant branches, he cuts them off, but so as not to destroy the vine. Contend - God is said to contend with men, when he executes his judgments upon them, Amo 7:4. Stayeth - He mitigates the severity of the judgment. In the day - In the time when he sends forth his east - wind; which he mentions because that wind in those parts was most violent and most hurtful.

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¹⁷ I will scatter [06327] them as with an east [06921] wind [07307] before [06440] the enemy [0341]; I will shew [07200] them the back [06203], and not the face [06440], in the day [03117] of their calamity [0343].

²¹ The east [06921] wind carrieth him away [05375], and he departeth [03212]: and as a storm hurleth [08175] him out of his place [04725].

¹ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], Where is the bill [05612] of your mother's [0517] divorcement [03748], whom I have put away [07971]? or which of my creditors [05383] is it to whom I have sold [04376] you? Behold, for your iniquities [05771] have ye sold [04376] yourselves, and for your transgressions [06588] is your mother [0517] put away [07971].

²⁸ Fear [03372] thou not, O Jacob [03290] my servant [05650], saith [05002] the LORD [03068]: for I am with thee; for I will make [06213] a full end [03617] of all the nations [01471] whither I have driven [05080] thee: but I will not make [06213] a full end [03617] of thee, but correct [03256] thee in measure [04941]; yet will I not leave thee wholly [05352] unpunished [05352].

¹¹ For I am with thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068], to save [03467] thee: though I make [06213] a full end [03617] of all nations [01471] whither I have scattered [06327] thee, yet will I not make [06213] a full end [03617] of thee: but I will correct [03256] thee in measure [04941], and will not leave thee altogether [05352] unpunished [05352].

²⁴ O LORD [03068], correct [03256] me, but with judgment [04941]; not in thine anger [0639], lest thou bring me to nothing [04591].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] on Neginoth [05058] upon Sheminith [08067], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. O LORD [03068], rebuke [03198] me not in thine anger [0639], neither chasten [03256] me in thy hot displeasure [02534].

⁶ Will he plead [07378] against [05978] me with his great [07230] power [03581]? No; but he would put [07760] strength in me.

⁶ For, lo, I raise up [06965] the Chaldeans [03778], that bitter [04751] and hasty [04116] nation [01471], which shall march [01980] through the breadth [04800] of the land [0776], to possess [03423] the dwellingplaces [04908] that are not theirs.

²⁶ He caused an east wind [06921] to blow [05265] in the heaven [08064]: and by his power [05797] he brought in [05090] the south wind [08486].

²⁴ By what [0335] way [01870] is the light [0216] parted [02505], which scattereth [06327] the east wind [06921] upon the earth [0776]?

²¹ And Moses [04872] stretched out [05186] his hand [03027] over the sea [03220]; and the LORD [03068] caused the sea [03220] to go [03212] back by a strong [05794] east [06921] wind [07307] all that night [03915], and made [07760] the sea [03220] dry [02724] land, and the waters [04325] were divided [01234].

¹³ And Moses [04872] stretched forth [05186] his rod [04294] over the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], and the LORD [03068] brought [05090] an east [06921] wind [07307] upon the land [0776] all that day [03117], and all that night [03915]; and when it was morning [01242], the east [06921] wind [07307] brought [05375] the locusts [0697].

⁶ And, behold, seven [07651] thin [01851] ears [07641] and blasted [07710] with the east wind [06921] sprung up [06779] after them [0310].

²¹ The east [06921] wind carrieth him away [05375], and he departeth [03212]: and as a storm hurleth [08175] him out of his place [04725].

⁴ Take away [01898] the dross [05509] from the silver [03701], and there shall come forth [03318] a vessel [03627] for the finer [06884].
⁵ Take away [01898] the wicked [07563] from before [06440] the king [04428], and his throne [03678] shall be established [03559] in righteousness [06664].

³⁹ And when David [01732] heard [08085] that Nabal [05037] was dead [04191], he said [0559], Blessed [01288] be the LORD [03068], that hath pleaded [07378] the cause [07379] of my reproach [02781] from the hand [03027] of Nabal [05037], and hath kept [02820] his servant [05650] from evil [07451]: for the LORD [03068] hath returned [07725] the wickedness [07451] of Nabal [05037] upon his own head [07218]. And David [01732] sent [07971] and communed [01696] with Abigail [026], to take [03947] her to him to wife [0802].

⁴ Thus hath the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] shewed [07200] unto me: and, behold, the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] called [07121] to contend [07378] by fire [0784], and it devoured [0398] the great [07227] deep [08415], and did eat up [0398] a part [02506].