This verse warns of the arrogance of mighty rulers and underscores that all power is from God.
And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, and as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; and there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped. (v.14)
In Isaiah 10:14, the prophet Isaiah presents the arrogance of the Assyrian ruler, who boasts about his conquests and claims that his own might gathered all the treasures of the nations. Assyria, located in the ancient Near East broadly corresponding to modern-day northern Iraq (with its capital city moving from Assur to Nineveh), was a fearsome empire at the time (eighth to seventh centuries B.C.). Historically, it reached a pinnacle of military dominance under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.) and Sargon II (722-705 B.C.), conquering the northern kingdom of Israel and threatening Judah. Here, Isaiah emphasizes that the Assyrian king sees himself like someone raiding a nest with ease, taking its eggs without any resistance. This reflects the king’s belief that his victories highlight his own prowess, failing to acknowledge the sovereignty of the LORD over all kingdoms (Proverbs 21:1).
Isaiah conveys how the Assyrian ruler does not attribute his success to the LORD, but instead imagines that no one—be it nation or deity—could lift a finger (flap a wing or open its beak) to hinder him. The implied condemnation is that such pride invites God’s judgment. Though Assyria’s armies destroyed many nearby lands—including Israel (also known as Samaria)—God allowed them to flourish temporarily for His own purposes, as Isaiah noted in this section of the Book of Isaiah. Ultimately, biblical prophecy foretells that arrogance like Assyria’s will be brought low, because the LORD is the one who truly governs the fortunes of nations (Isaiah 10:12).
This verse also looks forward to the truth that human pride, unchecked, leads to downfall. We see this throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament with the teaching that God is ultimately sovereign over all rulers (Romans 9:17). The powerful rise of Assyria, only to be humbled, foreshadows that no empire can stand if it empties itself of humble acknowledgment of the LORD.
All in all, Isaiah 10:14 highlights the king of Assyria’s pride in his power and possessions, comparing his conquest to gathering unguarded eggs. He sees no one able to stand against him or offer any protest. Yet God’s Word pronounces judgment on arrogance and points to a time when the LORD will demonstrate that ultimate victory belongs to Him.
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Isaiah 10:14 meaning
And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, and as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; and there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped. (v.14)
In Isaiah 10:14, the prophet Isaiah presents the arrogance of the Assyrian ruler, who boasts about his conquests and claims that his own might gathered all the treasures of the nations. Assyria, located in the ancient Near East broadly corresponding to modern-day northern Iraq (with its capital city moving from Assur to Nineveh), was a fearsome empire at the time (eighth to seventh centuries B.C.). Historically, it reached a pinnacle of military dominance under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.) and Sargon II (722-705 B.C.), conquering the northern kingdom of Israel and threatening Judah. Here, Isaiah emphasizes that the Assyrian king sees himself like someone raiding a nest with ease, taking its eggs without any resistance. This reflects the king’s belief that his victories highlight his own prowess, failing to acknowledge the sovereignty of the LORD over all kingdoms (Proverbs 21:1).
Isaiah conveys how the Assyrian ruler does not attribute his success to the LORD, but instead imagines that no one—be it nation or deity—could lift a finger (flap a wing or open its beak) to hinder him. The implied condemnation is that such pride invites God’s judgment. Though Assyria’s armies destroyed many nearby lands—including Israel (also known as Samaria)—God allowed them to flourish temporarily for His own purposes, as Isaiah noted in this section of the Book of Isaiah. Ultimately, biblical prophecy foretells that arrogance like Assyria’s will be brought low, because the LORD is the one who truly governs the fortunes of nations (Isaiah 10:12).
This verse also looks forward to the truth that human pride, unchecked, leads to downfall. We see this throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament with the teaching that God is ultimately sovereign over all rulers (Romans 9:17). The powerful rise of Assyria, only to be humbled, foreshadows that no empire can stand if it empties itself of humble acknowledgment of the LORD.
All in all, Isaiah 10:14 highlights the king of Assyria’s pride in his power and possessions, comparing his conquest to gathering unguarded eggs. He sees no one able to stand against him or offer any protest. Yet God’s Word pronounces judgment on arrogance and points to a time when the LORD will demonstrate that ultimate victory belongs to Him.