Trust God wholeheartedly, or risk losing everything.
“and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.” (v.9)
In this verse from Isaiah, the prophet emphasizes the political reality of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) by stating that its chief city is Samaria, ruled at that time by Pekah, the son of Remaliah. This serves as a reminder of how closely the northern tribes identified with Ephraim, their largest tribe, and how Samaria functioned as the capital seat of power. Elsewhere, the prophet similarly refers to Israel and Samaria interchangeably as “Ephraim,” underscoring the idea that the city represents the people as a whole. Historically, Pekah reigned in the mid-8th century BC (around 740-732 BC) and was part of an alliance against Judah, seeking to counter the growing threat of foreign empires.
Isaiah’s warning—“If you will not believe, you surely shall not last”—reveals that faith in the LORD was paramount for national survival. The original audience faced a crisis demanding they choose between trusting God’s power or relying on military coalitions and human strategies. Isaiah’s message highlighted that true security did not originate from strategic allegiances or a fortified capital city, but from their covenant relationship to the LORD. If the people persisted in unbelief, they would forfeit the protection that trust in God offered.
This stark admonition also points to a broader spiritual principle seen throughout the Bible: those who cling to faith in God stand firm, whereas those who reject trust in Him risk collapse (Romans 1:17; Matthew 8:26). Ultimately, the verse speaks to every generation’s belonging and dependence upon God—in the absence of belief, even the most seemingly secure institutions can crumble.
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Isaiah 7:9 meaning
“and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.” (v.9)
In this verse from Isaiah, the prophet emphasizes the political reality of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) by stating that its chief city is Samaria, ruled at that time by Pekah, the son of Remaliah. This serves as a reminder of how closely the northern tribes identified with Ephraim, their largest tribe, and how Samaria functioned as the capital seat of power. Elsewhere, the prophet similarly refers to Israel and Samaria interchangeably as “Ephraim,” underscoring the idea that the city represents the people as a whole. Historically, Pekah reigned in the mid-8th century BC (around 740-732 BC) and was part of an alliance against Judah, seeking to counter the growing threat of foreign empires.
Isaiah’s warning—“If you will not believe, you surely shall not last”—reveals that faith in the LORD was paramount for national survival. The original audience faced a crisis demanding they choose between trusting God’s power or relying on military coalitions and human strategies. Isaiah’s message highlighted that true security did not originate from strategic allegiances or a fortified capital city, but from their covenant relationship to the LORD. If the people persisted in unbelief, they would forfeit the protection that trust in God offered.
This stark admonition also points to a broader spiritual principle seen throughout the Bible: those who cling to faith in God stand firm, whereas those who reject trust in Him risk collapse (Romans 1:17; Matthew 8:26). Ultimately, the verse speaks to every generation’s belonging and dependence upon God—in the absence of belief, even the most seemingly secure institutions can crumble.