Isaiah 37:27
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
ISAIAH 37:27
This verse contrasts the ineffectiveness of the besieged with the confidence of their enemies. The Assyrians perceive the inhabitants as weak and scattered—described metaphorically as grass, herbs, and grain blasted before growing. The imagery presents a stark, almost comic, shift from the boastful confidence to the vulnerability of the people and land. The point is not merely physical weakness but spiritual vulnerability when God withdraws his protection.
Theologically, this demonstrates God’s power to expose and transform human fear. It shows that human assessments of strength are often reversed in God’s economy. It also emphasizes the fragility of human systems when God’s judgment or deliverance is at stake.
For readers today, this verse invites humility in the face of overwhelming odds. It encourages believers to anchor their hope not in personal advantage but in God’s steadfast love. In practical terms, when you feel the odds stacked against you—financial difficulties, illness, or relational strife—trust God’s power to turn fear into confidence. Be prepared to respond with patient resilience and gratitude when relief comes, and use the experience to comfort others facing similar fears.
Cross-References: Psalm 144:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:7-9; James 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-11