The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and a bit of Aramaic. It’s very helpful for our Bible study to have some understanding of the original languages.
Sometimes, though, we learn just enough of the original languages to be more dangerous than helpful. In reality, few of us are afforded the opportunity to study the original languages, and even fewer will be in a position to master them.
I have some familiarity with the original languages, having gone to seminary. But I’m no master of the languages. I’m indebted to others who have a mastery of the language to guide me in my study. I’m simply an everyday pastor and author.
I like to train our people in doing good in-depth Bible study. But I know that a mastery of the original languages will be off the table for many. That’s okay.
I try to help in whatever way I can. One of the tips that I’ll often say is this, “If you have a verse that has multiple translations, it probably means there is something difficult in the original language.” If you want to see an example, look at Isaiah 10:27.
Most agree that the first part of the verse is talking about a burden being lifted from their shoulder and a yoke from the neck. But the last part of the verse has many different translations:
because you have grown so fat (NIV).
because of fatness (NASB).
because of the fat (ESV).
because of the anointing (KJV).
because your neck will be too large (CSB).
because you've become obese (ISV).
because of prosperity (YLT).
A couple of translations, like the NLT and the RSV, don’t even seem to have that part of the verse. This lets us know that there is likely something a bit difficult in the original language. So, what does this verse mean?
Before looking at the difficulty of that verse, it might be helpful to look at the overall context of Isaiah 10. This can maybe help us to discern the meaning.
In Isaiah 10, the Assyrians are a superpower that is threatening the people of Israel. The Assyrian kings would conquer a nation and then oppress the people.
In fact, the people of Israel would eventually be overtaken by the Assyrians. But in this section of Isaiah 10, God is speaking to a remnant who will be rescued through this time of devastation.
We actually have in the annals of Sargon II this saying, “[I] imposed upon them the yoke of Ashur, my lord” (John N. Oswalt, Isaiah, The NIV Application Commentary).
So, in verse 27, when Isaiah talks about the “burden” and the “yoke,” he is referencing this Assyrian oppression. This is a reminder that the Assyrian dominance will only be for a season. God will rescue.
What, then, is the meaning of this verse? Ultimately, we know that it has to do with the rescue of God’s people from the hand of the Assyrians. That much is clear. But what specifically does “the anointing breaks the yoke” mean?
One popular understanding of this verse is to say that “the yoke” is any particular bondage that a believer is experiencing. And the “anointing” is the power of the Holy Spirit.
This verse, they would say, is telling us that the anointing of God is more powerful than any bondage you might be under. Here is how one particular teacher explained it:
“Isaiah 10:27 defines the anointing as the burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God. The anointing is what delivers God’s people and sets the captives free. The anointing is literally God on flesh doing what flesh can’t do. It is God’s super added to our natural. Acts 10:38 described the impact of the anointing on the life and ministry of Jesus: ‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went around doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him’ (KJV). This powerful verse reminds us that Jesus is a doer of good, that the affliction and sickness comes from the enemy, not God, and that the anointing is what removes the oppression.”
There is one big problem with this interpretation, though. The word used here, which the KJV translates as “anointing,” isn’t the typical Hebrew word used for “anointing.” The word typically used is מָשַׁח (mashach).
The word used in Isaiah 10:27 is שֶׁ֫מֶן (samen). The noun form is used 87 times and is predominately a reference to olive oil.
Yes, this oil was used to anoint, but in those instances, it’s typically šemen mišḥâ (anointing oil). As Motyer notes, “While oil was used in anointing, the word never elsewhere stands as a figure of anointing” (J. A. Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary).
The word can also mean “fat.” This is why some translations have gone for a translation like, “because you have grown so fat.” If this is the correct translation, then it would mean something like this from Gary Smith:
“Thus, ‘The yoke will be broken because of fatness’ simply means that wealthy Assyrians who have become fat will not get any fatter by their heavy taxation of Judah, in fact their oppressive taxation will cause their downfall” (Isaiah 1–39, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, The New American Commentary).
Others have taken this to be a reference to a certain blessing upon those who have been set apart or anointed.
Perhaps, then, it is saying that because of God’s promise to David (or Hezekiah or Israel) the yoke will eventually be broken. And in this same line of thought, it could be a reference to the Messiah.
It’s difficult to discern the precise meaning. Personally, I think something like “the wound inflicted by the yoke (will be healed) through the application of oil” seems to make the most sense. But the other meanings have some measure of plausibility as well (William Sailer et al., Religious and Theological Abstracts).
At the end of the day, we cannot be certain. But the overall meaning is clear. God will redeem and restore. He will break the yoke of Assyrian bondage.
I once read this verse being used in the context of an anointing more powerful than the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Some even believed that the microphone itself was anointed in such a way that it became the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit, and regardless of what the speaker put into the microphone, what would come out was a powerful and yoke-breaking message from the Spirit of God.
While I wholeheartedly believe that Christ breaks chains and the gospel gets the last word, I don’t find such usage of Isaiah 10:27 to be helpful.
All of those who are found in Christ will indeed enjoy the riches of the land — namely, the new heavens and new earth. The Messiah, the anointed one, is more powerful than any chain which could entangle.
But I simply do not believe that this is what Isaiah 10:27 is meaning to teach. God will break the Assyrian bondage. That’s the near application of this passage.
And if we place it within God’s overall story and attempt to proclaim the gospel from this passage, I think you can make a point about Christ overcoming all bondage. But the focus is upon the work of Christ and not some vague “anointing.”
God can break any chain. Even the powerful chain of the Assyrians. That’s a pretty powerful message.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean to Be Anointed by God?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Boy Wirat
Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He is also the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the author of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Need. His writing home is http://mikeleake.net and you can connect with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a new writing project at Proverbs4Today.