Verse

Isaiah 10:7

ESV But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;
NIV But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
NASB Yet it does not so intend, Nor does it plan so in its heart, But rather it is its purpose to destroy And to eliminate many nations.
CSB But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.
NLT But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my tool; his mind does not work that way. His plan is simply to destroy, to cut down nation after nation.
KJV Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
NKJV Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations.

What does Isaiah 10:7 mean?

The Lord has declared that He is the one who commands the king of Assyria to crush His own people in Israel (Isaiah 10:5). The brutal, merciless Assyrian war machine is merely the weapon of the Lord's anger (Isaiah 10:6).

God clarifies that the king of Assyria doesn't know this. The Assyrians don't believe themselves to be the agent of the God of the Israelites. They have no interest in doing the Lord's bidding. The kings of the Assyrians have one motive. They seek to conquer the world, rule everyone and bring glory to themselves. The Assyrians kill for the Assyrians and nobody else. The Assyrian king believes himself to be a self-serving destroyer of many nations. He lacks the humility to believe himself merely a tool in the hand of the Lord God of Israel. The same could be said of most people on earth, believers or not.
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Context Summary
Isaiah 10:5–19 describes Assyria as a weapon of the Lord's anger directed at His own people. The king of Assyria imagines himself to be the source of his own strength. He also images that he will keep conquering one nation after another. However, when the Lord has finished using Assyria, He will turn and judge the king for his arrogance. Does the axe boast over the one who uses it? Or does the staff lift the one who holds it? The Lord will consume Assyria as fire consumes a forest.
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Chapter Summary
Isaiah declares woe on those in Israel and Judah who use the law to take advantage of the poor. These people will not escape the Lord's judgment. He next describes the Assyrians as the Lord's staff of judgment against the godless nation that is His people. When He is done punishing His people, the Lord will turn His anger on the Assyrians, nearly destroying them. Eventually, a remnant of Israelites will return to faith in the Lord. Destruction will come, but it will not consume everything. The Lord will triumph over Assyria.
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