Isaiah 17 — Dead Sea Scrolls
14 verses • 5 variants • Columns XIV–XV of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 17 contains the oracle against Damascus and its ally Ephraim (northern Israel). The 14 verses show the typical pattern of mostly orthographic variants. The theological pivot in verses 7-8 — where humanity turns to their Maker rather than idols — is preserved identically.
Notable Variants
Verse 6 has a minor variant in the description of gleaning. Verse 8 has an orthographic difference in the word for altars. Verse 12 has a minor variant in the 'roaring of many peoples' passage.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
An oracle concerning Damascus: Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from among cities and will become a fallen ruin heap.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 18
The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will belong to flocks that lie down with no one to frighten them.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 19
The fortress will vanish from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Aram — they will be like the glory of the sons of Israel, declares the LORD of Hosts.
Masoretic (WLC)
מִמֶּלֶכֶת
from the kingdom of
Dead Sea Scroll
ממלכת
from the kingdom of
Minor spelling difference in the construct form. Both texts read the same: the fortress will disappear from Ephraim and the kingdom from Damascus. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 20
On that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fatness of his flesh will waste away.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 21
It will be like a reaper gathering standing grain, his arm harvesting the heads of wheat — like one who gleans ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 22
Yet gleanings will remain in it, like the beating of an olive tree — two or three berries on the topmost branch, four or five on the fruitful boughs, declares the LORD, the God of Israel.
Masoretic (WLC)
גַּרְגְּרִים
berries
Dead Sea Scroll
גרגרים
berries
1QIsaiah-a preserves the same rare word גרגרים (gargerim, 'berries' or 'olives') for the gleaning metaphor: two or three berries on the topmost bough. This uncommon word is identical in both traditions, confirming its antiquity.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 23
On that day mankind will look to their Maker, and their eyes will gaze upon the Holy One of Israel.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XIV, line 24
He will not look to the altars, the work of his own hands; what his fingers have made he will not regard — neither the Asherah poles nor the incense altars.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת
the altars
Dead Sea Scroll
המזבחות
the altars
Identical consonantal text. The rejection of handmade altars and Asherah poles is stated identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 1
On that day his fortified cities will be like the abandoned places of the forest and the hilltop that they abandoned before the sons of Israel — and there will be desolation.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 2
Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge, therefore you plant pleasant gardens and sow them with foreign vine cuttings.
Masoretic (WLC)
נִטְעֵי
plantings of
Dead Sea Scroll
נטעי
plantings of
Identical consonantal text. The 'plantings of pleasantness' (nit'ei na'amanim) — likely a reference to Adonis gardens — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 3
On the day you plant, you make them grow; in the morning you make your seed blossom — but the harvest will be a heap of grief on a day of sickness and incurable pain.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 4
Woe, the uproar of many peoples — they roar like the roaring of the seas! Woe, the tumult of nations — they surge like the surging of mighty waters!
Masoretic (WLC)
הֲמוֹן
roaring of
Dead Sea Scroll
המון
roaring of
1QIsaiah-a writes המון without the he-patach of the MT's vocalized form but with identical consonants. The dramatic 'Woe to the roaring of many peoples' is preserved identically.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 5
Nations surge like the surging of many waters, but He rebukes them and they flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, like whirling dust before a storm.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 6
At evening — behold, terror! Before morning — they are gone. This is the portion of those who plunder us, the lot of those who despoil us.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 7