He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.
Parallel translations
- WEB He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
- KJV Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
- BSB By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.
- NKJV Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
- NLT By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The promised child will grow up in a time of hardship, eating simple food as he reaches the age of moral discernment.
Overview
Butter (curds) and honey suggest a land reduced from agriculture to pastoral simplicity after invasion, yet still sustaining life. The phrase "when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good" marks the dawning of moral awareness in a child. The verse ties the sign to a measurable span of time that frames the near-term judgment Isaiah announces in the following verses.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Isa 7:22and it shall happen, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for everyone will eat butter and honey that is left within the land.
- Amos 5:15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
- Phil 1:9–10This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
- Matt 3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- Ps 51:5Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
- Luke 1:35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
- Rom 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
- Luke 2:40The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
- Luke 2:52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 7:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.