And very many of them shall stumble and fall, and shall be broken in pieces, and shall be snared, and taken.
וְכָ֥שְׁלוּ בָ֖ם רַבִּ֑ים וְנָפְל֣וּ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 7 commentaries
For this reason, many will grow exhausted in it, and will fall, and will be drawn close to their own weakness, and people will be taken captive; they will be taken captive because they have seized the outer towns. Do not be misled, he warns, into believing that everyone will be saved, for if there is anything good in a city, it is not due to the temple, but because of its people.
Due to this reason, many will grow weary within these matters, leading to their downfall, resulting in brokenness and an approach to what ultimately harms them, as they will be weak and ensnared by those who oppose them. This truth was foretold by God through the words of a prophet: Behold I will bring this affliction upon the people, and both parents and children will grow weary, along with their neighbors and those who are sincere, leading to their destruction (Jer. 6:21). In contrast, those called to sanctification in Christ do not find themselves in such distress, for their strength and song is found in the Lord, as it is written (Ps. 117:11). The Apostle Paul affirms this when he declares, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phlp. 4:13).
He refers to the unbelievers, who are akin to men confined in strongholds. Historically, the assistance from above, which was a constant for the Israelites, rendered them elusive and unyielding against both visible and invisible foes. God proclaimed concerning Jerusalem, And I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about, and in glory I will be in the midst of it (Zech. 2:5). However, having offended God through their rebellion against Christ, they find themselves in a world devoid of both spiritual and physical safety; for the grace of Him who redeems has been extended to others, notably the converts from the Gentiles.
Christ was resurrected from the lineage of David, the Son of David, because He willingly laid down His life. How did He lay down His life? By acknowledging what He was not, rather than forfeiting His true identity. Having laid down His life, He chose to humble Himself. Though He was divine, He took on the form of humanity. As He walked among us, He was rejected by the One who created the stars. He faced scorn as a man, appearing powerless. He was not only rejected; He was also put to death. He became a stone that was dismissed, causing the Jewish people to stumble and fall. For what does He declare? Whoever falls on this stone will be broken, and upon whom it falls, it will shatter him. Initially, it lay there for them to stumble upon, but He will return from above and bring judgment on those who are broken.
The prophetic message evidently calls for belief in our Lord Jesus, as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Rom. 9:33). Those who are spiritually blind and unable to discern what lies beneath them trip over stones, and those who walk unsteadily may fall on these obstacles (Isaiah 8:15). Consequently, anyone who disregards the spiritual insight of the soul and fails to recognize the arrival of the Lord through the study of Scripture will stumble at the proclamation of the gospel; moreover, those who are easily led away from the faith may find themselves caught off guard by the stone, which represents Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
The Prophet reassures the people, “if you will trust” and be firmly rooted in the Lord through perfect faith, “you shall not stumble as a stone of offense” at the declaration of Him, “but rather like a stone that falls” you may be broken by your own missteps. It may be that the fervor of preaching serves as a stumbling block for the Greeks who seek after wisdom, while for the Jews desiring signs it becomes a rock of offense. This explains why Paul noted that preaching is “a stumbling block to the Jews, but to the Gentiles foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23). However, for those who place their faith in the Lord, the straightforwardness of preaching is not constrained by human reasoning; truth is not discerned through signs, for “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24).
Consequently, those who rejected Immanuel, becoming for them a stone of offense and a rock of temptation, will be shattered and taken away into bondage.
The Lord has spoken to me, and by His mighty hand He urged me not to follow the path of this people. He instructed me to declare, "Do not claim this as a conspiracy," for all that this people perceives as a conspiracy should not cause you to fear or be dismayed by their terror. The Lord of Hosts shall be your holiness; He is your awe and your trembling, and He will be your sanctification. Yet, He will also serve as a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling for both houses of Israel, a snare and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many shall stumble, fall, be broken, be ensnared, and be caught.
The LXX renders this passage, “Thus says the Lord, with a mighty hand they have turned away from the paths of this people, saying, 'Let them not say this is burdensome,' for whatever this people deems as burdensome should not instill fear or dismay in you." You should sanctify the Lord of Hosts, for He will be your fear; those who put their trust in Him will find their sanctification and will not stumble as a stone of offense or a rock of despair. The house of Jacob will be as a net and a valley to those who sit in Jerusalem; consequently, many will be weakened, fall, be broken, draw near, and become ensnared.
Initially, it is important to reflect on the Hebrew text. The Lord has said to me, He who has enlightened and guided me with His strong hand so that I avoid the paths and errors of this people. He has instructed me: "Do not fear the conspiracy of the two kings; rather, remember that all this people accuses me of conspiracy, as Symmachus suggests, interpreting it as a rebellion against me." But you, O prophet, and your companions, are not to be afraid of the people's deceit, but rather fear the Lord and let Him be your reverence. For the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, as stated in Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 110:9. To the faithful, He will be their sanctification, but to the disbelieving—specifically the two houses of Judah and Israel—He will be a stumbling stone and a rock of offense. He will certainly be a snare and a fall for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, leading many to stumble, fall, and be caught, entangled in their sinful bonds and led into captivity.
The two houses of the Nazarenes—the families of Shammai and Hillel—represent those who accept Christ while still adhering to the Old Testament law. These houses produced the scribes and Pharisees, whose lineage eventually led to Akiba, regarded as the teacher of the proselyte Akilah, and subsequently to Meir, followed by Johanan, Eliezer, Telfon, and Joseph of Galilee. Shammai and Hillel arose in Judah shortly before Christ’s birth. The names carry meanings of devastation and uncleanness, indicating how their traditions and secondary interpretations led to the corruption of the Law’s commandments. They represent the two houses that rejected the Savior, who ultimately became their downfall and trial.
According to the LXX, the people resisted God’s will with a strong hand, declaring His commands to be burdensome—echoing the sentiment found in the Gospel: "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" (John 6:60). Thus, they are called to heed the Lord and to fear Him alone. By placing their hope in Him, He will become their sanctification, and they will not trip as against a rock of offense or a stone of disgrace. The apostle cites this notion, noting that Christ was both a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). Furthermore, Israel pursued a law of righteousness yet failed to achieve it because it stemmed from works rather than faith; they encountered the stone of stumbling, as it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be put to shame" (Romans 9:31-33). Thus, those who did not embrace Immanuel, but rather regarded Him as a stumbling block and a rock of offense, will be broken and taken captive. The statement that "the house of Jacob shall be a net and a valley for those who sit in Jerusalem" signifies that they will not dwell upon the heights of Scripture, but will constantly dwell in humble matters, adding sin to sin while becoming ensnared in vices.
This passage reinforces the message found in the preceding verse. It indicates that for those who are estranged from faith in God, He becomes the very foundation of their downfall. Consequently, many will stumble upon this foundation, leading to their incapacitation, collapse, and fracture, meaning they will experience total defeat at the hands of their adversaries. The text states that the people of Israel will become ensnared, falling into traps and pits. Indeed, this disaster will befall them, from which no fortress or stronghold can provide rescue. They will seek refuge in these citadels, but their efforts will be futile, as they resemble birds or animals ensnared in a trap or pit. While this calamity will touch many, it will not summarize the experience of all, for the remnant, as emphasized by Isaiah, shall find salvation.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS