Isaiah 9:20
New International Version
On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:

New Living Translation
They will attack their neighbor on the right but will still be hungry. They will devour their neighbor on the left but will not be satisfied. In the end they will even eat their own children.

English Standard Version
They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm,

Berean Standard Bible
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

King James Bible
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

New King James Version
And he shall snatch on the right hand And be hungry; He shall devour on the left hand And not be satisfied; Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.

New American Standard Bible
They devour what is on the right hand but are still hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand, but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.

NASB 1995
They slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.

NASB 1977
And they slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.

Legacy Standard Bible
They slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.

Amplified Bible
They slice off [in discord] what is on the right hand but are still hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each eats the flesh of his own arm.

Christian Standard Bible
They carve meat on the right, but they are still hungry; they have eaten on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one eats the flesh of his arm.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They carve meat on the right, but they are still hungry; they have eaten on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one eats the flesh of his own arm.

American Standard Version
And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Contemporary English Version
like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives. But still they were not satisfied.

English Revised Version
And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On the right, one gobbles up food and is still hungry. On the left, another eats and is never full. Each person eats the flesh from his own arm.

Good News Translation
Everywhere in the country people snatch and eat any bit of food they can find, but their hunger is never satisfied. They even eat their own children!

International Standard Version
They cut meat on the right, but they're still hungry, and they devour also on the left, but they're not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own children.

Majority Standard Bible
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

NET Bible
They devoured on the right, but were still hungry, they ate on the left, but were not satisfied. People even ate the flesh of their own arm!

New Heart English Bible
One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

Webster's Bible Translation
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

World English Bible
One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And cuts down on the right, and has been hungry, "" And he devours on the left, "" And they have not been satisfied, "" They each devour the flesh of his own arm.

Young's Literal Translation
And cutteth down on the right, and hath been hungry, And he devoureth on the left, And they have not been satisfied, Each the flesh of his own arm they devour.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he shall cut upon the right hand, and hungering; and he shall eat upon the left, and they were not satisfied: they shall eat a man the flesh of his arm.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shell eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they together shall be against Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he will turn toward the right, and he will be hungry. And he will eat toward the left, and he will not be satisfied. Each one will eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they will be against Judah.

New American Bible
They hack on the right, but remain hungry; they devour on the left, but are not filled. Each devours the flesh of the neighbor;

New Revised Standard Version
They gorged on the right, but still were hungry, and they devoured on the left, but were not satisfied; they devoured the flesh of their own kindred;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own kinsmen;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall cut up on his right and he shall hunger and he shall eat on his left, and they shall not be satisfied; a man shall eat the flesh of his own arm
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And one snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry; And he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; They eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But one shall turn aside to the right hand, for he shall be hungry; and shall eat on the left, and a man shall by no means be satisfied with eating the flesh of his own arm.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment Against Israel's Unrepentance
19By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother. 20They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring. 21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.…

Cross References
Micah 7:2-6
The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net. / Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together. / The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion. ...

Jeremiah 19:9
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

Ezekiel 5:10
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

Zechariah 11:9
Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish; and let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”

Deuteronomy 28:53-57
Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ...

Lamentations 4:10
The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

2 Kings 6:28-29
Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ / So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”

Matthew 24:10
At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,

Galatians 5:15
But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Romans 1:29-31
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. / They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

James 4:1-2
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? / You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Mark 13:12
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

Luke 21:16
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.

Matthew 10:21
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.


Treasury of Scripture

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

and he

Isaiah 49:26
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Leviticus 26:26-29
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied…

Jeremiah 19:9
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

snatch.

Jump to Previous
Arm Bits Cutteth Cutting Devour Devoureth Devours Eat Eateth Eats Enough Feed Flesh Hand Hungry Left Making Meal Need Neighbor's Neighbour Pity Right Satisfied Slice Snatch Snatcheth
Jump to Next
Arm Bits Cutteth Cutting Devour Devoureth Devours Eat Eateth Eats Enough Feed Flesh Hand Hungry Left Making Meal Need Neighbor's Neighbour Pity Right Satisfied Slice Snatch Snatcheth
Isaiah 9
1. What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the birth and kingdom of Christ
8. The judgments upon Israel for their pride
13. For their hypocrisy
18. And for their unrepentance














They carve out on the right
The phrase "carve out on the right" suggests an act of taking or consuming with a sense of desperation or greed. In the Hebrew context, the right side often symbolizes strength or favor. Here, it implies that despite using their strength or favored position to acquire resources, the people remain unfulfilled. This reflects a spiritual truth that material pursuits, even when seemingly successful, cannot satisfy the deeper needs of the soul. Historically, this could be seen as a critique of Israel's reliance on their own power and alliances rather than trusting in God.

but still are hungry
The hunger described here is not merely physical but also spiritual and emotional. The Hebrew word for hunger, "ra'eb," can denote a deep, gnawing emptiness. This highlights the futility of seeking fulfillment outside of God's provision. In a broader biblical context, this echoes the theme found throughout Scripture that true satisfaction comes only from God, as seen in Jesus' declaration in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life."

they devour on the left
The act of devouring on the left suggests a frantic attempt to consume or acquire from all directions. The left side, often associated with weakness or lesser favor, indicates that even in areas where they might expect less, they are still striving to fill their void. This reflects the human tendency to seek satisfaction in all the wrong places, a theme prevalent in the prophetic literature where Israel often turned to idols and foreign nations for help.

but are not satisfied
The lack of satisfaction despite their efforts underscores the emptiness of pursuits apart from God. The Hebrew word "saba," meaning to be sated or full, is notably absent here, emphasizing the insatiable nature of desires not rooted in divine provision. This serves as a warning against idolatry and self-reliance, reminding believers that only God can truly fulfill the deepest longings of the heart.

Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring
This shocking imagery of cannibalism is a hyperbolic expression of the self-destructive nature of sin and disobedience. In the historical context, it may allude to the dire circumstances during sieges, such as those experienced by Israel and Judah, where famine led to desperate acts. Spiritually, it symbolizes the ultimate consequence of turning away from God—self-destruction and the breakdown of community and family. This serves as a powerful call to repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness, highlighting the destructive end of a life lived apart from God's guidance and provision.

Verse 20. - He shall snatch; rather, one shall devour. A man, i.e., shall plunder and ravage in one quarter, and yet not be satisfied; then he shall do the same in another, and still desire more. "Increase of appetite shall grow by what it feeds on." There shall be no sense of satiety anywhere. The flesh of his own arm. In a civil war, or a time of anarchy, each man is always "eating the flesh of his own arm" - i.e. injuring his neighbor, who is his own natural protector and defender.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They carve out
וַיִּגְזֹ֤ר (way·yiḡ·zōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1504: To cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decide

what is on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the right,
יָמִין֙ (yā·mîn)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

but they are still hungry;
וְרָעֵ֔ב (wə·rā·‘êḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7456: To be hungry

they have eaten
וַיֹּ֥אכַל (way·yō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

what is on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the left,
שְׂמֹ֖אול (śə·mō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand

but they are still not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

satisfied.
שָׂבֵ֑עוּ (śā·ḇê·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

Each one
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

devours
יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (yō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the flesh
בְּשַׂר־ (bə·śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

of his own arm.
זְרֹע֖וֹ (zə·rō·‘ōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, force


Links
Isaiah 9:20 NIV
Isaiah 9:20 NLT
Isaiah 9:20 ESV
Isaiah 9:20 NASB
Isaiah 9:20 KJV

Isaiah 9:20 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 9:20 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 9:20 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 9:20 French Bible
Isaiah 9:20 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 9:20 One will devour on the right hand (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 9:19
Top of Page
Top of Page