Definition: The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Isaiah 9:12. It’s a pretty powerful and complex passage, so we'll go through it step-by-step. Here's the gist: This verse is warning about a future conflict between the Syrians and the Philistines – two groups of people who will be battling for control of Israel. It says that these groups will ultimately destroy Israel, but they won’t stop doing it until they have a final, destructive act. Let's unpack each part: “The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind…” This tells us this is happening before the conflict actually begins. It’s about a period of increasing tension and potential for trouble. “…and they shall devour Israel with open mouth.” This is the core of the warning. "Devour" means to destroy completely. The Syrians and Philistines are portrayed as having a plan to take over, and they intend to do it completely and decisively. “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.” This is the crucial part that adds to the meaning. It's saying that even though they’re actively destroying Israel, God doesn’t give up on fighting them. He’s still extending his hand – meaning he’s continuing to work against them. It suggests a persistent and unwavering effort. So, what does it mean in simpler terms? It means that the future conflict between the Syrians and Philistines is going to be incredibly violent and destructive. They're not going to stop until they have achieved their goal of taking over Israel. God is determined to fight back, even if it seems like they’re winning. Important Note: This verse is often interpreted as a prophecy about the rise of Assyria – a powerful empire that would eventually dominate the region. However, there's debate among theologians about whether this is a literal prediction of an empire or a symbolic representation of God’s ongoing struggle against evil and oppression. In short, it’s a warning about impending conflict with devastating consequences. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these concepts in more detail? Provide context for the story of Isaiah 9? Discuss the different interpretations of this verse?