Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
razor—The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it (Isaiah 10:5; Ezekiel 29:19-20).
hired—alluding to Ahaz' hiring (II Kings 16:7-8) Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel; namely,
by them beyond the river—namely, the Euphrates; the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge (Psalms 72:8); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included (Isaiah 7:18) [G. V. SMITH]. GESENIUS translates, "With a razor hired in the parts beyond the river."
head . . . feet—the whole body, including the most honored parts. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Easterner (Isaiah 50:6; II Samuel 10:4-5; Ezekiel 5:1).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Isaiah 7:20:
Isaiah 7:3
Isaiah 7:18
Isaiah 8:7
Isaiah 32:13
Ezekiel 5:1
Nahum 1:12-14
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.