Rolling Thing
The Phrase in Isaiah 17:13
In Isaiah 17:13, the KJV reads: "The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind." The phrase "rolling thing" translates the Hebrew word "galgal," which refers to something that revolves or whirls. Modern translations render this as "whirling dust" (ESV, NASB) or "tumbleweed" (NIV), providing a clearer image for contemporary readers.
The Hebrew Word Galgal
The Hebrew word "galgal" comes from a root meaning to roll or revolve. It appears elsewhere in the Old Testament with the meaning of "wheel" (Ecclesiastes 12:6) or something that turns. In Isaiah 17:13, the word describes the light, dried vegetation or dust that is caught up and driven violently across the landscape by desert winds. Anyone familiar with the arid climate of the Near East would immediately recognize this image: a shapeless mass of dry matter spinning helplessly before the force of a storm.
The Oracle Against Damascus
Isaiah 17 is an oracle against Damascus and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), which had allied together against Judah. The prophet declares that despite the intimidating power of these nations, who rush forward like mighty waters, God will rebuke them and they will scatter like chaff and whirling dust before the wind (Isaiah 17:12-13). The image shifts dramatically from the roar of many waters to the insignificance of windblown debris, illustrating how quickly God can reduce powerful enemies to nothing.
Related Biblical Imagery
The image of chaff and dust driven by the wind appears frequently in Scripture as a picture of the wicked or of defeated enemies. Psalm 1:4 declares that the wicked are "like chaff that the wind drives away." Psalm 83:13 prays, "O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind." Daniel 2:35 describes the kingdoms of the world as chaff from a threshing floor that the wind carries away. In each case, the imagery emphasizes the utter powerlessness of those who oppose God.
Theological Message
The rolling thing before the whirlwind communicates a powerful theological truth: no matter how fearsome human powers may appear, they are ultimately insubstantial before God's sovereign authority. Nations that seem as overwhelming as a flood of many waters become as weightless as dust when God speaks His rebuke. This image encourages God's people to trust in His protection rather than fearing the apparent strength of their enemies.
Biblical Context
The phrase 'rolling thing' appears in Isaiah 17:13, within the oracle against Damascus and Ephraim. The Hebrew 'galgal' also appears as 'wheel' in Ecclesiastes 12:6. The broader imagery of windblown chaff and dust pervades the psalms, prophets, and wisdom literature as a symbol of the impermanence of the wicked.
Theological Significance
The rolling thing metaphor teaches that God's rebuke instantly reduces the mightiest human opposition to insignificance. It reinforces the prophetic message that trust in God rather than in political alliances or military power is the path of wisdom for God's people.
Historical Background
The arid climate of the ancient Near East made the image of windblown debris immediately recognizable. Dry thistles, tumbleweeds, and dust storms were common phenomena in Palestine and surrounding regions. The agricultural practice of winnowing, which separated grain from chaff using wind, provided a natural metaphor for divine judgment throughout biblical literature.