# tongue of fire

"flame of fire" or "flame"

# as the tongue of fire devours stubble, and as the dry grass goes down in flame

These phrases mean basically the same thing. God will punish the people described in [Isaiah 5:18-23](./18.md). Alternate translation: "as a fire burns up stubble and grass" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])

# stubble

The dry pieces of plants that are left in the ground after the stalks have been cut.

# their root will rot, and their blossom will blow away like dust

Isaiah speaks of these people as if they were a dying plant. Alternate translation: "they will die like a plant whose roots have rotted and whose blossom has dried up and blown away in the wind" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])