Isaiah30
King James Version · Public Domain
1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
7For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
8Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:
10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
11Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
12Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
13Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
14And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
15For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
16But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
18And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
21And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
22Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
23Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.
25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
28And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
29Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.
30And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
31For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.
32And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.
33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 30.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (1-7). Judgements in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (8-18). God's mercies to his church. (19-26). The ruin of the Assyrian army, and of all God's enemies. (27-33).
vv1-7
It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet submission to his will.
vv8-18
The Jews were the only professing people God then had in the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the light, but they loved darkness rather. The prophets checked them in their sinful pursuits, so that they could not proceed without fear; this they took amiss. But faithful ministers will not be driven from seeking to awaken sinners. God is the Holy One of Israel, and so they shall find him. They did not like to hear of his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety. Their state would be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Let us return from our evil ways, and settle in the way of duty; that is the way to be saved. Would we be strengthened, it must be in quietness and in confidence, keeping peace in our own minds, and relying upon God. They think themselves wiser than God; but the project by which they thought to save themselves was their ruin. Only here and there one shall escape, as a warning to others. If men will not repent, turn to God, and seek happiness in his favour and service, their desires will but hasten their ruin. Those who make God alone their confidence, will have comfort. God ever waits to be gracious to all that come to him by faith in Christ, and happy are those who wait for him.
vv19-26
God's people will soon arrive at the Zion above, and then they will weep no more for ever. Even now they would have more comfort, as well as holiness, if they were more constant in prayer. A famine of bread is not so great a judgment as a famine of the word of God. There are right-hand and left-hand errors; the tempter is busy courting us into by-paths. It is happy if, by the counsels of a faithful minister or friend, or the checks of conscience, and the strivings of God the Spirit, we are set right when doubting, and prevented from going wrong. They shall be cured of their idolatry. To all true penitents sin becomes very hateful. This is shown daily in the conversion of souls, by the power of Divine grace, to the fear and love of God. Abundant means of grace, with the influences of the Holy Spirit, would be extended to places destitute of them. The effect of this should be comfort and joy to the people of God. Light, that is, knowledge, shall increase. This is the light which the gospel brought into the world, and which proclaims healing to the broken-hearted.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
סָרַר: to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
נְאֻם: an oracle
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
עֵצָה: advice; by implication, plan; also prudence
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
נָסַךְ: to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint aking
מַסֵּכָה: properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e. league; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out)
Cross References
Isaiah 30Direct sister prophecy denouncing trust in Egyptian horses and strength rather than the Holy One.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Tophet identified as the valley near Jerusalem where children passed through the fire to Moloch.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Historical parallel of Israel failing to ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The law requiring leaders to ask counsel from the Lord through the priest's judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes the call to sit still and rest quietly as the only source of strength.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Tophet as a prepared place of fire, prefiguring the eternal fire prepared for the devil.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Writing down prophecy as a permanent written witness against a rebellious people.
Supported by JFB
The classic image of God breaking rebellious nations like a potter's vessel.
Supported by JFB
A physical enactment of breaking a potter's bottle, signifying irreparable national destruction.
Supported by JFB
The casting away of silver and gold idols in repentance, mirroring casting away as a menstruous cloth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God putting a hook in the nose and a bridle in the jaws of Assyria.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Assyrian designated as the rod of God's anger, now beaten down by God's voice.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Historical fulfillment where Pharaoh's army failed to prevent the Babylonian conquest.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel indictment of Judah being ashamed of alliances with Egypt and Assyria.
Supported by JFB
Condemns the popular desire for false prophets who speak deceptive, pleasing falsehoods.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills the covenant curse of fleeing before enemies due to disobedience.
Supported by John Calvin
Instruction to ask for the old paths and walk in the good way.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Highway of Holiness, where the wayfaring men shall not err.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The command to burn the images of silver and gold and not covet them.
Supported by JFB
The spiritual winnowing fan and shovel, separating the wheat from the chaff.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The tabrets and harps celebrating judgment correspond to the song in the night.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Zoan as the seat of Pharaoh's foolish counsellors.
Supported by JFB
The wilderness landscape described as a land of trouble, fiery serpents, and drought.
Supported by JFB
Command to write the vision plainly upon tables for public, future testimony.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the pressure put on prophets to speak only favorable, smooth predictions.
Supported by JFB
Ephraim's final renunciation of idols: 'What have I to do any more with idols?'
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical destruction of the Assyrian army, fulfilling the slaughter and falling towers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The ultimate fulfillment of spiritual light where the Lamb is the light thereof.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Tophet in the valley of Ben-Hinnom built for burning children in sacrifice.
Supported by Matthew Henry