Isaiah 22:17-25

17 Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. 1He will seize firm hold on you
18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be 2your glorious chariots, you shame of your master's house.
19 3I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station.
20 In that day I will call my servant 4Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21 and 5I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be 6a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 And I will place 7on his shoulder 8the key of the house of David. 9He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
23 And I will fasten him 10like a peg in a secure place, and he will become 11a throne of honor to his father's house.
24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.
25 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, 12the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 22:17-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 22

This chapter contains two prophecies, one concerning the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem, not by the Medes and Persians, but by the Assyrian army, under which they served; and the other of the removal of Shebna, an officer in Hezekiah's court, and of the placing of Eliakim in his stead. After the title of the former of these prophecies, the distress of the people, through the invasion, is described, by their getting up to the housetops, Isa 22:1 by the stillness of the city, having left both trade and mirth; by the slain in it, not by the sword, but through fear or famine, Isa 22:2 by the flight of the rulers, and by the lamentation of the prophet, Isa 22:3-5 the instruments of which distress were the Persians and Medes serving under Sennacherib, who are described by their quivers and shields, their chariots and horsemen, Isa 22:6,7 the methods the Jews took to defend themselves, and their vain confidence, are exposed; for which, with their disrespect to the Lord, and his admonitions, their carnal security and luxury, they are threatened with death, Isa 22:8-14 then follows the prophecy of the deposition of Shebna, who is described by his name and office, Isa 22:15 whose pride is exposed as the cause of his fall, Isa 22:16 and he is threatened not only to be driven from his station, but to be carried captive into another country, suddenly and violently, and with great shame and disgrace, Isa 22:17-19 and another put in his place, who is mentioned by name, Isa 22:20 and who should be invested with his office and power, and have all the ensigns of it, Isa 22:21,22 and should continue long in it, to great honour and usefulness to his family, Isa 22:23,24 yet not always, Isa 22:25.

Cross References 12

  • 1. [Daniel 3:21]
  • 2. [Isaiah 36:9]
  • 3. [ver. 25]
  • 4. Isaiah 36:3; Isaiah 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 2 Kings 19:2
  • 5. [See ver. 20 above]
  • 6. Genesis 45:8
  • 7. Isaiah 9:6
  • 8. Revelation 3:7
  • 9. [Job 12:14]
  • 10. [Isaiah 33:20; Isaiah 54:2; Ecclesiastes 12:11]
  • 11. [Revelation 3:21]
  • 12. [See ver. 23 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.