Isaiah 30:12-21

12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit,
13 this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
14 It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.”
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.”
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.
21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:12-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 30

This chapter contains a complaint of the Jews for their sins and transgressions; a prophecy of their destruction for them; a promise of grace and mercy, and of happy times, to the saints; and a threatening of utter and dreadful ruin to the wicked. The Jews are complained of for their rebellion against God, their slighting his counsel and protection, their trust in Egypt, and application there for help; whither they went with their riches for safety, but in vain, it being contrary to the will and counsel of God, Isa 30:1-7 next follows a denunciation of ruin and destruction for these things, rebellion, and lying, and vain confidence, as well as for contempt of the word of God, which, that it might appear sure and certain, is ordered to be written in a book, Isa 30:8-12 and this ruin is signified by the sudden falling of a wall, and by the breaking of a potter's vessel into pieces, which can never be used more, Isa 30:13,14 and seeing they rejected the way of salvation proposed by the Lord, and took their own way, first destruction is threatened them, which should be very easily brought about, and become so general, that few should escape it, Isa 30:15-17 and then promises of grace and mercy are made to them that wait for the Lord, Isa 30:18 such as a dwelling place in Zion, hearing their prayers, granting them teachers to instruct them, and the riddance of idolatry from them, Isa 30:19-22 and also many outward blessings, as seasonable rain, good bread corn, fat pastures, good food for cattle, and fruitfulness of mountains and hills, Isa 30:23-25 likewise an amazing degree of spiritual light and glory, and healing of the Lord's people, Isa 30:26 and the chapter is concluded with a threatening Of God's wrath upon the Assyrian, expressed by various similes, as of an angry man, an overflowing torrent, a tempest of thunder, lightning, and hail, and the fire of Tophet, Isa 30:27-33.

Cross References 30

  • 1. ver 15; S Isaiah 5:19; Isaiah 31:1
  • 2. S Isaiah 5:24
  • 3. S Psalms 10:7; S Psalms 12:5; S Isaiah 5:7
  • 4. S Nehemiah 2:17; Psalms 62:3; S Psalms 80:12
  • 5. S 1 Kings 20:30
  • 6. S Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 29:5
  • 7. S Psalms 2:9; Jeremiah 19:10-11
  • 8. Jeremiah 7:20; Ezekiel 3:11
  • 9. S ver 12
  • 10. S Exodus 14:14; S Joshua 1:13
  • 11. S 2 Chronicles 20:12; Isaiah 32:17
  • 12. Isaiah 8:6; Isaiah 42:24; Isaiah 57:17
  • 13. Jeremiah 46:6
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 17:16; 1 Kings 10:28-29; S Psalms 20:7; Isaiah 31:1,3; Isaiah 36:8
  • 15. S Leviticus 26:8; Joshua 23:10
  • 16. Leviticus 26:36; Deuteronomy 28:25; S 2 Kings 7:7
  • 17. S Isaiah 1:8
  • 18. S Psalms 20:5
  • 19. S Genesis 43:31; Isaiah 42:14; 2 Peter 3:9,15
  • 20. Psalms 78:38; Isaiah 48:9; John 3:10
  • 21. S Psalms 11:7; S Isaiah 5:16
  • 22. S Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 33:2; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 64:4; Lamentations 3:25; Daniel 12:12
  • 23. S Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 61:3
  • 24. S Job 24:12
  • 25. Job 22:27; Psalms 50:15; S Psalms 86:7; Isaiah 41:17; Isaiah 58:9; Isaiah 65:24; Zechariah 13:9; Matthew 7:7-11
  • 26. 1 Kings 22:27
  • 27. S Isaiah 28:9
  • 28. Psalms 74:9; Amos 8:11
  • 29. S Isaiah 29:24
  • 30. S ver 11; S Job 33:11
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.