Isaiah 22:14

14 I heard the LORD who rules over all speaking. "Your sin can never be paid for as long as you people live," says the Lord.

Isaiah 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 22:14

And it was revealed in my ears by the Lord of hosts
Both what they said in the preceding verse ( Isaiah 22:13 ) , their profane, impious, and scoffing language; which perhaps was not expressed by words, but said in their hearts, and which God the searcher of hearts knew, and revealed it to the prophet; and also what he determined to do upon this, which is afterwards said, which being a purpose within himself, could not be known without a divine revelation; so the Targum,

``the prophet said, with mine ears I was hearing, when this was decreed from before the Lord of hosts;''

namely, that their iniquity should not be forgiven; the Vulgate Latin version is, "the voice of the Lord of hosts is revealed in mine ears"; saying what is expressed in the next clause: but the Septuagint, and Arabic versions, understand it of the ears of Lord of hosts himself: and Aben Ezra thinks the word "ani" or "I" is wanting, and so Kimchi; and that the words should be rendered thus, "it was revealed in mine ears, [I am] the Lord of hosts": and so it is by some others, "it was revealed in the ears of me, the Lord of hosts" ^F17, or, "of the Lord of hosts"; the wickedness, profaneness, and luxury of the people; the cry of their sins came up into the ears of the Lord of hosts, and therefore he determined to do what he next declares: Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die;
it being of heinous nature, so daring, insolent, and affronting, such a contempt of God and his word, and discovering such impenitence and hardness of heart, it should not be expiated by any sacrifice whatever; not by the day of atonement, nor death itself, as the Jews from hence fancy; in short, it should not be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in that to come; for if not till they died, then not after, where there is no repentance, nor remission; see ( Matthew 12:32 ) the words are in the form of an oath, "if this iniquity be purged, or expiated" ^F18; the Lord swears to it, that it never should be pardoned, but they should die in it; as a corporeal, so an eternal death. The Targum interprets it of the second death; that is, as Kimchi explains it, the death of the soul in the world to come; see ( Revelation 21:8 ) : saith the Lord God of hosts;
and therefore this would certainly be the case; for his word and oath are his two immutable things, in which it is impossible for him to lie.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (ynzab hlgnw) "et revelabitur in auribus meis Domini exercituum", Montanus; "et revelatum in auribus Domini" Musculus.
F18 (rpky Ma) "si exibitur", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator; "si expietur", Junius & Tremellius.

Isaiah 22:14 In-Context

12 The LORD who rules over all called out to you at that time. The Lord told you to sob and cry. He told you to tear your hair out. And he told you to put black clothes on.

13 Instead, you are enjoying yourselves at wild parties! You are killing cattle and sheep. You are eating their meat and drinking wine. You are saying, "Let's eat and drink, because tomorrow we'll die."

14 I heard the LORD who rules over all speaking. "Your sin can never be paid for as long as you people live," says the Lord.

15 The LORD who rules over all speaks. The Lord says, "Go. Speak to the head servant Shebna. He is in charge of the palace. Tell him,

16 'What are you doing here outside the city? Who allowed you to cut out a tomb for yourself here? Who said you could carve out your grave on the hillside? Who allowed you to cut out your resting place in the rock?