Isaiah 30:8-17

A Rebellious People

8 And now, go, 1write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.[a]
9 2For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD;
10 3who say to 4the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us 5smooth things, prophesy illusions,
11 leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Because you despise this word and trust in 6oppression and perverseness and rely on them,
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you 7like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is 8like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern."
15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In 9returning[b] and 10rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling,
16 and you said, "No! We will flee upon 11horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
17 12A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.

Isaiah 30:8-17 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 12

  • 1. Habakkuk 2:2
  • 2. ver. 1
  • 3. Amos 2:12; [Amos 7:12, 13]
  • 4. See 1 Samuel 9:9
  • 5. [1 Kings 22:13]; See Jeremiah 28:1-11; Ezekiel 13:8-16
  • 6. [Isaiah 5:8, 20]
  • 7. Psalms 62:3
  • 8. Psalms 2:9
  • 9. Hosea 14:1
  • 10. [Exodus 14:14]
  • 11. Isaiah 31:1, 3; [Hosea 14:3]
  • 12. [Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 32:30]

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate, and Greek versions; Masoretic Text forever and ever
  • [b]. Or repentance
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.