Isaiah 57:1-13

Israel's Futile Idolatry

1 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; 1devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
2 2he enters into peace; they rest 3in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
3 But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, 4offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom 5do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of 6transgression, 7the offspring of deceit,
5 you who burn with lust among 8the oaks,[a] under every green tree, 9who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of 10the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
7 11On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, 12you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, 13you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.[b]
9 You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; 14you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.
10 You were wearied with the length of your way, 15but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.[c]
11 16Whom did you dread and fear, 17so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? 18Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.
13 19When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. 20But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit 21my holy mountain.

Isaiah 57:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 57

This chapter contains complaints of the stupidity and idolatry of the people, described in the latter part of the preceding chapter; and some promises of grace to the people of God. The stupidity of the former is observed, Isa 57:1 they not taking notice of the death of good men, nor of impending calamities they were taken from, whose happiness is described, Isa 57:2, then these idolatrous people are summoned before the Lord, Isa 57:3 and are charged with deriding the saints with idolatry and murder, Isa 57:4-6 and their idolatry is represented under the notion of adultery, attended with very aggravating circumstances, Isa 57:7-9 and yet these people still entertained presumptuous hopes of happiness, and boasted of, and trusted in, their righteousness and good works, which would be exposed, and be of no advantage to them, Isa 57:10-12, next follow promises of grace to the saints, that such that trusted in Christ should inherit the holy mountain, Isa 57:13 that the stumblingblock of his people should be removed, Isa 57:14, that he should dwell with the humble and contrite, Isa 57:15, and not be always wroth and contend with them, for a reason given, Isa 57:16 and that though he had smote them, and hid his face from them because of their sins, yet would heal them, lead them, and comfort them, and speak peace unto them, Isa 57:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with the character of the wicked, and an assurance that there is no peace for them, Isa 57:20,21.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Psalms 12:1
  • 2. [Luke 2:29]
  • 3. 2 Chronicles 16:14; Ezekiel 32:25
  • 4. [John 8:41, 42]
  • 5. [Psalms 35:21]
  • 6. Isaiah 46:8, 9
  • 7. [Isaiah 1:4]
  • 8. Isaiah 1:29; 2 Kings 16:4
  • 9. Ezekiel 16:20, 21
  • 10. [2 Kings 23:10]
  • 11. 1 Kings 14:23; Ezekiel 16:16, 24
  • 12. Ezekiel 16:25; [Hosea 1:2]
  • 13. [Ezekiel 23:17]
  • 14. Ezek. 16:26, 28, 29
  • 15. Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 18:12
  • 16. [Isaiah 51:12, 13]
  • 17. Psalms 78:10, 36
  • 18. Psalms 50:21
  • 19. Jeremiah 11:12
  • 20. Psalms 37:9
  • 21. Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 65:11, 25

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or among the terebinths
  • [b]. Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand
  • [c]. Hebrew and so you were not sick
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.