Isaiah 30:6-14

6 A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation,
7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.
8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.
9 For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction.
10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”
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.”

Isaiah 30:6-14 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 29

  • 1. Isaiah 13:1
  • 2. S Judges 1:9
  • 3. S Exodus 1:13; Exodus 5:10,21; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 8:22; Jeremiah 11:4
  • 4. S Isaiah 5:29; Isaiah 35:9
  • 5. S Deuteronomy 8:15
  • 6. S Genesis 42:26; S 1 Samuel 25:18
  • 7. S Isaiah 15:7
  • 8. S 2 Kings 18:21; S Jeremiah 2:36
  • 9. S Job 9:13
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 27:8
  • 11. S Exodus 17:14; S Isaiah 8:1; Jeremiah 25:13; Jeremiah 30:2; Jeremiah 36:28; Habakkuk 2:2
  • 12. Joshua 24:26-27
  • 13. S Psalms 78:8; S Isaiah 1:2; S Ezekiel 2:6
  • 14. Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 59:3-4
  • 15. S Isaiah 1:10
  • 16. S 1 Samuel 9:9
  • 17. Jeremiah 11:21; Jeremiah 32:3; Amos 7:13
  • 18. S 1 Kings 22:8; S Jeremiah 4:10
  • 19. Jeremiah 23:26; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 26:9; Jeremiah 36:29; Ezekiel 13:7; Romans 16:18; 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  • 20. ver 21; Proverbs 3:6; Isaiah 35:8-9; Isaiah 48:17
  • 21. S Job 21:14
  • 22. S Isaiah 29:19
  • 23. ver 15; S Isaiah 5:19; Isaiah 31:1
  • 24. S Isaiah 5:24
  • 25. S Psalms 10:7; S Psalms 12:5; S Isaiah 5:7
  • 26. S Nehemiah 2:17; Psalms 62:3; S Psalms 80:12
  • 27. S 1 Kings 20:30
  • 28. S Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 29:5
  • 29. S Psalms 2:9; Jeremiah 19:10-11
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