Isaiah 1:30 kjv

For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

Isaiah 1:30 nkjv

For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden that has no water.

Isaiah 1:30 niv

You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water.

Isaiah 1:30 esv

For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water.

Isaiah 1:30 nlt

You will be like a great tree with withered leaves,
like a garden without water.

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 30 Meaning

Isaiah 1:30 prophesies a devastating judgment upon the rebellious people of Judah, likening their future state of desolation to two powerful images of decay: a once-mighty oak tree with its leaves withered, and a well-tended garden completely devoid of water. This vivid imagery conveys total loss of vitality, beauty, and sustenance, reflecting the spiritual and national ruin brought about by their rejection of God and embrace of idolatry.

Isaiah 1 30 Context

Isaiah 1 serves as a prophetic indictment against the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. The chapter opens with a celestial court scene where God brings charges against His rebellious "children" (Isa 1:2). They are spiritually diseased, covered in wounds and sores from their pervasive sin (Isa 1:5-6), likened to "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" (Isa 1:9-10). God laments their formal, yet empty, worship, their injustice, and their embrace of idolatry (Isa 1:11-17). He then offers a glimmer of hope for repentance and cleansing (Isa 1:18-20), contrasting it sharply with the grim fate of those who refuse to return to Him. Verse 30 falls squarely within this pronouncement of judgment for their persistent apostasy. Historically, Judah had a pattern of falling into idolatry, often incorporating local pagan practices. The imagery of "oaks" and "gardens" is particularly poignant as these were often sites of pagan worship (Deut 12:2; 2 Kgs 16:4), where fertility rites and sacrifices to foreign gods were performed, directly defying the covenant with YHWH. The verse is a direct polemic, countering the false promise of vitality and abundance offered by these idols, asserting that instead, they would bring the very opposite: barrenness, decay, and desolation.

Isaiah 1 30 Word analysis

• For: (כִּי, ki) This conjunction serves as a causal link, directly connecting the state described in the verse to the preceding declaration of judgment upon the rebellious nation, highlighting the inevitable consequence of their actions and continued spiritual decay.
• you shall be: (תִּהְי֛וּ, tihyu) This is a direct, prophetic statement in the future tense, addressing the people of Judah (plural "you"). It conveys certainty that their spiritual condition will result in a definitive state of decline and eventual ruin.
• like an oak: (כְּאֵלָ֣ה, ke'elah) The preposition ke- means "like." Elah (אֵלָה) refers to a terebinth tree or a large oak. These trees were known for their longevity, strength, and deep roots, symbolizing stability and vigor. They were also notoriously used as sites for pagan worship and fertility rites, considered sacred by local cultures (cf. Gen 12:6, Jdg 9:6). The comparison suggests a fall from an originally strong, respected state.
• whose leaf fades: (נֹבֶ֗לֶת עָלֶהָ֮, novelet aleha) Novelet is from the root nabal (נָבַל), meaning "to fade, wilt, wither, decay." Aleha means "its leaf." This imagery speaks of internal decline and the loss of life, vibrancy, and beauty. A fading leaf signals the tree's imminent decay, even if the tree itself is massive, indicating an intrinsic rot rather than an external force felling it directly. It shows a slow, painful deterioration.
• and like a garden: (וּכְגַנָּה֙, u'khgannah) The u- means "and," ke- "like," and gannah (גַּנָּה) refers to a cultivated garden, a place of growth and expected fruitfulness. Gardens require constant care and sustenance to thrive. This simile contrasts with the oak's inherent strength, highlighting dependency on external provision for life.
• without water: (אֲשֶׁ֣ר מַ֔יִם לֹא־לָֽהּ, asher mayim lo lah) This phrase, literally "which water not to it/has no water to it," emphasizes complete and utter lack. Water is synonymous with life, provision, blessing, and God's Spirit in biblical theology. To be "without water" is to be barren, dried up, unable to produce, and ultimately, to face death. It signifies total divine abandonment or withdrawal of favor, leading to spiritual and national barrenness.

• "For you shall be like": This phrase establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting the inevitable and devastating consequence that awaits Judah for their ongoing rebellion and spiritual prostitution. It is a divine decree.
• "an oak whose leaf fades": This potent image suggests an internal decline. An oak is usually robust and long-lived, so its fading leaf indicates deep-seated spiritual sickness or a pervasive internal decay. This speaks to their moral and religious corruption, where even outwardly strong appearances conceal an inner death. It subtly rebukes their reliance on pagan sacred trees, as even those would offer no true vitality.
• "and like a garden without water": This second simile reinforces the first, extending the picture of desolation to an external lack of provision. A garden, a place intended for fertility and produce, becomes completely barren without water. This symbolizes a lack of divine sustenance, blessing, and protection, essential for the nation's spiritual and physical survival. It depicts complete spiritual aridity and utter ruin.
• Combined Imagery: "fading oak" and "garden without water": These two powerful similes work in tandem to convey a comprehensive picture of national and spiritual doom. The oak's internal decay paired with the garden's external desiccation illustrates that both the inner spiritual vitality and the outer divine sustenance will be cut off, leading to total collapse and utter fruitlessness for a nation that once held such promise.

Isaiah 1 30 Bonus section

The "oak" (elah/terebinth) often marked significant locations in ancient Israel, some associated with God's revelation (e.g., Oaks of Mamre in Gen 13:18) and others tragically with pagan worship (Eze 6:13). The selection of this strong, seemingly enduring tree whose leaf now "fades" is a direct strike at the perceived stability or blessing associated with these idolatrous practices. Instead of vitality from their false gods, comes a withering away. The emphasis on "water" (or its lack) in ancient Near Eastern thought is paramount, as water was truly the source of all life in arid lands. Thus, a "garden without water" paints the most extreme picture of hopelessness and death imaginable. This verse serves as a stark warning, reinforcing the foundational covenant principle: obedience to God leads to blessing and life, while disobedience leads to curse and desolation. Despite the severity, the overarching context of Isaiah's prophecy also holds out hope for a remnant who would return to the Lord and be renewed (e.g., Isa 35:7, 58:11).

Isaiah 1 30 Commentary

Isaiah 1:30 serves as a somber conclusion to God's arraignment of Judah, unequivocally pronouncing the consequence of their apostasy. The nation, once chosen and fruitful, has become like an oak tree that, despite its natural robustness, is inexplicably withering, and a once-cultivated garden that lies desolate, utterly devoid of the life-giving water it needs. This vividly portrays the spiritual decay that began from within—a fading of the life God had instilled—coupled with the complete cessation of God's sustaining grace and blessing. The message is clear: turning from the Creator, who is the true source of all life and abundance, leads inexorably to spiritual barrenness, desolation, and judgment. Their chosen idols and forbidden rites performed "under every green tree" (idolatrous oaks and fertile gardens) prove futile; they bring only the opposite of the promised fertility: decay and desolation.