Isaiah 1:31 kjv

And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

Isaiah 1:31 nkjv

The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them.

Isaiah 1:31 niv

The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

Isaiah 1:31 esv

And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.

Isaiah 1:31 nlt

The strongest among you will disappear like straw;
their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire.
They and their evil works will burn up together,
and no one will be able to put out the fire.

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 31 Meaning

Isaiah 1:31 proclaims that those who appear strong and powerful due to their rebellion against God will become utterly vulnerable and easily consumed, akin to a piece of kindling. Furthermore, their very accomplishments, deeds, or sources of pride will become the spark that ignites their complete destruction. This judgment is presented as absolute and irreversible, signifying that there will be no one able to extinguish the consuming fire once it has begun, symbolizing the finality of divine wrath against unrepentant sin.

Isaiah 1 31 Context

Isaiah chapter 1 serves as the Lord's "case" or "lawsuit" against Judah and Jerusalem, acting as an introduction to the entire book. It opens with a scathing indictment of the nation's spiritual apostasy and moral corruption, comparing them to sick and festering wounds, utterly rebellious children (Isa 1:2-6). Despite abundant sacrifices, their worship is deemed abhorrent because it lacks true righteousness, justice, and repentance (Isa 1:10-15). The Lord urges them to "reason together" and offers a pathway to forgiveness and restoration if they repent and pursue justice (Isa 1:18-19). However, if they refuse, the chapter warns of severe judgment. Verse 31 stands as the climax of this warning for those who stubbornly refuse to turn back to God, detailing the grim fate awaiting the "strong" or "oaks" (referencing previous verses 29-30, speaking of those practicing idolatry under trees, especially terebinth/oak) who have become weak through their spiritual infidelity and false reliance on idols or human strength. It highlights that their supposed strength and their very accomplishments (works) will be the instruments of their inevitable downfall. Historically, Judah at this time was characterized by superficial religiosity, rampant social injustice, reliance on foreign alliances rather than God, and persistent syncretism with pagan practices, all of which contributed to the false sense of security that Isaiah condemns.

Isaiah 1 31 Word analysis

• strong (חָסִין - ḥāsīn): This Hebrew word implies robust, mighty, firm, or powerful. In the context of Isaiah 1:29-30, it refers to those who are stubborn, defiant, and secure in their own ways or in their false idols. It evokes a sense of human confidence and self-sufficiency, often connected to worldly power, wealth, or perceived invulnerability, but it stands in stark contrast to true, divine strength.
• as tinder (כְּנֹעֶרֶת - kə-nō‘eret): The word ne‘ōret means tow, tinder, or fine fibrous material (often from flax) used to catch a spark and easily ignite. This metaphor dramatically undermines the supposed strength of the wicked, reducing it to something utterly frail and highly combustible, emphasizing the swiftness and completeness of their destruction. It highlights their inherent vulnerability before divine judgment.
• his work (פָּעֲלֹו - po‘alō): Refers to one's actions, deeds, accomplishments, or labor. For the wicked, this includes their idolatrous practices, unjust gains, or anything they depend on apart from God. This phrase indicates that the very things they rely upon or build their identity around will be the cause of their undoing, a testament to divine poetic justice where the means of their rebellion become the instrument of their ruin.
• a spark (כְּנִיצוֹץ - kə-nīṣōṣ): Nīṣōṣ refers to a spark. This word symbolizes the igniting agent of destruction. The irony is profound: their "works"—their sinful endeavors, their self-reliance, their idols—which they consider solid or beneficial, will ironically become the tiny, yet powerful, spark that sets off the conflagration of their own judgment, demonstrating that sin contains the seeds of its own destruction.
• shall burn together (וּבָעֲרוּ יַחְדָּו - ū-vā‘arū yaḥdāw): This phrase emphasizes complete and concurrent consumption. Both the seemingly strong person (now tinder) and their self-destructive works (the spark) will be utterly consumed by the same judgment. This signifies an inevitable, simultaneous, and inescapable fate for the sinner and their sinful ways.
• with none to quench them (וְאֵין מְכַבֶּה - wə-ʾēn məkabbēh): This is a powerful declaration of the finality and irresistibility of divine judgment. There will be no possibility of extinguishing, preventing, or escaping the fiery consequences. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the complete despair of those upon whom His unquenchable wrath descends.

Isaiah 1 31 Bonus section

This verse stands as a severe warning against idolatry and trusting in human constructs or strength. In the context of Isaiah 1, which criticizes Judah for abandoning God for false gods (implied by "oaks" and "gardens" in verses 29-30) and for social injustice, it emphasizes a principle of poetic justice: the very things they rely upon become their undoing. This serves as a stark contrast to those who "come to terms" with God in verse 18; while for the righteous, sins like scarlet will be white as snow, for the rebellious, their presumed strength and works will ensure their demise. The unquenchable nature of the fire echoes divine judgment found throughout scripture, symbolizing a permanent, irreversible consequence of profound spiritual rebellion and rejection of God's offer of repentance and grace. It underscores the ultimate futility of relying on anything other than the Creator, as all human-made "strength" or "works" ultimately crumble and combust when exposed to His fiery holiness.

Isaiah 1 31 Commentary

Isaiah 1:31 paints a vivid, albeit chilling, picture of the ultimate destiny of those who, though outwardly appearing robust and self-reliant, persist in rebellion against God. The prophet, speaking for the Lord, exposes the fundamental frailty of human strength when divorced from divine grace and righteousness. The "strong"—referring to the obstinate, idolatrous, and ethically corrupt—are stripped of their false might and rendered as dry, volatile kindling, ready for swift combustion. This powerful imagery underscores that worldly power, accumulated wealth, or even rigid self-righteousness are utterly worthless in the face of divine judgment.

Moreover, the verse deepens its warning by declaring that their "work," which encompasses their actions, achievements, and perhaps even the very objects of their idolatrous trust, will not be a shield but the catalyst for their downfall, serving as the "spark" that ignites their ruin. This points to the inherent self-destructive nature of sin and defiance against God; what seems to provide security or satisfaction ultimately contains the seeds of one's own destruction. The culmination, "they shall burn together, with none to quench them," forcefully asserts the comprehensiveness, finality, and irrevocability of this judgment. It speaks of a consuming fire that cannot be mitigated or escaped, a testament to the inescapable nature of God's holy justice when met with persistent unrepentance. It warns against trusting in anything other than the Lord for security and reminds us that true strength lies not in worldly power but in humble submission and obedience to the Almighty.