Isaiah 2:10 kjv
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
Isaiah 2:10 nkjv
Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty.
Isaiah 2:10 niv
Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty!
Isaiah 2:10 esv
Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty.
Isaiah 2:10 nlt
Crawl into caves in the rocks.
Hide in the dust
from the terror of the LORD
and the glory of his majesty.
Isaiah 2 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 2:19 | People will flee to caves... from the terror of the LORD... | Similar flight from divine terror |
| Isa 2:21 | To go into the clefts of the rock and into the crags of the cliffs... | Further command to hide from God |
| Isa 13:6 | Wail, for the day of the LORD is near... | Imminent "Day of the LORD" |
| Isa 13:11 | I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity... | God's judgment on pride & wickedness |
| Isa 24:17-18 | Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you... | Inescapability of judgment |
| Hos 10:8 | And they will say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall on us." | Seeking cover from God's wrath |
| Rev 6:15-17 | Then the kings of the earth...hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains... | Futility of hiding from Christ's wrath |
| Luke 23:30 | Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us." | Echo of Hos 10:8 during final judgment |
| Psa 139:7-8 | Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? | Inability to escape God's omnipresence |
| Job 40:11-12 | Pour out the overflowings of your anger... | God's overwhelming judgment on the proud |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction... | Consequences of pride |
| Jas 4:6 | God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. | God's stance against human pride |
| Psa 18:27 | For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. | God humbles the proud |
| Zep 1:14-15 | The great Day of the LORD is near... a day of wrath, a day of distress... | Description of the "Day of the LORD" |
| Joel 2:1-2 | Blow a trumpet in Zion... For the day of the LORD is coming... | Warning of the "Day of the LORD" |
| Amos 5:18-20 | Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!... | "Day of the LORD" as darkness, not light |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven..." | Fierce nature of the "Day of the LORD" |
| 2 Pet 3:10 | But the day of the Lord will come like a thief... | NT perspective on final judgment |
| Psa 76:7 | But you, only you, are to be feared! Who can stand before you when you are angry? | God's terrifying anger and holiness |
| Exod 19:16 | On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud... | God's awesome and terrifying presence (Sinai) |
| Deut 4:24 | For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's fearsome nature |
| Psa 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... | Contrast: healthy fear vs. terror |
| Isa 2:17 | And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled... | Directly stated theme of Isaiah 2 |
| Isa 2:11 | The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled... | Direct parallel and reinforcement |
Isaiah 2 verses
Isaiah 2 10 Meaning
Isaiah 2:10 is an urgent and ironic command given to the proud and self-sufficient people, particularly of Judah and Jerusalem, telling them to seek refuge from the terrifying, overwhelming presence and majesty of the Lord during His coming day of judgment. It signifies the complete breakdown of human security and the inescapable terror that will befall those who have exalted themselves against God.
Isaiah 2 10 Context
Isaiah 2:10 is embedded within a prophetic message primarily addressing Judah and Jerusalem, foretelling God's coming "Day of the Lord." Chapters 1 and 2 highlight the spiritual corruption, idolatry, and human pride prevalent in society. Chapter 2 opens with a glorious vision of Zion's future exaltation and the universal pilgrimage to the Lord's house, where war ceases and God's law goes forth (Isa 2:2-4). Immediately following this, there's a sharp contrast as Isaiah laments Judah's descent into idolatry, reliance on military might, and trust in material wealth rather than God (Isa 2:6-9). Verse 10, therefore, serves as a direct and sarcastic call for the proud people to humble themselves in the face of the inevitable, terrifying divine judgment. The verses that follow (Isa 2:11-22) detail the thoroughness of this judgment, emphasizing that all human loftiness, whether physical structures or spiritual arrogance, will be abased, and only the Lord will be exalted. This prophecy serves as a polemic against the contemporary beliefs of self-sufficiency, material trust, and idol worship, redirecting focus to the absolute sovereignty of the one true God.
Isaiah 2 10 Word analysis
- "Enter into the rock," (בּוֹאוּ בַצּוּר, bo'u ba-tsur): The imperative plural "Enter" (bo'u) is a command directed at the inhabitants of Judah, characterized by pride and idolatry earlier in the chapter. "The rock" (ha-tsur) usually denotes strength and refuge (e.g., God is described as a rock). However, here it's an ironic command; it signifies a futile attempt to hide. This refuge becomes a place of desperate concealment rather than secure protection, emphasizing the inescapable nature of God's coming judgment.
- "and hide thee in the dust," (וְהִטָּמְנוּ בֶּעָפָר, ve-hitt'am'nu be-`afar): "Hide" (hitt'am'nu) is reflexive, stressing that they are to seek hiding for themselves in desperation. "The dust" (ha-`afar) signifies utter lowliness, humility, and is strongly associated with death and decomposition (Gen 3:19, "dust you are and to dust you will return"). This phrase intensifies the imagery of humiliation and the desire to vanish completely in the face of terror, reflecting extreme despair.
- "for fear of the Lord," (מִפְּנֵי פַחַד יְהוָה, mip'nei pachad YHVH): "For fear" or "from the face of the terror" (mip'nei pachad) describes the intense, overwhelming dread that God's presence evokes in the unrighteous. It is not the reverential "fear of the Lord" that leads to wisdom, but a visceral terror induced by divine judgment. "The Lord" (YHVH), God's covenant name, underscores His sovereignty and unchallengeable authority in bringing this judgment.
- "and for the glory of his majesty." (וּמִתְּלֵצֶת גְּאוֹנוֹ, u-mi'telat'set g'on'o): "And from the splendor/excellency of his majesty" (u-mi'telat'set g'on'o). "Splendor" or "excellency" (related to telatset) refers to the radiant glory of God, and "majesty" (ge'on) signifies His supreme loftiness, pride, and exaltedness. For the wicked, this very glory, which should inspire worship, becomes a source of terrifying judgment because they stand exposed in their sin against it.
- "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust": This phrase is a powerful, satirical command, directly contrasting with the human inclination to build lofty structures and accumulate wealth (as seen in earlier verses of Isaiah 2). It's a call to abandon all earthly pretenses and seek the most base forms of concealment, highlighting the futility of human pride and self-reliance against God's power.
- "for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty": These phrases identify the irresistible and awe-inspiring source of terror. God's pachad (terror/dread) and ge'on (majesty/glory) are so immense that they compel flight and utter humility, forcing recognition of His incomparable nature. The judgment is not merely destructive; it is a direct revelation of God's terrible glory.
Isaiah 2 10 Bonus section
The vivid imagery in Isaiah 2:10, along with similar verses (e.g., Rev 6:15-17, Hos 10:8), powerfully illustrates the concept that divine judgment is not something to be merely "weathered" but an encounter so terrifying that it elicits a primal instinct to escape or disappear from God's presence. This fear is a holy terror, not of punishment per se, but of encountering absolute holiness and power while standing in sin. It serves as a stark warning against pride and self-exaltation, reiterating the theological truth that true security lies not in human accomplishments or material possessions but solely in the Lord Himself, as a refuge. Furthermore, the passage foreshadows a reversal of human values and perceptions; what was once considered strong (rock) becomes a mere hiding place, and what was once celebrated (human dignity) is reduced to dust. This verse is integral to understanding the full scope of the Day of the Lord prophecies, emphasizing its universally impactful and humbling nature.
Isaiah 2 10 Commentary
Isaiah 2:10 delivers a chilling, imperative statement directed at humanity, particularly the proud of Judah, forecasting a time when their only response to God's manifested presence will be to desperately seek concealment. The irony is sharp: those who exalted themselves will be forced into the most debased forms of hiding – into the natural cracks of the earth ("rock") and into utter insignificance ("dust"). This is not an instruction for salvation, but a vivid prophetic depiction of the inescapable horror of divine judgment, which strips away all human pretense and worldly security. The underlying message is that all human boasting and self-reliance, manifested in wealth, military power, and idolatry, will utterly crumble before the unparalleled majesty and fearful holiness of the Lord. The Day of the Lord, characterized by His overwhelming splendor, will humble every lofty thing and reveal the absolute sovereignty of God, forcing a recognition of His true glory by His overwhelming power and justice.