Isaiah 2 17

Isaiah 2:17 kjv

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:17 nkjv

The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Isaiah 2:17 niv

The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Isaiah 2:17 esv

And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:17 nlt

Human pride will be humbled,
and human arrogance will be brought down.
Only the LORD will be exalted
on that day of judgment.

Isaiah 2 verses

Isaiah 2 17 Meaning

Isaiah 2:17 declares that during a pivotal future "Day," the pride and arrogance of humanity, manifest in all forms of human achievement, self-exaltation, and perceived strength, will be decisively brought low and humbled. Concurrently, in direct contrast and consequence, the LORD alone will be unequivocally exalted and glorified, establishing His sovereign supremacy over all creation and human affairs.

Isaiah 2 17 Context

Isaiah 2:17 is embedded within a prophetic discourse about the "Day of the LORD" (Isa 2:11, 12, 17, 20). The preceding verses (2:6-16) describe in vivid detail the manifold expressions of human pride and idolatry prevalent in Judah – ranging from wealth and military might to ornate ships and tall trees, all symbolizing human self-sufficiency and arrogance apart from God. The historical context reflects an era where Judah and surrounding nations relied on political alliances, military power, and material possessions, often worshipping idols representing these human achievements or natural forces, rather than solely trusting in Yahweh. This passage serves as a sharp indictment against such human hubris and a warning of the divine judgment that will humble all human loftiness, proving that only God is truly sovereign and worthy of exaltation.

Isaiah 2 17 Word analysis

• And: Connects this verse directly to the preceding exposition of human pride and the coming judgment, signifying a consequence.
• the loftiness (Hebrew: גֶּבְהוּת, gev’hoot):
  • Derived from gavah, meaning to be high, exalted, lifted up.
  • Signifies height, eminence, or exalted position, often implying arrogance or haughtiness when applied to humans in a moral sense.
  • Refers to man's self-perception of superiority, prestige, and perceived invulnerability based on worldly power, achievements, or status.
  • Connotes the attitude of those who are proud, elevated above others.
• of man (Hebrew: אָדָם, adam):
  • Refers to humanity in general, encompassing all mankind, not just a specific nation.
  • Emphasizes the universal nature of this human failing and the coming judgment.
• shall be bowed down (Hebrew: שָׁחַח, shachach):
  • Means to stoop, bow down, sink, or be humbled.
  • Describes the posture of submission, defeat, or lowliness.
  • Indicates a forced reduction from a state of pride or exaltation to one of abasement and disgrace.
• and the haughtiness (Hebrew: גָּבְהוּת, gav'hoot – same as "loftiness," sometimes root ר֣וּם, rum, can be associated):
  • This is actually the same Hebrew word as "loftiness" (גֶּבְהוּת). The repetition intensifies the meaning.
  • The Masoretic Text of Isa 2:17 repeats גֶּבְהוּת, emphasizing the pervasive and deep-seated nature of human arrogance. The Septuagint and some translations differentiate it, using words like "glory" or "pride," but the Hebrew consistently points to a state of being "high."
  • It might subtly suggest different aspects of pride: gev’hoot ("loftiness") could imply an elevated state or self-concept, while a repetition or alternative term could stress the active demonstration of that pride (haughtiness). However, the repetition points more to an emphatic totality of human pride.
• of men (Hebrew: אִישׁ, ish):
  • This is different from adam and often refers to individual persons, particularly strong or prominent men, further reinforcing that the judgment is on individual proud agents within humanity.
  • Can refer to a specific, outstanding man, or to men collectively, often used for strength or capacity, thereby targeting specific human self-reliance.
• shall be made low (Hebrew: שָׁפֵל, shafal):
  • Means to be low, humble, abased, or brought down.
  • A synonym for shachach ("bowed down"), intensifying the complete and utter humbling that will occur. It speaks to a thorough de-elevation from a high status.
• and the LORD (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH - Yahweh):
  • The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed character as the Creator and Sovereign.
  • Emphasizes that it is He alone, the true God, who brings this judgment and is thereby revealed as supremely powerful.
• alone (Hebrew: לְבַדּוֹ, levaddo):
  • An emphatic adverb, meaning "by Himself," "exclusively," "solitarily."
  • Crucially underscores the sole agency and unrivaled supremacy of God in this act of judgment and exaltation. It directly counters the pluralism of human objects of worship or trust.
• shall be exalted (Hebrew: שָׂגַב, sagav):
  • Means to be high, inaccessible, strong, set on high, to be made glorious or highly esteemed.
  • Indicates divine sovereignty, glory, and unchallengeable authority.
  • Unlike human exaltation which is inherently fleeting, God's exaltation is eternal and unassailable.
• in that day (Hebrew: בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyom hahu):
  • A key prophetic phrase signaling a specific, divinely ordained time of judgment and fulfillment.
  • Refers to the Day of the LORD, a future eschatological period characterized by God's direct intervention, judgment of wickedness, and the establishment of His universal kingdom.
  • It signifies a culmination, a definitive demonstration of God's power and righteous governance.

Words-group by Words-group Analysis:

• "the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low": This double parallelism effectively uses synonyms (gav'hoot/pride; shachach/bowed down and shafal/made low) to emphatically underscore the absolute and universal dismantling of human pride in all its manifestations. It highlights the completeness of the humbling judgment. This includes pride in strength, wealth, knowledge, technology, political power, and even self-righteousness.
• "and the LORD alone shall be exalted": This phrase directly contrasts with the previous one, highlighting God's exclusive glory. The humbling of humanity is not an end in itself but serves the ultimate purpose of revealing God's unique and unchallenged supremacy. His exaltation is total because He has demonstrated His power over everything that once rivaled Him in human perception.
• "in that day": This specific temporal marker places these events within the eschatological framework of the "Day of the LORD," indicating that this is a future, definitive act of divine intervention, not a continuous process throughout history, though principles of divine judgment on pride exist throughout time. It marks a moment of clarity when all pretense will be stripped away, and reality will align with divine truth.

Isaiah 2 17 Bonus section

The immediate literary context of Isaiah 2 contrasts significantly between the ideal future "last days" where all nations stream to the LORD's house (Isa 2:2-4) and the present reality of Judah's deep-seated pride and idolatry (Isa 2:6-16). Verse 17 acts as the divine bridge, explaining how that ideal future (where God's word proceeds from Jerusalem and there is universal peace) will come to pass – by God's active intervention to humble all human resistance and make Himself preeminent.

This verse contains a direct theological polemic against the worship of created things or reliance on human strength, which was pervasive in Isaiah's time. The list in Isa 2:7-16 – gold, silver, horses, chariots, idols, high towers, fortified walls, ships of Tarshish, all high trees and strong mountains – are precisely the things people placed their trust in or even divinized. By declaring that all such "high" things will be brought low, and only the LORD exalted, Isaiah is explicitly dismantling the false sense of security and ultimate authority derived from anything other than the Creator Himself. The focus shifts entirely from horizontal human achievement to vertical divine authority.

The concept of "loftiness" (gev'hoot) and "haughtiness" (gav'hoot, or from rum) resonates through other biblical texts where human pride leads to catastrophic falls, exemplified by Babel, Pharaoh, and Nebuchadnezzar. God’s consistency in humbling the proud throughout redemptive history culminates in this future Day where such pride will be globally and definitively dealt with, affirming His unmatched holiness and power.

Isaiah 2 17 Commentary

Isaiah 2:17 serves as the core theological pronouncement following a detailed inventory of human arrogance and idolatry in the preceding verses. It encapsulates the very purpose and outcome of the "Day of the LORD": the decisive humbling of humanity's pride and the undeniable exaltation of God. Human self-reliance, manifested in anything that distracts from dependence on God – be it material wealth, military might, technological advancement, intellectual prowess, or political power – is depicted as loftiness that actively resists divine authority. This loftiness, often characterized as haughtiness, stands in direct opposition to God's ultimate sovereignty.

The repeated emphasis on "loftiness" and "haughtiness" underscores the pervasive nature of human pride. God's judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to this arrogance, aiming to expose its fragility and fleeting nature. When Isaiah states that the LORD "alone" shall be exalted, it highlights the exclusivity and uniqueness of God's dominion. There will be no room for shared glory, no rivals for His throne, and no alternate sources of security or significance. This is a prophetic promise that all human attempts to establish self-glory or independent kingdoms apart from God will utterly fail, ultimately dissolving into insignificance. The Day of the LORD is the great leveling event where all that humans have built up will collapse, and the eternal, unchanging supremacy of Yahweh will be unmistakably clear. This declaration functions as both a stark warning against pride and an eternal affirmation of divine sovereignty.

• Example 1: A nation relying solely on its advanced weaponry for security, neglecting justice and God, will find its might ultimately insufficient.
• Example 2: An individual pursuing immense wealth and power for self-exaltation, overlooking humility and righteousness, will eventually confront the limits of their control.
• Example 3: Modern society's confidence in technological solutions to all problems, at the exclusion of spiritual and moral considerations, faces eventual humbling.