Isaiah 22:15 kjv
Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,
Isaiah 22:15 nkjv
Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the house, and say:
Isaiah 22:15 niv
This is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: "Go, say to this steward, to Shebna the palace administrator:
Isaiah 22:15 esv
Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:
Isaiah 22:15 nlt
This is what the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, said to me: "Confront Shebna, the palace administrator, and give him this message:
Isaiah 22 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 22:15-16 | "He will surely turn his back on you, O my people...You, to whom it belongs, will be given...greatness," | Deut 28:64-65 (Exile, dispersion) |
| Isaiah 22:17 | "the LORD will seize you violently, hurle you violently, like a ball into a vast country;" | Ps 31:11-12 (Rejected, shame) |
| Isaiah 22:17 | "...you shall die there..." | Jer 22:30 (Jeconiah, no posterity) |
| Isaiah 22:18 | "...hurl you away...like a ball into a vast country..." | Lam 1:14 (Chariot wheels over neck) |
| Isaiah 22:18 | "...there you will die, and there your splendid chariots will remain..." | Prov 16:18 (Pride goes before destruction) |
| Isaiah 22:19 | "I will drive you from your post..." | Ps 75:7 (Promotion and debasement) |
| Isaiah 22:19 | "...and pull you down from your station." | 1 Sam 2:7-8 (God abases and promotes) |
| Isaiah 22:23 | "and I will fasten him like a pin in a sure place..." | Ex 28:25 (Priestly garments, fastened) |
| Isaiah 22:23 | "...and he will become a throne of glory to his father's house." | Gen 49:10 (Shiloh, ruler's staff) |
| Isaiah 37:2 | Shebna's status is confirmed as "over the house." | 2 Kin 18:18 (Context of Sennacherib's siege) |
| Acts 12:22-23 | The people proclaim Herod as a god, and he is struck down. | Judgments on arrogance, divine wrath |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | God will bring hidden things to light. | Secrets of the heart revealed |
| 1 John 2:16 | The pride of life. | Covetousness and boasting |
| Rom 2:5-9 | Judgment follows stubbornness and impenitence. | God's wrath on wrongdoing |
| Eph 4:30-31 | Grief the Holy Spirit. | Actions against God's spirit |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Whatever one sows, he will reap. | Consequences of fleshly actions |
| Rev 3:9 | Those who claim to be Jews but are not. | False claims and deceptive worship |
| Job 38:14 | Earth transformed as by a seal. | God's sovereignty over creation |
| Ps 119:83 | "Psalms speaks of suffering and enduring affliction." | God's refining discipline |
| Ps 119:133 | "He directs their steps by your word." | Obedience to God's commands |
| Ezek 28:14-17 | Judgment on the King of Tyre for his pride. | Arrogance leading to destruction |
| Luke 14:11 | "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Principle of humility and exaltation |
Isaiah 22 verses
Isaiah 22 15 Meaning
The prophet Isaiah is instructed to go to Shebna, a high-ranking official in Judah's court, and deliver a divine judgment. This judgment concerns Shebna's arrogant construction of a magnificent tomb for himself in the city of David, an honor not befitting his station or faith. God declares that Shebna will be violently removed, taken captive, and sent to a distant land.
Isaiah 22 15 Context
This verse is situated within the larger prophecy against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, particularly concerning the impending Assyrian siege under Sennacherib. Isaiah 22:1-14 addresses the people's reckless revelry and indifference in the face of God's impending judgment. They celebrated rather than repented, attributing their security to human strength and elaborate fortifications.
Chapter 22 specifically zeroes in on the leadership failures, with Shebna, a key official, being a prime example of arrogance and misplaced trust. His building of a grand sepulchre for himself in the City of David, a place reserved for royalty and those favored by God, signifies his presumptuous elevation of himself above his position and his disregard for the consequences of his actions. God's pronouncement of judgment on Shebna serves as a stark warning to all in leadership positions and the general populace about the dangers of pride and misplaced faith.
Isaiah 22 15 Word Analysis
- go: The Hebrew word is lēḵ (לֵךְ), a masculine singular imperative verb. It signifies a command to proceed, to set out. This is a direct instruction from God to the prophet.
- say to him,: The Hebrew word is ʼēmar (אמר), which means "to say," "to tell," "to speak." This indicates a verbal message.
- Shebna: A proper name. Likely the chief minister or scribe in King Hezekiah's court. His arrogance and misplaced ambition are highlighted.
- who is over the house,: This phrase refers to Shebna's high office and authority within the royal household, possibly akin to a prime minister or treasurer. The Hebrew is ʼăšer-šāl L Bēṯ (אֲשֶׁר שַׂל בֵּית). The word śāl (שַׂל) here can imply someone appointed over or ruling.
- and say,: Another imperative to speak.
- What have you brought here?: The Hebrew is ma-lēḵâ pêh (מַה־לְּךָ פֹּה), meaning "What do you have here?" or "What business do you have here?" This question challenges Shebna's presence and actions. It carries an implication of trespassing or unwarranted presence and action.
- and whom do you have here?: û-mî-lĕḵâ pêh (וּמִי לְּךָ פֹה), asking about his connections or why he is in this privileged position. It questions his right to be there or to be making such decisions.
- that you have hewn yourself out a tomb here: The verb "hewn out" is ḥāṣēḇ (חָצַב), meaning to carve, engrave, or hew, often used for stone. Shebna is literally carving a lavish burial place for himself. The implication is self-aggrandizement, placing his legacy above his duty and God's will.
- as he who hews himself a tomb on the height: “on the height” (מִמָּרוֹם - mimmarōm) likely refers to a prominent, elevated place in the city, indicating a desire for a visible and exalted final resting place, symbolizing his earthly status. This position was typically reserved for those with royal or significant spiritual connection.
- and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?: The word "carve" is again ḥāṣēḇ (חָצַב), emphasizing the elaborate and permanent nature of his sepulchre. “dwelling” is nōḇēš (נובשׁ), a dwelling or lodging, highlighting his desire for a place of permanence, but built by his own effort, not by divine provision.
- Word-group analysis: The core of the verse focuses on Shebna's presumptuous act of carving his tomb in a place of honor (bammārōm) and his selfishly carving a dwelling (nōḇēš) for himself in the rock, using the same root word ḥāṣēb to connect these actions. This repetitive emphasis on "hewing" signifies his forceful imposition of his will and desire for eternal earthly recognition. The questions "What have you brought here? and whom do you have here?" frame his actions as unauthorized and illegitimate within the divine economy.
Isaiah 22 15 Bonus Section
The prophecy against Shebna also prefigures the messianic promises. While Shebna is humbled and cast out, the following verses (Isaiah 22:20-25) speak of Eliakim, who will be clothed with authority and serve as a secure foundation for his father's house. This points to a future restoration and a righteous ruler, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the true Cornerstone and Head of His Church (Ephesians 2:20). Shebna represents the fallen human tendency to seek glory and security in earthly things, a temptation Jesus warns against, stating, "For what profit is it for a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). The "ball" into which Shebna is hurled symbolizes being utterly discarded and without agency, a stark contrast to the secured position promised to the faithful.
Isaiah 22 15 Commentary
Shebna's ostentatious tomb construction was a direct affront to God and a manifestation of his deep-seated pride. He was elevating himself, seeking glory through earthly achievements and prestigious burial, rather than through faithful service and reliance on God. God's judgment on Shebna underscores a crucial spiritual principle: true honor comes from God, not from self-promotion or worldly status. Shebna's ambition for an everlasting monument was met with a sentence of permanent removal and exile, demonstrating that attempts to build personal legacies apart from God's purposes ultimately lead to destruction and obscurity. His misplaced confidence in his earthly station and architectural endeavor contrasted sharply with the humility and dependence God required.