Isaiah 22:16 kjv
What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
Isaiah 22:16 nkjv
'What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock?
Isaiah 22:16 niv
What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
Isaiah 22:16 esv
What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?
Isaiah 22:16 nlt
"Who do you think you are,
and what are you doing here,
building a beautiful tomb for yourself ?
a monument high up in the rock?
Isaiah 22 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 22:16 | "Behold, you have hewed out for yourself a tomb on the height, and carved out for yourself a cistern in the rock!" | Judgment against Shebna |
| Matt 6:19-20 | "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Heavenly vs. Earthly Treasures |
| Luke 12:16-21 | Parable of the Rich Fool | Earthly possessions and preparation |
| John 14:2-3 | "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" | Christ preparing a place |
| Phil 3:20-21 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..." | Heavenly citizenship |
| Heb 11:9-10 | "By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the coheirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city founded on foundations, whose architect and builder is God." | Abraham's faith in a heavenly city |
| 1 Pet 2:4-5 | "As you come to him, a living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to you, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." | Believers as living stones in God's house |
| Prov 21:6 | "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor, the pursuit of death." | Pursuit of ill-gotten gain leads to ruin |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall." | Pride precedes destruction |
| Job 17:13-14 | "If I look for Sheol as my house, I have made my bed in the darkness. If I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my brother,’" | Imagery of death and the grave |
| Ps 49:11-12 | "Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, their dwelling places for all generations; they name their lands after themselves. But man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish." | Futility of earthly permanence |
| Eccl 11:7-8 | "Light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. Therefore, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. Everything that comes is futility." | Enjoyment of life, but acknowledgment of mortality |
| Jer 17:11 | "Like a partridge that broods but does not hatch what it has laid, so is he who gains riches but not by right. In the middle of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool." | Ill-gotten gains lead to loss |
| Zech 5:4 | "And I will bring it out,” declares the Lord Almighty, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will lodge in his house, consume it with its timbers and its stones.”" | Divine judgment on wrongdoers |
| Ps 39:6 | "Surely man walks about as a phantom; surely he bustles about in vain; he heaps up wealth, but does not know who will gather it." | Vanity of human striving |
| Matt 16:26 | "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" | The soul's value |
| Luke 6:38 | "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will they pour into the lap of the one who gives. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." | Generosity and its reward |
| Acts 7:49-50 | "‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?’ says the Lord, ‘and what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’" | God's transcendence |
| Heb 12:22-24 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless hosts of angels, to the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant..." | The heavenly Jerusalem |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." | Believers as God's building |
| Gal 2:20 | "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." | Life in Christ |
| Rom 8:18 | "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us." | Future glory |
Isaiah 22 verses
Isaiah 22 16 Meaning
This verse describes someone who is preparing a tomb for themselves, specifically "hewing out for himself a tomb on the height, and who carves out for himself a cistern in the rock." This action signifies an intent to dwell there, implying a planned permanence and separation from others, or possibly a premature focus on earthly resting places over spiritual concerns.
Isaiah 22 16 Context
This verse is found within the Book of Isaiah, chapter 22, which details a prophecy against the officials of Jerusalem, specifically against Shebna, a high-ranking palace administrator during the reign of Hezekiah. The chapter describes the impending Assyrian invasion and the misplaced pride and overconfidence of Jerusalem's leaders. In this context, Shebna is criticized for his ostentatious preparations and self-aggrandizement. Carving out a tomb for oneself in a prominent place, and preparing a cistern, suggests a focus on earthly legacy, security, and comfort rather than reliance on God. This action stands in stark contrast to faith and obedience, reflecting a spirit of independence and misplaced trust. The prophet Isaiah pronounces judgment on Shebna for his arrogance and misrule.
Isaiah 22 16 Word Analysis
- Behold (hen): An interjection used to draw attention to something significant or striking. It serves to emphasize the prophet's message about Shebna's actions.
- you (atah): Refers to Shebna, the recipient of this specific denunciation.
- have hewed out (chatev-cha-ta): From the root chatav, meaning to carve, engrave, or cut out. It signifies a deliberate and labor-intensive action, emphasizing the effort put into creating a permanent dwelling for oneself.
- for yourself (lach): Emphasizes self-interest and personal provision, highlighting a lack of dependence on God's provision and protection.
- a tomb (qevurah): A grave or burial place. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the tomb was seen as an eternal dwelling, a place of permanence.
- on the height (bamot): Refers to elevated places, often associated with high ground or positions of prominence. This could indicate a desire for visible prestige or a strategic location, but in a context of rebellion against God, it could also allude to places of idolatrous worship.
- and who carves out (chatev-cha-ta): The repetition of the verb reinforces the exhaustive and thorough nature of Shebna's self-focused preparations.
- for yourself (lach): Again, emphasizes the self-serving nature of his actions.
- a cistern (bor): A tank or reservoir for storing water. Cisterns were vital for survival, especially in arid regions. Preparing a cistern implies foresight for personal sustenance and security.
- in the rock (bivanim): The word bivanim can mean "in stones" or "in rocks." Carving into rock signifies a robust, seemingly impregnable construction, reinforcing the idea of self-reliance and earthly security.
Words-group Analysis
- "hewed out for yourself a tomb on the height": This phrase captures Shebna's arrogance and misplaced security. The tomb signifies a focus on the afterlife, but a self-created, earthly one, devoid of spiritual meaning. The "height" points to his pride and desire for recognition.
- "carved out for yourself a cistern in the rock": This speaks to his provision for his physical needs and security, attempting to make himself independent of divine providence. The rock implies an attempt at an unshakeable foundation for his life, relying on his own efforts and resources.
Isaiah 22 16 Bonus Section
This verse's imagery powerfully illustrates the futility of seeking ultimate security and legacy in earthly possessions or personal achievements, divorced from a relationship with God. The "height" can also subtly allude to a pride that aspires to divine prerogatives. The "cistern in the rock," while providing physical sustenance, represents a closed system, self-contained and isolated, unlike the life-giving rivers and springs that are often symbols of God’s abundant provision and living water. The prophecy against Shebna serves as a timeless warning against building one's life on a foundation of self, rather than on the rock of God’s faithfulness and word. The "living stones" concept from 1 Peter provides a stark contrast, showing how believers are built into a spiritual house, intrinsically connected and dependent on Christ, the chief cornerstone.
Isaiah 22 16 Commentary
Shebna, a man in a position of authority in Jerusalem, is denounced for his pride and self-reliance. His actions—preparing a grand tomb for himself and a well-stocked cistern in the rock—reveal a man more concerned with his own legacy and earthly security than with his covenant responsibilities to God. These preparations are symbolic of a life focused on personal advancement and permanence, attempting to build an earthly security that ultimately fails. Isaiah contrasts this earthly striving with God's sovereign judgment and the transience of human power and ambition when separated from faith. True security and eternal dwelling are found not in self-made tombs or cisterns, but in submission to God's will and a reliance on His provision. Shebna’s ultimate fate, as predicted by Isaiah, is displacement and loss, a direct consequence of his arrogance and misplaced trust.