Isaiah 22:8 kjv
And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.
Isaiah 22:8 nkjv
He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest;
Isaiah 22:8 niv
The Lord stripped away the defenses of Judah, and you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest.
Isaiah 22:8 esv
He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest,
Isaiah 22:8 nlt
Judah's defenses have been stripped away.
You run to the armory for your weapons.
Isaiah 22 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 22:8 | ...you looked...at the defenses of the city... | Isa 22:10 (similar action) |
| 2 Kings 25:4 | ...breach was made in the city wall... | 2 Kgs 25:4 (result) |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | do not be dismayed by them, or I will dismay you... | Jer 1:17 (divine action) |
| Psalm 76:3 | ...at Jerusalem, his fortress. | Ps 76:3 (fortification) |
| Nahum 2:8 | ...her defenders are turned back... | Nah 2:8 (military defeat) |
| Ezekiel 4:3 | You shall...make an iron plate between you and the city | Ezek 4:3 (symbolism) |
| Micah 1:5 | For the transgression of Jacob is all this... | Mic 1:5 (reason for judgment) |
| Luke 19:42 | If only you had recognized on this day the things that would bring you peace!... | Lk 19:42 (Jesus on Jerusalem) |
| Acts 1:16 | ...the Scripture that the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand... | Acts 1:16 (scripture fulfillment) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. | 1 Cor 10:13 (facing trials) |
| Jeremiah 6:14 | "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace. | Jer 6:14 (false security) |
| Isaiah 30:1 | "Woe to the stubborn children," declares the LORD... | Isa 30:1 (similar address) |
| Psalm 37:36 | ...looking for him, but he was gone... | Ps 37:36 (wicked end) |
| Proverbs 1:33 | But whoever listens to me will live securely... | Prov 1:33 (obedience benefit) |
| Romans 11:22 | Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God... | Rom 11:22 (divine justice) |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit... | Jn 14:26 (divine counsel) |
| Isaiah 28:16 | So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone..." | Isa 28:16 (foundation imagery) |
| 2 Chronicles 32:2-3 | He took counsel with his princes and mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which came from outside the city... | 2 Chron 32:2-3 (Hezekiah's defense) |
| Psalm 125:1 | Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion... | Ps 125:1 (trust in God) |
| Zechariah 9:8 | But I will camp around my house against the invading army... | Zech 9:8 (divine protection) |
Isaiah 22 verses
Isaiah 22 8 Meaning
This verse describes God's action in preparing for battle. He exposes or unveils the fortifications and defensive structures of Jerusalem, preparing them for an assault. It signifies divine judgment where hidden weaknesses are brought to light, leading to vulnerability.
Isaiah 22 8 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the impending judgment on Jerusalem, specifically addressed to Shebna, a prominent but corrupt official. The chapter as a whole deals with God's impending judgment on Judah, the people's sinfulness, and the need for true repentance and reliance on God. Shebna is being criticized for his pride and self-reliance, trusting in earthly fortifications rather than in the Lord. The immediate context describes Jerusalem's preparations for Sennacherib's invasion.
Isaiah 22 8 Word Analysis
- וְאַתָּה (ve'atta): "and you." This conjunctive and personal pronoun directly addresses Shebna, emphasizing his involvement and responsibility in the unfolding events.
- רָאִיתָ (ra'ita): "you saw" or "you looked." The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing or repeated action of observation, highlighting his deliberate focus on worldly defenses.
- בַּבָּיִת (bab-bayit): "in the house." Refers to the palace or treasury of the king, Shebna's place of authority.
- בְּיוֹם (be'yom): "in the day." Refers to the specific time of crisis, the day of siege.
- מִצְרֵךְ (mitz-rekha): "your defense" or "your fortifications." This noun, connected to the root 'tsar' (to shut up, to press), speaks of barriers, ramparts, and defensive structures.
- בֵּית (beit): "the house of." A possessive or descriptive phrase.
- דָּוִד (David): Refers to King David, signifying the city or the lineage and promises associated with him.
- וְאַתָּה (ve'atta): "and you." Another instance emphasizing personal involvement.
- מַרְאֶה (mar'eh): "sight" or "appearance." The noun form of "to see."
- כָּל־ (kol-): "all." Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of his gaze upon the city's defenses.
- חֵילָֽם (cheylam): "their army" or "their strength." Though the translation often leans towards defenses here due to the context, it can also imply the forces that manned those defenses, suggesting a comprehensive view of the city's military readiness.
Words-group Analysis
- "You looked... in the house of David": This phrase contrasts Shebna's focus on the physical city and its structures with God's covenant with David and His intended protection of His people, which Shebna seemed to ignore.
- "in the day of your defense": This phrase carries irony. Shebna saw these fortifications as his defense, but for God, it was the day to strip these defenses, exposing Jerusalem.
Isaiah 22 8 Bonus Section
The prophetic action described in this verse anticipates the vulnerability and eventual fall of Jerusalem, not just to Assyria in Sennacherib's time, but also symbolically and in the deeper spiritual sense related to spiritual unpreparedness and defiance of God's will. It prefigures the Lord Jesus' lament over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42) where the city, blind to its spiritual state, did not know the things that made for peace, leading to its eventual destruction. The emphasis on seeing and exposing weaknesses points to the ultimate accountability before God for how we build our lives and our communities.
Isaiah 22 8 Commentary
Shebna, a high-ranking official, is indicted for his focus on the physical defenses of Jerusalem and his self-importance. While the city made preparations for siege ("your defense"), symbolized by strengthening its walls and preparing its arsenals, Shebna's pride led him to look upon these as his achievements and security. God's prophetic declaration reveals that, in reality, He is the one preparing to examine and expose these defenses. This is not a defensive review, but an exposé that will lead to their breach and the city's vulnerability. The irony is sharp: what Shebna saw as strength and security would be revealed by God as weak and inadequate. It serves as a solemn reminder that true security is found not in human engineering or power, but in divine favor and obedience.