Isaiah 30:13 kjv
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
Isaiah 30:13 nkjv
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
Isaiah 30:13 niv
this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
Isaiah 30:13 esv
therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
Isaiah 30:13 nlt
calamity will come upon you suddenly ?
like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.
In an instant it will collapse
and come crashing down.
Isaiah 30 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 30:1 | "Woe to the rebellious children," | Directly contrasts reliance on God vs. alliances with Egypt. |
| Isa 29:15 | "Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from the LORD," | Echoes the theme of hidden, deceptive plans. |
| Ps 12:2 | "They speak vanity with their tongue," | Describes similar deceitful speech. |
| Prov 1:11-12 | "If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause," | Illustrates plotting evil. |
| Prov 14:21 | "He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, Happy [is] he." | Contrasts malice with mercy, a theme of divine judgment. |
| Prov 17:20 | "He who has a deceitful heart finds no good," | Reinforces the idea that deceit leads to no good. |
| Prov 19:21 | "There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—That will stand." | Highlights the futility of human plans against God's. |
| Jer 2:36 | "Why do you gad about so much to change your course? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria." | Direct parallel to seeking help from foreign powers. |
| Jer 7:29 | "Cut off your hair, O mourning woman, and wail on the desolate heights, For the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.”" | Similar imagery of rejection and divine wrath. |
| Jer 10:14 | "Every man is brutish and without knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in it." | Criticizes reliance on false gods and crafted objects. |
| Jer 17:5-6 | "Thus says the LORD: “Cursed [is] the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his arm, Whose heart departs from the LORD. For he will be like a shrub in the desert, And will not see when good comes, But will dwell in parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land [which is] uninhabited.”" | Explicitly warns against trusting in human strength. |
| Lam 1:9 | "Her uncleanness [is] in her skirts; She did not consider her fate; Therefore she has been wonderfully cast down; She did not look for an end; Therefore she has been wonderfully brought low." | Compares a fallen city to Israel's unheeded fall. |
| Ezek 13:10 | "“Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when [there is] no peace," | Echoes the false proclamation of peace. |
| Ezek 13:11 | "And because they have built a flimsy wall, and men have plastered it with untempered mortar," | Strong parallel to the imagery of faulty construction. |
| Ezek 28:24 | "And there will be no more a pricking brier or a painful thorn To any of the house of Israel from all those who are all around them, who treat them with contempt. And they shall know that I [am] the LORD GOD.”" | Future restoration contrasts with present judgment. |
| Hos 7:11 | "Also Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart; They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria." | Illustrates the foolishness of seeking foreign aid. |
| Matt 7:26-27 | "“Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand: And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”" | New Testament parallel on the consequences of ignoring God's word. |
| 1 Thess 5:3 | "For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape." | Significant New Testament fulfillment of sudden destruction following false security. |
Isaiah 30 verses
Isaiah 30 13 Meaning
This verse describes a dire consequence for those who pursue deceptive plans and rely on falsehood. Their supposed security will become a source of ruin, like an unbreakable plank or rafter leading to utter destruction.
Isaiah 30 13 Context
Chapter 30 of Isaiah is a prophetic oracle concerning Judah's reliance on Egypt for military aid against Assyria. Isaiah contrasts this flawed strategy with a direct, humble trust in the LORD. He condemns the "rebellious children" (v. 1) who are turning from God's guidance and making treaties that will prove futile. This particular verse addresses the superficial, deceitful nature of these plans, likening them to faulty construction that will inevitably collapse. The historical backdrop is the Assyrian threat during the reign of King Hezekiah.
Isaiah 30 13 Word analysis
Woe (Hwy - הוֹי): An exclamation of grief, distress, or calamity. It introduces a strong pronouncement of divine judgment.
to (la- אֶל): A preposition indicating direction or destination.
the (ha- הַ): The definite article.
inhabitants (yoshvey - יוֹשְׁבֵי): Plural of "yoshev" (יוֹשֵׁב), meaning "dweller" or "inhabitant." Refers to the people living in Jerusalem/Judah.
of (col - כֹּל): "All."
this (zeh - זֶה): Refers to the specific place or generation being addressed.
assembly (atzah - עֲצָה): "Counsel," "plan," or "assembly." Here it signifies their councils and decision-making.
they (hem - הֵם): Third person plural pronoun.
have ( (omitted in translation of verb) ): Implied by the verb form.
set (ya'azvu - יַעֲזוּ): Future tense of "azav" (עָזַב), meaning "to leave," "forsake," or "let alone." In this context, it signifies they have caused it to remain or abandoned something else.
their (otah - אוֹתָהּ): Feminine singular possessive pronoun, referring back to "atzah" (counsel/plan).
counsel (etzah - עֲצָה): "Counsel," "plan," "advice." This refers to the deceptive political schemes of Judah.
for (le- לְ): Preposition indicating purpose.
perverse (lo tsur - לֹא צְרוּרָה): Literally "not bound up" or "not bundled." It implies something is loose, disorganized, or unsound. Used metaphorically for plans.
And (ve- וְ): Conjunction.
they (hem - הֵם): Third person plural pronoun.
have ( (omitted in translation of verb) ): Implied by the verb form.
strengthened (tzar-ru - צָרּוּ): From "tzurar" (צוּרָר) which relates to "tzor" (צוּר) meaning "stone" or "rock." Implies binding, strengthening, or cementing. However, in this context, combined with "lo tsurah," it creates a paradox or an idiom for plans that are inadequately secured or bound. Scholars suggest the phrasing here is complex and potentially involves a contrast: they bound it (their plan) not tightly (perversely). Alternatively, it implies they strengthened that which was not bound properly, or they reinforced their loose plans as if they were strong.
their (be- בָּהּ): Preposition "be-" (in) with the pronoun "ah" (it, referring to etzah - counsel).
own (hem - הֵם): Here functioning to emphasize "their counsel," but possibly a Qere (textual correction) for "sham" (there) indicating their reinforcement of this plan within themselves or their own deliberations.
in (bemehitza-vah - בִּמְחִצָּה): Literally "in a partition" or "in a dividing wall." It signifies a barrier, a defined space, or a confined state.
in (kameh-hitzeva - כַּמְחִצָּה): As a partition/wall. The repetition emphasizes the built-up, segmented, and potentially fragile nature of their security.
the (ha- הַ): The definite article.
strengthening (metzor - מְצוּר): Derived from "tzur" (צוּר), meaning "to surround," "fortify," or "be hemmed in." The idea is solid reinforcement.
in (metzar-kah - מְצוּרָתָהּ): "Its fortress" or "its enclosure." This is the height of their fortification for their false plan.
in (shachach - שַׁחַת): Pit, destruction, ruin.
therefore (lakain - לָכֵן): Consequently.
the (ha- הַ): The definite article.
ways (derech - דֶּרֶךְ): Path, way, manner.
of (ha- הָ): The definite article.
the (melech - מֶלֶךְ): King, ruler. Referring to Assyria or possibly the earthly rulers making the pact.
lord (adonai - אֲדֹנָי): Master, Lord. Often used by Isaiah for the LORD God, but here refers to the secular ruler whose ways they are following.
the (adoni-hōvīv - אֲדֹנִי־הוֹוִה): My master was proud, insolent, or haughty. This phrase could refer to the haughtiness of the leaders of Judah themselves in their proud schemes, or it could refer to the arrogance of the foreign power they are trusting in, whom they follow in their proud ways. The meaning implies insolence and pride that characterizes their policy.
Zion (tzion - צִיּוֹן): Mount Zion, representing Jerusalem and the people of Judah.
itself (zomem-imah - זוֹמְמָה): Schemed, plotted. Refers to the scheming nature of the people, especially their leaders. This word appears in conjunction with their actions against themselves, essentially they are the ones whose plots lead to ruin.
house (bayit - בַּיִת): House, temple, household.
of (ha- הָ): The definite article.
is ( (omitted in translation of verb) ): Implied.
its ( (omitted in translation of verb) ): Implied.
their ( (omitted in translation of verb) ): Implied.
ruin (sheber - שֶׁבֶר): Breaking, crushing, ruin.
Word Group Analysis:
- "No counsel secured/bound" (lo tsurah) vs. "They have strengthened it" (tzarru etz'ah): This phrase creates a core paradox. Judah's plans are fundamentally flawed and unsecured (lo tsurah), yet they laboriously reinforce (tzarru) these very flawed plans, making them seem stronger. This highlights their deep delusion and self-deception.
- "Partitioned / in its partition" (bemehitza-vah kameh-hitzeva): This refers to their actions being confined within their own self-imposed walls of policy, cut off from divine guidance. They have compartmentalized their security in their own created structure.
- "Strengthened in its enclosure/fortress" (metzar in metzorah): They've built fortifications for their flawed plan, making it their protected stronghold of destruction.
- "Therefore the ways of the King, the Lord, pride" (lakain derech ha-melech ha-adonai azav): The phrase "derech ha-melech adoni azav" is debated. Some translations render it "therefore I will strengthen myself in my prideful insolence". Others see "ha-melech" (the king) as referring to Assyria or their own leaders, and "adonai azav" as "my master has forsaken" or "my Lord has made desolate". The most cohesive reading links it to their stubborn adherence to their kingly/ruler's proud policies, which are built on deceit. The sense is they follow proud policies, forsaking the LORD.
Isaiah 30 13 Bonus section
The Hebrew term "tsarurah" (צרורה), translated as "not bound up" or "not secured," is particularly evocative. It paints a picture of something loose, unraveling, or ill-fitting, much like threads that aren't properly knotted or a garment that isn't secured. Their strategic alliances were not fastened to any true or reliable foundation.
The phrase "in a partition, as its partition" (bemehitza-vah kameh-hitzeva) implies that their plans were contained within isolated, self-created compartments of thought, separate from God's broader purpose and guidance. They built walls around their misguided plans, strengthening these very barriers that would ultimately lead to their confinement and downfall. This is akin to building a strong prison for oneself.
The final part of the verse regarding forsaking their ways for the ways of a "king" or "master" and their "pride" highlights the human tendency towards arrogance and the belief that one's own intellect and alliances are superior to divine direction. This pride is a critical component in rejecting God's wisdom. The entire verse serves as a stark example of how flawed decision-making, rooted in distrust and pride, culminates in self-inflicted destruction.
Isaiah 30 13 Commentary
This verse serves as a stern warning against relying on human alliances and political machinations over divine guidance. Judah, facing Assyria, sought a pact with Egypt. Isaiah declared this was futile because their "counsel" (plans) was "not bound" – inherently unstable and built on lies and deceit. They then reinforced these insecure plans ("strengthened themselves in it") by making partitions and enclosing themselves within their strategy, essentially solidifying their own destruction.
The phrase "therefore the ways of the king, my master, I will forsaken" (interpreting the difficult Hebrew phrase) suggests they are deliberately following their own proud, defiant policies and the "proud ways" of worldly rulers they trust, thereby forsaking their true Lord. This adherence to their flawed, self-made system leads them not to safety, but to the "pit," meaning complete ruin. It underscores the critical biblical theme that true security comes only from unwavering trust in God, not from deceptive human strategies. It foreshadows the ultimate destruction of those who reject God's wisdom for worldly solutions, as seen in the New Testament fulfillment concerning sudden destruction on those who claim "peace and safety" when it is absent.
Practical Usage Examples:
- When facing challenges where seeking worldly solutions seems appealing but deviates from seeking God's wisdom, remember that poorly founded plans only lead to ruin.
- Recognize when you are reinforcing flawed strategies by creating your own "partitions" or closed systems, shutting out divine counsel.
- Be vigilant against the pride of human schemes, which can lead to forsaking God's way for a path of assured destruction.