Isaiah 30 20

Isaiah 30:20 kjv

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Isaiah 30:20 nkjv

And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.

Isaiah 30:20 niv

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

Isaiah 30:20 esv

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.

Isaiah 30:20 nlt

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Isaiah 30 verses

Isaiah 30 20 Meaning

The Lord will give you adversity as bread and distress as water, despite His promised provision, because they have rejected the prophet's counsel and instead relied on deceit.

Isaiah 30 20 Context

Isaiah 30:15-33 is a section that contrasts the consequences of seeking Egypt's help with relying on the Lord. In this specific verse, the prophet describes the inevitable suffering that Judah will experience as a consequence of their disobedience. They have rejected the Lord's instruction and chosen to trust in the political alliances and deceptive promises of foreign nations. This reliance on human strength and deceit leads to severe distress and affliction, despite the Lord’s intent to provide for them. The ultimate cause for this judgment is their willful rejection of the divine counsel offered by the prophets.

Isaiah 30 20 Word Analysis

• וְלֹא (və·lō): "And not". A conjunctive particle followed by a negative. Indicates a continuation of the previous thought or a contrasting element.

• עוֹד (ʻō·wd): "Again" or "still". Implies that a previous state of suffering or affliction will cease.

• יוֹסִיף (yo·sîf): "Add" or "again". The Lord will not add to their burden by the hands of oppressive forces.

• יַרְבֶּה (yar·beh): "Make abundant" or "multiply". The afflictions brought by their enemies will not be intensified by divine allowance.

• אֲדוֹנָי (ʼă·ḏō·nāy): "The Lord" or "My Lord". The covenant name of God, Elohim. Emphasizes His sovereign authority and relationship with His people.

• יְהוָה (Yə·hô·wāh): "Jehovah". Another personal name for God, often associated with His power and eternal nature. In this context, the Lord (Adonai) Himself, Jehovah, is the one speaking.

• לְמִצְרַיִם (lə·miṣ·ray·im): "To Egypt". Refers to the nation of Egypt, a symbol of worldly power and a common reliance for Israel.

• מוֹעֲדֶס (mō·‘ă·ḏê·ḵā): "Your appointed time" or "your meetings/festivals". This word can imply both a period of time and potentially sacred assemblies, suggesting that their reliance on Egypt interferes with or corrupts their appointed times and worship. It is rendered as "bread" in many translations, which is a significant interpretative choice, likely seeing Egypt’s influence as a poor sustenance, like inedible bread. The root moed relates to appointed times, assemblies, or even a place of meeting. The idea could be that the 'appointments' with Egypt for help are rendered as useless 'bread'.

• וּלְמוֹצִילֶ֑ךָ (û·lə·mō·ṣî·leḵā): "And to your rescuers/deliverers". Another interpretative translation rendered as "water." Suggests that any attempted deliverance through Egyptian alliances will be as unsatisfying and insufficient as water that cannot quench real thirst, or in contrast to living water. The root motzil relates to drawing out, delivering, or rescuing. The implied meaning is that even those who claim to deliver them will be insufficient, their help being like meager sustenance.

• לְמִצְרָיִם (lə·miṣ·ray·im): "To Egypt". Again, referring to Egypt.

• לֹא (lō): "Not".

• אֹסִיף (ʼō·sîf): "Add" or "cause to increase". God will not cause these afflictions from Egypt to increase.

• Group analysis: "adversity as bread and distress as water" This phrase uses strong imagery to convey the utter lack of benefit from their chosen course. Instead of true sustenance and refreshment (God’s blessing), they will receive only that which signifies hardship and inadequacy. It highlights the complete failure of their alliance with Egypt. The original Hebrew points to "appointed time" (moedim) being rendered as "bread" and "deliverers" (motsilim) as "water," making the critique even more pointed: their temporal engagements and expected rescue will bring only unwholesome fare.

Isaiah 30 20 Bonus Section

The prophet Isaiah often employed contrasting imagery to emphasize God's message. Here, the contrast between the promised provision of the Lord (implied through the rejection of His counsel) and the sustenance received from Egypt is striking. The translation of mo'adecha (your appointed times/gatherings) as "bread" and motzilecha (your deliverers) as "water" is particularly insightful. It suggests that Egypt's influence will corrupt their sacred assemblies and render their hopes for rescue utterly vain, providing a semblance of life without true nourishment or salvation. This parallels spiritual famine, where what is pursued as life-giving becomes the very cause of decay.

Isaiah 30 20 Commentary

This verse illustrates the profound disappointment and suffering that comes from turning away from God's wisdom. Judah's misplaced trust in Egypt, a nation known for its powerful but often deceitful strategies, will result in profound hardship, not deliverance. The Lord, who intended to be their true sustenance and deliverer, will allow them to experience the bitter fruits of their disobedience. Their seeking help from human institutions and strategies rather than divine guidance leads to a form of spiritual starvation, where the "bread" they receive from their alliances is worthless and the "water" of their "rescuers" is equally unsatisfying. It's a stark warning against misplaced confidence and a call to return to God's provision.