Isaiah 30 22

Isaiah 30:22 kjv

Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Isaiah 30:22 nkjv

You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, And the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, "Get away!"

Isaiah 30:22 niv

Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

Isaiah 30:22 esv

Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, "Be gone!"

Isaiah 30:22 nlt

Then you will destroy all your silver idols
and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags,
saying to them, "Good riddance!"

Isaiah 30 verses

Isaiah 30 22 Meaning

This verse signifies that the idols people rely on will become defiled and like filth, discarded. Anything the people had embraced as a substitute for God will be utterly worthless and abhorrent, even treated as unclean refuse to be cast out.

Isaiah 30 22 Context

This prophecy in Isaiah 30 is a rebuke to Judah for their reliance on Egypt for military aid instead of trusting in the Lord. Despite God's past faithfulness and warnings, the people, led by their rulers, sought security in an alliance with a foreign power known for its false gods. Isaiah declared that this alliance would bring shame and destruction, not deliverance. Verse 22 specifically describes the inevitable downfall of the idols and the defiled religious practices that characterized their reliance on these worldly powers.

Isaiah 30 22 Word Analysis

• וְ (və): "and" - Conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding pronouncements of judgment and future restoration.

• טִּמֵּ֔א (timme’): "defile," "make unclean" (Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular of טָמֵא – ṭāmē’): This is a key term in Levitical law concerning ritual impurity. It signifies making something unholy or contaminated, thus unfit for sacred use or for God’s presence.

• תְּרִיקוּ (terīqū): "throw away," "cast off," "emptied" (Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of רִיק – rīq): This verb implies emptying out or casting away something that is now useless or abhorrent.

• כִּסְלוּת (kis·lūṯ): "its silver," "their silver": Refers to the silver ornaments or coverings of idols.

• וּפַסִּיס (ū·pas·sîs): "and your colorful ornaments," "its covering," "its figured cloth" (Masoretic Text): The precise meaning is debated. It can refer to covering, embroidery, or a painted/colored overlay, emphasizing the outward allure of idols. Some scholars connect it to Aramaic roots related to decoration.

• בְּדִ֣ל (bə·ḏi·la): "remove," "discard," "cut off" (Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of בָּדַל – bāḏal): This suggests a forceful separation and removal, a definitive rejection.

• תּוֹרֵ֣ק (ṯō·w·rēq): "defile," "scatter," "pollute" (Hiphil imperfect, 2nd person masculine plural of יָרַק – yāraq): This implies actively making something filthy and casting it away as if it were loathsome.

• כְּמַ֧א[כל] (kə·ma[ʼ·ḵǝl]): "as filth," "as a menstrual cloth," "as something defiled to be eaten" (This is a difficult phrase. It could be interpreted as "like a cast-off food rag" or something similarly unmentionable and impure): This intensifies the idea of uncleanness and rejection.

• Grouped analysis: The verse systematically moves from the act of defiling (טִּמֵּ֔א) to the action of casting away (תְּרִיקוּ, בְּדִ֣ל), associating these actions with the idol's attractive but ultimately defiled coverings (כִּסְלוּת, וּפַסִּיס) and culminating in the ultimate designation as utterly impure refuse (כְּמַ֧א[כל]). The language is visceral, highlighting the total rejection and disgust with idolatry.

Isaiah 30 22 Bonus Section

The specific imagery of "as filth" or "as menstrual cloth" (כְּמַ֧א[כל]) carries potent cultural and religious implications in ancient Israel. The menstrual cloth, in particular, was considered the epitome of ritual uncleanness (Leviticus 15:19-24). To liken idols to such an item is to declare them utterly contaminated, antithetical to the purity God requires. This connects to broader Old Testament themes where the land itself could become "defiled" by sin and idolatry (Jeremiah 3:1-2). Furthermore, the rejection of idols is tied to God's desire for exclusive worship. This is a core principle seen throughout Scripture, emphasizing that fidelity to God means forsaking all other loyalties and dependencies. The promise of God's cleansing in later chapters (e.g., Isaiah 4:4) stands in direct contrast to this utter defilement of idols, highlighting that true purification comes from Him alone.

Isaiah 30 22 Commentary

Isaiah 30:22 is a stark depiction of divine judgment on idolatry. It proclaims that the objects of their misplaced trust – the silver, the ornate coverings, the very symbols of their alliance and spiritual infidelity – will be treated with utter contempt. This isn't just a discarding; it's a defilement and rejection as abhorrent waste. For Judah, this meant the futility of their Egyptian alliance and the shame that would accompany its collapse. In a broader spiritual sense, it speaks to all who replace God with created things, wealth, or worldly systems. These ultimately prove to be unclean, worthless, and are forcibly removed, leaving the individual in utter defilement and separation from God. The act of "removing like filth" underscores the depth of God's disapproval of turning away from Him.