Isaiah 42 22

Isaiah 42:22 kjv

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

Isaiah 42:22 nkjv

But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"

Isaiah 42:22 niv

But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, "Send them back."

Isaiah 42:22 esv

But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, "Restore!"

Isaiah 42:22 nlt

But his own people have been robbed and plundered,
enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.
They are fair game for anyone
and have no one to protect them,
no one to take them back home.

Isaiah 42 verses

Isaiah 42 22 Meaning

Isaiah 42:22 starkly contrasts the ideal Servant of the Lord described earlier in the chapter with the present reality of the nation of Israel. This verse declares Israel's tragic state of being plundered, looted, imprisoned, and confined to dark dungeons. It underscores that this widespread suffering is a direct consequence of their collective spiritual blindness and disobedience to Yahweh, revealing them as a chastened people under divine judgment.

Isaiah 42 22 Context

Isaiah 42 is part of the "Servant Songs" (Isa 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-53:12), yet this verse presents a stark departure from the ideal Servant introduced in the chapter's beginning. The initial verses describe a Servant empowered by God's Spirit, bringing justice quietly to the nations. However, beginning with verse 18, a rhetorical shift occurs, identifying the "servant" as Jacob/Israel. Verses 18-21 directly confront Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness, despite being given the Law by a righteous God. Verse 22 then describes the consequence of this spiritual failure, portraying the physical state of the nation as one under severe judgment. Historically, this aligns with the Babylonian exile, a period where Israel experienced widespread captivity and destruction, which the prophet Isaiah foresaw and preached to the unheeding people.

Isaiah 42 22 Word analysis

• But (וְאֵ֖ין - v'ein): This conjunction signifies a strong contrast, creating a sharp disjunction between the glorious purpose of the Servant (Israel, vv.1-4) and the deplorable reality of Israel as a whole, specifically after the indictments in vv.18-21. It indicates a turning point in the prophet's declaration.
• this is a people: Identifies the subject, unequivocally pointing to Israel, the very nation chosen by God to be His servant and a light to the Gentiles, now reduced to this ignoble state. It highlights their current degraded condition.
• plundered (שָׁס֥וּי - shasûy): This Hebrew term means to be robbed, despoiled, or spoiled, often specifically relating to war spoils or violent taking. It depicts the physical suffering of Israel where their possessions, land, and resources have been forcibly taken by invaders. This is not merely economic hardship but a violent deprivation, signaling God's withdrawal of protection.
• and looted (וּבָז֑וּז - ûbâzûz): Meaning to be pillaged or taken as spoil. This word reinforces the concept of plunder, emphasizing the thoroughness of the despoiling. It speaks of wholesale devastation, not just loss, but the complete confiscation and distribution of their assets by their enemies.
• all of them (כֻּלָּ֔ם - kul·lâm): This intensifier stresses the widespread and comprehensive nature of their suffering. It suggests that no part of the nation or its populace was spared from the plight of being plundered and captured. The judgment affected the entire community, indicating corporate sin and corporate consequences.
• are trapped (וְהָֽי֨וּ בְחֹרֵ֤י - v'hâyû b'ḥōrê): Literally "and were in holes." This image evokes a sense of being caught in snares or nets, or hidden away in dark, confined spaces. It suggests not just capture, but being ensnared, perhaps like animals, by their oppressors. This speaks to their loss of freedom and the inescapable nature of their captivity.
• in holes (חֹרֵי - ḥōrê): The word for "holes" can refer to underground pits, dungeons, or dark, hidden crevices. It denotes places of confinement, despair, and secrecy, suggesting a state of being completely vulnerable and deprived of sunlight or liberty. It highlights the abjectness of their prison.
• and hidden (וּבְבָתֵּ֥י - ûb'bātê): Literally "and in houses." While "houses" typically mean homes, in this context, juxtaposed with "holes" and "prisons," it likely refers to structures used for holding captives or being forcibly kept indoors under guard. It speaks to involuntary confinement.
• in prisons (כְּלָאִ֖ים - k'lā'īm): This term refers to actual prisons, detention centers, or strongholds used for incarcerating individuals or groups. It distinctly conveys the idea of physical imprisonment and the judicial or punitive aspect of their captivity. This indicates a state of total subjugation to foreign powers.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But this is a people plundered and looted": This phrase paints a picture of extreme national vulnerability and suffering. It highlights a divine judgment where God's chosen people, despite their privileged status, have been abandoned to their enemies' depredations due to their unfaithfulness. The repetition of similar terms ("plundered" and "looted") intensifies the degree of destruction and loss experienced by the nation. This situation also reflects the covenant curses for disobedience outlined in passages like Deut 28 and Lev 26, emphasizing the punitive aspect of God's character when His covenant is broken.
• "all of them are trapped in holes": This conveys the widespread nature of their captivity and distress. "All of them" indicates a universal judgment, affecting every segment of society. Being "trapped in holes" suggests a humiliating and desperate confinement, evoking imagery of individuals or even the entire populace being held in secret, dark, or degrading places, such as deep dungeons or hideaways of criminals. It implies an inescapable entrapment, highlighting their complete powerlessness.
• "and hidden in prisons": This completes the grim picture of Israel's national subjugation. It explicitly points to literal imprisonment and involuntary detention, solidifying the interpretation of "holes" as places of incarceration. The phrase emphasizes the enforced isolation and captivity of God's people by foreign powers, which was the reality of the Babylonian exile, when the population was forcibly removed and confined. It also implies a concealment or removal from their land and their visibility as a sovereign nation.

Isaiah 42 22 Bonus section

The suffering of Israel depicted in Isa 42:22 serves a dual purpose in God's redemptive plan. First, it acts as divine discipline for covenant infidelity, revealing God's justice in upholding His covenant promises and warnings. Second, it highlights Israel's incapacity to be the perfect servant envisioned, thus implicitly paving the way for the prophetic need of the Messiah, the singular "Servant of the Lord," who would perfectly accomplish God's will and endure suffering redemptively. This passage demonstrates a principle prevalent throughout the Bible: national and individual prosperity or adversity often correlate with faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God. Even in this state of humiliation, God's ultimate purpose for Israel's restoration is not annulled but awaits their turning back to Him.

Isaiah 42 22 Commentary

Isaiah 42:22 provides a somber reflection on the condition of Israel, God's chosen servant. Far from being a light to the nations as intended, Israel is portrayed as an afflicted people, subjected to intense suffering and humiliation. The verse underscores that their state of being plundered, looted, trapped, and imprisoned is not random but a consequence of their persistent spiritual blindness and disobedience to Yahweh's instruction (as stated in previous verses). God, in His righteousness and as part of His covenant discipline, allowed these calamities through foreign invaders like the Assyrians and Babylonians. This divine chastisement was intended to bring Israel to repentance, to acknowledge their covenant obligations, and to redirect their hearts back to Him. Despite this present judgment, the passage, read in the broader context of Isaiah's Servant Songs, sets the stage for a future, ideal Servant who will perfectly fulfill God's redemptive plan where Israel has failed.