Isaiah 5:21 kjv
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21 nkjv
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21 niv
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Isaiah 5:21 esv
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21 nlt
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
and think themselves so clever.
Isaiah 5 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:7 | Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. | Direct warning against self-wisdom. |
| Prov 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool. | Self-wisdom worse than simple foolishness. |
| Rom 12:16 | ...Do not be wise in your own eyes. | New Testament echo of the proverb. |
| Prov 28:26 | Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. | Reliance on self leads to folly. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him boast in this, that he understands and knows me... | True wisdom is knowing God, not self-intellect. |
| 1 Cor 1:19 | For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” | God frustrates human wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe?... Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | God contrasts worldly wisdom with divine truth. |
| 1 Cor 1:25 | For the foolishness of God is wiser than men’s wisdom... | God's "folly" surpasses human "wisdom." |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. | Worldly wisdom is useless to God. |
| James 3:15 | This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. | Worldly wisdom has an evil source. |
| Matt 11:25 | ...you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. | God reveals truth to the humble. |
| Rom 1:22 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools... | Intellectual pride leads to folly and spiritual decline. |
| Luke 10:21 | ...for you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children... | Echoes Matt 11:25 about revelation to the humble. |
| Isa 29:14 | So I will again do a marvelous work... and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish... | God's judgment on proud wisdom. |
| Job 12:2 | No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. | Sarcastic jab at intellectual arrogance. |
| Prov 12:15 | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes... | Folly's self-deception. |
| Judges 21:25 | In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. | Self-governed "wisdom" leads to moral chaos. |
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” | Root of intellectual pride often rejects God. |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Call to humility, counter to self-wisdom. |
| Jas 4:6 | God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | Direct statement against pride. |
| Matt 23:25-28 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees... outward righteousness, but inwardly full of hypocrisy... | Condemnation of self-righteous, outwardly wise leaders. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... | Rejection of divine knowledge leads to ruin. |
| Ps 51:6 | Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being; make me know wisdom inwardly. | Desire for true, inner, God-given wisdom. |
Isaiah 5 verses
Isaiah 5 21 Meaning
Isaiah 5:21 delivers a stark condemnation, a "Woe," against those who place their own perceived intellectual superiority and insight above the wisdom and standards of God. It denounces self-sufficiency in thought, labeling as spiritually perilous those who are convinced of their own wisdom and understanding, effectively shutting out divine revelation and external counsel. This prideful self-perception leads to spiritual blindness and ultimately to judgment.
Isaiah 5 21 Context
Isaiah 5:21 is the fifth of six "woes" pronounced by the prophet Isaiah against the people of Judah (Isa 5:8-23) during a time of moral and spiritual decay, likely during the reign of King Uzziah or Jotham in the 8th century BCE. These woes follow the "Song of the Vineyard" (Isa 5:1-7), which lamented Israel's failure to yield fruit despite God's diligent care. Each woe condemns a specific societal sin. The historical context reveals a society marked by social injustice, greed, drunkenness, moral perversion, and spiritual arrogance. This particular woe targets intellectual pride, condemning those who believed their own shrewdness and plans were sufficient, rejecting divine counsel and genuine wisdom. It served as a direct polemic against a prevailing mindset where human intellect and self-reliance had supplanted dependence on Yahweh, leading to self-deception and moral degradation within the community.
Isaiah 5 21 Word analysis
- Woe (הוֹי - hoy): This is a prophetic interjection, serving as a solemn pronouncement of doom, a lament, or a dire warning. It conveys strong condemnation and signifies impending judgment for the transgression described. It implies that a destructive outcome is certain for those who fit the description.
- to those who are wise (לַחֲכָמִים - lakhakhamim): Derived from the Hebrew root חכם (chakham), meaning "wise," "skillful," or "sagacious." In isolation, this word denotes true wisdom. However, here, it's juxtaposed with "in their own eyes," revealing that the wisdom referred to is self-derived and self-validated, not wisdom from God. It refers to those who are clever in worldly affairs or believe themselves to be intellectually superior.
- in their own eyes (בְּעֵינֵיהֶם - b'eineyhem): A crucial qualifier. The phrase "in their own eyes" indicates a subjective and internal perception, highlighting arrogance and self-sufficiency. They judge themselves by their own standards, dismissing objective truth or divine revelation. It speaks of a proud independence that refuses correction or humility.
- and shrewd (וְלִנְבֹנִים - v'linvohim): From the Hebrew root נבון (navon), meaning "understanding," "discerning," "intelligent," or "prudent." This term runs parallel to chakhamim, reinforcing the idea of intellectual capability. While chakham can suggest practical wisdom or skill, navon leans towards keen insight and discernment.
- in their own sight (וּמִנֶּגֶד פְּנֵיהֶם - u-minneged p'neyhem): This phrase acts as a parallel construction to "in their own eyes," further emphasizing the self-centered nature of their perceived understanding. P'neyhem (פְּנֵיהֶם) refers to "their face" or "their presence," and minneged (מִנֶּגֶד) means "in front of" or "opposite to." Combined, it creates an idiom highlighting that their understanding is formed and validated solely from their own perspective, directly from their own inner reckoning, apart from divine truth or external counsel.
- "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!" This entire phrase constitutes a powerful rhetorical indictment. The parallelism underscores the profound spiritual problem: their perceived wisdom (chakhamim) and understanding (nevohim) are dangerously self-generated and self-validating. It's a "wisdom" that springs from human pride and results in a closed mind to God's ways. The danger lies in their unchallengeable self-assessment, leading to rejection of God's wisdom, commands, and corrective discipline. This state breeds spiritual blindness, making repentance difficult and judgment inevitable.
Isaiah 5 21 Bonus section
This specific woe, along with others in Isaiah 5, reveals the diagnostic nature of God's prophetic word, pinpointing core spiritual illnesses of the people. This "wisdom" is not the fear of the Lord (Prov 9:10), but a substitute that breeds spiritual arrogance and closes off access to true, godly understanding. This echoes a recurring theme throughout the Bible: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Pet 5:5). The self-proclaimed wise, unlike "little children" (Matt 11:25), are often the very ones from whom God hides spiritual truths, precisely because of their unwillingness to acknowledge their need for Him. The judgment that follows this "woe" implies that their self-exalted wisdom will not save them from the consequences of their rebellion.
Isaiah 5 21 Commentary
Isaiah 5:21 delivers a profound prophetic "Woe" targeting the dangers of intellectual pride and self-sufficiency. It describes those who consider their own understanding and shrewdness to be the ultimate arbiter of truth, effectively making themselves their own god of wisdom. This is not a condemnation of intellect or learning itself, but rather of a self-congratulatory spirit that trusts solely in human reason and foresight, rejecting divine guidance and revelation. Such individuals, confident in their own discerning capabilities, become spiritually impenetrable, deaf to God's warnings and blind to His moral standards. This prideful autonomy is highly offensive to God, as it usurps His position as the fount of all true wisdom (Prov 28:26, 1 Cor 3:19). The woe highlights a form of spiritual idolatry where the self becomes the supreme authority, leading to moral distortion and societal breakdown, as seen throughout Isaiah's prophecy concerning Judah. This verse serves as a timeless warning against the illusion of self-generated wisdom, which ultimately leads to folly and destruction in God's eyes.For practical usage, this warns against:
- Making major life decisions based solely on personal intelligence or trends without seeking God's counsel through His Word or prayer.
- Dismissing biblical teachings or pastoral advice because one believes they are "too educated" or "know better."
- Becoming arrogant in one's opinions or spiritual insights, refusing to be corrected or learn from others.