Isaiah 5 30

Isaiah 5:30 kjv

And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Isaiah 5:30 nkjv

In that day they will roar against them Like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds.

Isaiah 5:30 niv

In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress; even the sun will be darkened by clouds.

Isaiah 5:30 esv

They will growl over it on that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.

Isaiah 5:30 nlt

They will roar over their victims on that day of destruction
like the roaring of the sea.
If someone looks across the land,
only darkness and distress will be seen;
even the light will be darkened by clouds.

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 30 Meaning

Isaiah 5:30 dramatically concludes the description of divine judgment on Judah. It portrays the terrifying sounds of an invading enemy as an overwhelming, roaring tide, signifying God's wrath poured out through human agents. As one looks upon the land, it is engulfed in utter darkness and deep sorrow, representing both literal gloom and profound despair, signaling a complete absence of divine favor or hope. Even the natural light is extinguished by ominous clouds, symbolizing a cosmic dimension to this severe, inescapable tribulation and the comprehensive nature of the coming judgment.

Isaiah 5 30 Context

Isaiah chapter 5 presents the "Song of the Vineyard," where God likens Judah to a cherished vineyard that yielded wild grapes, symbolizing the nation's spiritual and moral corruption despite divine care. This lament segues into a series of six woes (Isa 5:8-23) denouncing specific sins: greed, drunkenness, presumption, distorting truth, pride, and injustice. Isaiah 5:24-25 describes God's burning anger and outstretched hand of judgment, resulting in severe devastation. Verses 26-29 introduce the instrument of this judgment: a distant, fierce, and swift nation, likened to a predatory lion, poised to invade. Verse 30 directly continues this imagery, vividly describing the terrifying and total collapse of the land under this impending divine wrath, making the sound of the invading army explicit and painting a grim picture of cosmic and earthly despair. Historically, this judgment would largely come through the Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BC and later the Babylonian Empire, fulfilling the prophecies of destruction and exile due to Judah's unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 5 30 Word analysis

• And (וְ, wᵉ): Connects this final grim consequence directly to the preceding description of the fierce invading army in verses 26-29. It emphasizes the direct result of God's summoning the distant nation.

• in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyom hahuʾ): A common prophetic phrase, "the Day of the Lord," signifying a specific time of God's direct, decisive intervention in human history. While often eschatological, here it specifically refers to the day of God's historical judgment upon Judah. It marks an era of divine reckoning.

• they will roar (וְנָהַם, wᵉnaham): From the root נהם (naham), meaning "to groan," "to mourn," or "to roar" (like a lion or the sea). Here, it carries a double implication: the terrifying sound of the approaching, hungry enemy (Isa 5:29 described them roaring like a lion) and the mournful groan of the land under judgment. It evokes primal fear and distress.

• against them (עָלָיו, ʿālāyw): Refers to the people of the land (Judah/Israel) previously spoken of in the chapter. The roar is directed at them, emphasizing aggression and subjugation.

• like the roaring of the sea (כְּנַהֲמַת יָם, kᵉnahamat yam): A powerful simile. The sea, often depicted in ancient Near Eastern thought as a chaotic, untamed force (Ps 65:7, 89:9), represents an overwhelming, unstoppable, and destructive power. This image suggests the vastness, noise, and sheer terror of the invading host.

• And if one looks to the land (וְהִבִּיט לָאָרֶץ, wᵉhibbîṭ lāʾāreṣ): Implies a survey or inspection of the devastated territory. The act of "looking" draws the observer's attention directly to the dire consequences, emphasizing the visible horror.

• behold (וְהִנֵּה, wᵉhinnēh): An exclamation used to draw immediate attention to what follows, heightening the drama and confirming the shocking reality of the vision.

• darkness (חֹשֶׁךְ, ḥōšeḵ): Biblically, darkness signifies judgment, chaos, terror, the absence of God's favor, and the withholding of His light. It's often associated with divine wrath and destruction (Exod 10:21-23, Am 5:18). It can represent literal gloom from a devastated land, or the spiritual absence of light/truth.

• and sorrow (צָרָה, ṣārāh): Literally "distress," "tribulation," or "anguish." It speaks to the deep psychological and physical suffering, a state of acute hardship and lack of well-being (Zep 1:15, Jer 30:7).

• And the light (וָאוֹר, wāʾōr): Refers to natural light—sun, moon, and stars—but also metaphorically to prosperity, blessing, divine favor, and hope. Its mention highlights the severity of the coming judgment as it affects fundamental aspects of existence.

• will be darkened (חָשַׁךְ, ḥāšaḵ): The root "darken" repeats from "darkness," reinforcing the absolute nature of the gloom. This suggests a cosmic sign, where even the heavens withhold their light, mirroring the deep spiritual and physical suffering on earth.

• by its clouds (בַּעֲרִיפֶיהָ, baʿărîpehā): Refers to thick, ominous clouds or a heavy, dense cloud cover. While clouds can sometimes signify God's presence, here they represent an instrument of obscuration and judgment. They are not merely rain clouds, but clouds of doom, perhaps of smoke from burning cities, or literally the obscuring of the sun due to apocalyptic events, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the darkness.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "in that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea": This phrase paints a terrifying auditory and conceptual image. "They" refers back to the invading armies (Isa 5:26-29) described as lions, but now their roar is intensified, becoming like the vast, uncontrollable surge of the sea. This conveys overwhelming numbers, relentless advance, terrifying noise, and a chaotic, destructive force. It is the sound of total, irresistible conquest.
  • "if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and sorrow": This depicts the visual consequence of the judgment. The "land" (Judah) is shown completely submerged in gloom. "Darkness" is not just the absence of physical light but a metaphor for spiritual void, God's displeasure, and despair. Coupled with "sorrow," it signifies a comprehensive state of utter hopelessness and tribulation pervading the entire nation, leaving no relief.
  • "And the light will be darkened by its clouds": This describes a cosmic dimension to the judgment. Even the heavens seem to participate in Judah's woes, implying that divine light (blessing, prosperity, hope) is withdrawn, leaving only a pervasive gloom caused by foreboding "clouds." These clouds symbolize the heavy, inescapable oppression and judgment descending from above, covering the land in a literal and metaphorical eclipse.

Isaiah 5 30 Bonus section

The repeated motif of "darkness" (choshekh) and the verb "darkened" (hashakh) in Isaiah 5:30 emphasizes the absolute nature of the impending doom. It implies not merely low light, but an active extinguishing of hope and light, much like the plague of darkness in Egypt (Exod 10:21-23), signaling God's wrath and a reversal of creation's order where light was established (Gen 1:3-4). This links Judah's judgment to primeval chaos and divine power to undo blessings. Furthermore, the roar of the "sea" has rich polemical undertones in the Ancient Near East. While Baal was sometimes considered lord over the chaotic sea, here Yahweh, the true God, allows the chaos of the "sea" (representing a foreign nation) to consume Judah, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty over all powers, even those thought to be controlled by pagan deities. This judgment highlights that God alone truly commands the chaos and fury of the world.

Isaiah 5 30 Commentary

Isaiah 5:30 brings to a climactic close the devastating picture of judgment against unfaithful Judah. It's a prophecy of total immersion in distress, using sensory imagery—sound, sight, and the very atmosphere. The roar of the sea, echoing the prior depiction of the enemy as ravenous lions, symbolizes an overwhelming, chaotic, and merciless invasion that will leave no stone unturned. The emphasis on "that day" places this event squarely within God's sovereign timeline of judgment.

The visual descent into "darkness and sorrow" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the judgment. This is not merely an external attack but an internal desolation—spiritual darkness resulting from God's hidden face, coupled with deep national anguish. The natural world itself seems to recoil; "the light will be darkened by its clouds" suggests a pervasive gloom, where even the sun and moon appear obscured. This could refer to the smoke and ash of destruction or serve as a cosmic sign of divine displeasure. The absence of light points to the absence of hope, joy, and divine favor. The cumulative effect is a scene of inescapable, terrifying judgment, leaving the people in a state of ultimate despair, a profound consequence for a nation that rejected its divine caretaker and perverted justice.