Isaiah 51:8 kjv
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Isaiah 51:8 nkjv
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation."
Isaiah 51:8 niv
For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."
Isaiah 51:8 esv
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations."
Isaiah 51:8 nlt
For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing.
The worm will eat at them as it eats wool.
But my righteousness will last forever.
My salvation will continue from generation to generation."
Isaiah 51 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:8 | "For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool." | Refers to the impermanence of earthly things. |
| Psa 39:11 | "When you discipline them for their sin, you consume their treasures, as if a moth gnaws at clothes; indeed, all mankind is nothing but a breath." | Highlights the transience of human life and possessions. |
| Hosea 5:12 | "I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like dry rot to the house of Judah." | God's judgment as a consuming force. |
| Matt 6:20 | "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal." | Contrasts earthly decay with heavenly permanence. |
| Luke 12:33 | "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." | Jesus' teaching on storing up treasures in heaven. |
| 1 Pet 1:18 | "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers," | The precious blood of Christ redeems from decay. |
| Rev 7:14 | "I answered him, “Sir, you know.” And he replied, “These are those who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”" | The Lamb's blood signifies cleansing and preservation. |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." | Believing in Christ leads to eternal life, not perishing. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." | God's love secures eternal preservation. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" | Believers are a new creation, incorruptible. |
| 1 Cor 15:53 | "For this perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and this mortal with immortality." | The resurrection transforms believers into an imperishable state. |
| Phil 3:21 | "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything to obey him, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." | Our transformed bodies will be incorruptible. |
| 1 John 5:4 | "For every child of God defeats this world system. Their faith is the victorious force that defeats this ruler of the world." | Faith overcomes the corrupting influence of the world. |
| Rev 3:18 | "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you may become rich, and white clothes to wear, so that you may not be shamed, and buy salve to put on your eyes, so that you may be able to see." | Advice to buy incorruptible riches and purity. |
| Ps 119:143 | "Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight." | God's word brings joy even amidst trials. |
| Prov 23:5 | "Do they’ve only a moment before they fly away? They sprout wings like an eagle and fly off into the sky." | The fleeting nature of earthly riches. |
| Deut 4:28 | "There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell." | Contrasts living God with inanimate idols. |
| Isa 28:1 | "Woe to that arrogant crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty— those near the head of the lush valleys on the wine- Ones." | The frailty of pride and earthly glory. |
| Matt 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." | Jesus' affirmation of the enduring nature of His words. |
| Ps 102:26 | "Thee will indeed perish, but thou wilt endure; They will all wear out like a garment; like clothing thou wilt change them, and they will be changed." | Echoes the theme of God's permanence vs. creation's impermanence. |
Isaiah 51 verses
Isaiah 51 8 Meaning
The people of God are promised eternal preservation, protected from the gnawing decay of corruption and destruction that affects all earthly things. Their righteousness will be an everlasting garment, their deliverance a perpetual spring.
Isaiah 51 8 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophetic message of comfort and restoration to the people of Judah who were in exile in Babylon. The preceding verses speak of God’s mighty acts in creation and deliverance. Isaiah 51:1-3 assures them of God’s faithfulness and His promise to restore Zion. Verses 4-6 emphasize the coming of God’s salvation and righteousness for all nations. Verse 7 directly addresses the righteous who trust in God’s law, contrasting them with those who fear man.
This specific verse (Isaiah 51:8) acts as a contrast. While God's people, particularly the righteous, are preserved, the wicked, like their transient possessions or clothing, will be consumed by decay and judgment. This sets up the promise of everlasting righteousness and salvation in the subsequent verses (51:11). The context is one of hope amidst suffering, where God assures His people that His justice will prevail over the ephemeral nature of earthly corruptions.
Isaiah 51 8 Word Analysis
- כִּֽי (ki): "for," "because," "indeed." It introduces the reason or explanation for a preceding statement, often emphasizing a contrast. Here, it explains why the wicked will be brought to naught, setting them against the enduring nature promised to the righteous.
- וְאָכַל (wə’āḵal): "and eat." This is a basic verb indicating consumption, often by a destructive force. It powerfully conveys the idea of being completely destroyed or consumed.
- תּוֹלַעַת (tôlā‘aṯ): "moth," "worm." In ancient Hebrew culture, moths and worms were common destroyers of clothing and textiles, representing the natural process of decay and ruin. It's a vivid image of gradual but total consumption.
- כַּסּ֕וּת (kāśûṯ): "garment," "clothing." This word signifies covering and protection. The image of clothing being eaten by a moth highlights the vulnerability and eventual destruction of the enemies' superficial protection or authority.
- וּכְמ֛וֹ (ukəmô): "and as," "like." This conjunction introduces a simile, drawing a comparison.
- עָכַר (‘āḵar): "worm," "devourer." While often translated as "worm," it can refer to a consuming pest. Together with "moth," it emphasizes the completeness of destruction, affecting both fabrics and wools.
- צֶ֖מֶר (ṣeʹmer): "wool." Wool was a valuable commodity, used for making garments and was susceptible to moths and decay. This amplifies the picture of destruction affecting something precious and vital.
Words Group Analysis:
- "the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool": This is a powerful simile highlighting the impermanence and corruption of the unrighteous and their works. The natural processes of decay that consume clothing—moth and worm—are used to represent the inevitable destruction that will come upon God's enemies. It emphasizes that their supposed strength or security, like fine wool or a well-made garment, will ultimately be reduced to nothing through internal corruption.
Isaiah 51 8 Bonus Section
The destruction described here is not merely physical but often reflects spiritual or political collapse. Throughout Scripture, God uses imagery of decay to signify judgment on those who turn away from Him. The concept of "eating" or "devouring" by pests like moths is consistent with how divine judgment is depicted as an insidious, corrupting force that breaks down what appears strong. The contrast is paramount: the righteous are clothed with salvation (v. 5) and God's righteousness (v. 6), garments that will not be consumed, signifying their secure and eternal standing in God. This verse lays the groundwork for the subsequent proclamation in 51:11 regarding the eternal joy and everlasting gladness that will be upon Zion, demonstrating that true, lasting security and blessing come only from adherence to God and His eternal covenant.
Isaiah 51 8 Commentary
Isaiah 51:8 vividly portrays the ephemeral nature of wickedness and those who oppose God. Unlike the eternal promises made to the righteous (who are preserved and clothed in righteousness and deliverance, as highlighted in earlier verses of Isaiah 51), the enemies of God are subject to inevitable decay and destruction. The imagery of moths and worms consuming garments and wool is a stark metaphor for the internal rot and eventual ruin that characterizes sin and rebellion against God. It is a universal truth: earthly things, including the power and structures of the ungodly, are temporal and susceptible to breakdown. This contrasts sharply with the spiritual realities that are incorruptible, such as God's word, His covenant, and the eternal life offered through faith. The verse serves as a warning to the wicked and a reassurance to the faithful that God's enduring power and faithfulness guarantee the ultimate triumph of His kingdom and His people over all forms of corruption and destruction. It reflects a consistent biblical theme that righteousness leads to lasting life, while wickedness leads to desolation and a complete, if sometimes gradual, demise.