Isaiah 57 20

Isaiah 57:20 kjv

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Isaiah 57:20 nkjv

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Isaiah 57:20 niv

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.

Isaiah 57:20 esv

But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

Isaiah 57:20 nlt

"But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
which is never still
but continually churns up mud and dirt.

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 20 meaning

Isaiah 57:20 vividly portrays the spiritual and moral state of the wicked as a perpetually agitated sea. Just as the sea churns ceaselessly, incapable of finding calm, so too the wicked are inherently restless, internally disturbed, and lacking true peace. Their turmoil is not merely internal; it actively manifests in outward actions and consequences, represented by the "mire and dirt" that the turbulent waters ceaselessly toss up, symbolizing their corrupt deeds and defiling influence on themselves and their surroundings.

Isaiah 57 20 Context

Isaiah 57 falls within the second major section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66), often referred to as "Second Isaiah" or the Book of Consolation, delivered to the exiles in Babylon or shortly after their return. However, Isaiah 57 itself contains sharp rebukes, suggesting it may also speak to a community struggling with sin and spiritual apathy amidst outward religious practice, or looking forward to restoration.

The chapter opens with a lament over the righteous who perish without being noticed, implying widespread spiritual indifference (57:1-2). It then sharply condemns the unfaithful, rebellious people who are engaged in various forms of idolatry, illicit rituals, and pagan practices, depicting them as adulterous children (57:3-10). They have abandoned Yahweh, sought alliances with foreign nations and false gods, and have defiled themselves with child sacrifice and veneration of pagan deities under every green tree and on every high hill. This apostasy leads to a spiritual weariness and hopelessness.

Verses 11-13 speak of God's patience and their inability to hide their sin. Then, there's a shift: God declares His intention to bring restoration and healing to those who humble themselves and confess their sin, offering peace to both near and far (57:14-19). This promise of peace (שׁלום - shalom) in 57:19 forms a direct contrast to the subsequent depiction of the wicked. Isaiah 57:20, followed by the explicit statement in 57:21 ("There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked"), serves as a definitive counterpoint, clarifying who will not partake in this divine peace. The verse's imagery thus encapsulates the inherent spiritual and moral chaos of those who reject God's way.

Isaiah 57 20 Word Analysis

• But: (wĕhā'ršā‘îm) This conjunction signals a strong contrast or antithesis to the preceding verses (57:14-19), which speak of God's comfort and peace for the humble and penitent. It emphatically introduces the different state of the wicked.

• the wicked: (הָרְשָׁעִים - hā'ršā‘îm) Plural definite noun. Refers to those who are morally and ethically depraved, unrighteous, and estranged from God. In a biblical context, "wicked" often denotes not just "bad behavior" but an active rebellion against God's covenant and established moral order, or a deliberate rejection of His will. It signifies a persistent pattern of disobedience and a spiritual condition of alienation.

• are like: (כַּיָּם - kayām) The prefix "כּ" (ka-) means "like" or "as." It introduces a simile, a direct comparison, making the abstract concept of wickedness tangible through vivid imagery.

• the tossing sea: (יָּם נִגְרָשׁ - yām niḡrāš)

  • sea: (יָּם - yām) In ancient Near Eastern thought and biblical cosmology, the sea often symbolized chaos, disorder, danger, and unruliness, in contrast to God's created order and dry land (e.g., Gen 1:2, Ps 74:13).
  • tossing: (נִגְרָשׁ - niḡrāš) A passive participle of the verb gāraš, meaning "to be driven, cast out, tossed, agitated, pushed away." This term conveys perpetual, violent, and uncontrollable movement. It suggests a lack of stability, direction, or peace, akin to a turbulent, storm-swept sea that cannot find calm. This motion is not voluntary but indicative of being driven by internal forces or external pressures.

• for it cannot rest: (כִּי הַשְׁקֵט לֹא יוּכַל - kî hašqēṭ lō’ yûḵal)

  • for: (כִּי - kî) Connective particle, meaning "for" or "because," explaining the reason for the sea's "tossing" and, by extension, the wicked's restlessness.
  • it cannot: (לֹא יוּכַל - lō’ yûḵal) Strong negation ("not able") with the verb yakol ("to be able, to prevail"). It highlights an intrinsic inability or inherent impossibility for the sea—and the wicked—to achieve the stated state.
  • rest: (הַשְׁקֵט - hašqēṭ) The infinitive absolute of the verb šāqaṭ, meaning "to be quiet, still, at ease, tranquil, settled, undisturbed." This "rest" (often linked to nuach or shalom) signifies not just physical cessation of activity, but internal serenity, security, and a state of well-being that comes from being settled and at peace. Its absence points to perpetual disquiet.

• and its waters toss up: (וַיִּגְרְשׁוּ מֵימָיו - wayyiḡrəšû mêmāyw)

  • its waters: (מֵימָיו - mêmāyw) Emphasizes that it is the very essence and output of the sea (or the wicked) that is agitated and producing impurity.
  • toss up: (וַיִּגְרְשׁוּ - wayyiḡrəšû) Again from the root gāraš, reinforcing the idea of casting out or spewing forth, but here in an active sense, denoting what the restless sea produces.

• mire and dirt: (רֶפֶשׁ וָטִיט - rēpēš wāṭîṭ)

  • mire: (רֶפֶשׁ - rēpēš) Meaning mud, swampy ground, or a defiling, sticky mess.
  • dirt: (טִיט - ṭîṭ) Meaning clay, sticky mud, often associated with impurity or being trodden upon. The pairing of these two terms emphasizes extreme impurity, foulness, and worthlessness. They represent the corrupt fruit, actions, and effects that arise from the wicked's restless state—their sins, injustices, defilements, and destructive influences. This is the output of their agitated spiritual state, contaminating themselves and their environment.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "But the wicked are like the tossing sea": This striking simile sets the tone. It is a direct and forceful comparison of human wickedness to the natural phenomenon of a violently agitated ocean. This isn't just a physical description but a profound theological statement about the inherent nature and spiritual condition of those alienated from God. The chaos of the sea mirrors the inner turmoil and moral disorder of the wicked.

• "for it cannot rest": This clause provides the reason and essence of the sea's "tossing" and, by analogy, the wicked's state. It speaks of an inherent inability to achieve quietness, stillness, or peace (shalom). The lack of rest highlights a fundamental defect, a constant internal agitation and a futile quest for contentment outside of God's design. This stands in stark opposition to the "peace" offered in 57:19.

• "and its waters toss up mire and dirt": This vivid imagery illustrates the consequence and output of the restless nature. Just as a tempestuous sea stirs up and expels filthy sediment from its depths, so too the actions and influences of the wicked are corrupting, defiling, and destructive. Their internal disorder manifests as moral impurity and ethical contamination in the world around them, rather than beneficial contributions.

Isaiah 57 20 Bonus Section

• The Hebrew concept of shalom (peace), prominent in 57:19 and denied to the wicked in 57:20-21, extends beyond the absence of conflict to encompass wholeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, and spiritual health. The wicked, by definition of this verse, are devoid of this comprehensive state.
• The imagery of the sea as a force of chaos and untamed power is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern cosmology and echoes throughout the Bible, where God's ultimate power is demonstrated by His ability to still and control the seas (Ps 89:9, Job 38:8-11). The wicked's state is therefore a microcosm of the very chaos that God overcame in creation.
• This verse underscores the idea that sin is not merely an external act but arises from an internal state of being. The restlessness described is an inner turmoil that naturally gives rise to "mire and dirt," suggesting that the polluted output reflects a polluted source.
• The description of the wicked "tossing up mire and dirt" can also be interpreted as their destructive influence on others and on society, creating moral contamination wherever they go, much like a polluted river poisons the land it flows through.
• The absence of shalom for the wicked serves as a theological bookend to the book of Isaiah, reappearing in similar fashion in Is 48:22 and 66:24, consistently marking the boundary of God's blessing and condemnation.

Isaiah 57 20 Commentary

Isaiah 57:20 powerfully articulates the spiritual condition of the wicked as a complete antithesis to divine peace. After offering healing and shalom (peace) to the repentant (57:19), the prophet presents the contrasting fate: the wicked are portrayed as a perpetually agitated sea, utterly devoid of rest. This is not a passive description but an active, internal torment. Their lack of rest (šāqaṭ), meaning true tranquility and stability, points to a constant state of internal turmoil, dissatisfaction, and an inability to settle into contentment or security apart from God. This echoes earlier prophecies in Isaiah 48:22, reiterating a core biblical truth that rebellion against God leads inevitably to internal disquiet and external instability.

Furthermore, this internal agitation has a visible, corrupting outcome: the turbulent waters "toss up mire and dirt." This imagery vividly symbolizes the base, defiling, and worthless deeds that emanate from a heart disconnected from God. Like the filth churned from the deep, the wicked's actions are morally impure, socially disruptive, and personally debasing. Their spiritual condition produces not righteousness or good fruit, but a continuous stream of corruption and uncleanness. The verse thus serves as both a descriptive judgment and a stark warning, illustrating that the natural consequence of rejecting divine order is an unceasing production of impurity and a perpetual absence of peace, reinforcing that true rest and peace are found only in submission to the Lord.