Isaiah 28:15

A Cornerstone in Zion · Isaiah 28:14–22
Read Isaiah 28

Translations

Modern
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”
Traditional
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Literal
For you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made an agreement. The overflowing scourge, when it passes over, it will not come to us, for we have made falsehood our refuge, and in deception we have hidden ourselves.”
Latin
Dixistis enim: Percussimus fœdus cum morte, et cum inferno fecimus pactum: flagellum inundans cum transierit, non veniet super nos quia posuimus mendacium spem nostram, et mendacio protecti sumus.

Original

Hebrew
English
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”

Notes

  • have made a covenant with death … fashioned an agreement with Sheol: There are two possible interpretations:

    1. The people had pledged themselves to the Canaanite god of death, Mot, for his supposed protection.

    2. The prophet was sarcastic. The people believed their political and economic actions ensured their safety, but they had actually harmed themselves.

  • lies … and falsehood: The leaders did not see themselves as deceptive, but they were.

After giving judgment on Samaria (Isaiah 28:1–13), Isaiah now judges Jerusalem. He accuses Judah's leaders of being as blind as those in Israel's northern kingdom.

The glory of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, is here contrasted with the glory of the Lord. This section represents the first of the six woes (Woe to...).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah

Events

Parallels

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 Ephesians 2:19–22 1 Peter 2:1–8

Glossary

Hades Isaiah, Book of

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Confidence: False Covenants: (With Death and Hell) Carnal Security Falsehood: General Scriptures Concerning Hell in the RV of Nt It Appears Only In Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Mocking: The Hardened Wicked People Mock Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of War and Other Judgments Rulers: Wicked Security: False: Trusts in Lies Trust of the Wicked is in Falsehood