Isaiah 57:20

Isaiah 57:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
• New International Version (NIV)But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Context of Isaiah 57:20

18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. 21“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 57:20 word by word

וְהָרְשָׁעִ֖ים כַּיָּ֣ם נִגְרָ֑שׁ כִּ֤י הַשְׁקֵט֙ לֹ֣א יוּכָ֔ל וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ מֵימָ֖יו רֶ֥פֶשׁ וָטִֽיט׃Read the interlinear

• But the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• are like the storm-tossedגָּרַשׁgârash · to drive out: drive outH1644
• seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• it cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• be stillשָׁקַטshâqaţ · to quietH8252
• be stillיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• and its wavesמַיmayim · waterH4325
• mireרֶ֫פֶשׁrephesh · mireH7516
• and muckטִיטţîyţ · mudH2916

Cross-references for Isaiah 57:20

• Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
• Job 15:20A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
• Job 18:5Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.
• Job 20:11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
• Psalms 73:18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
• Proverbs 4:16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
• Jude 1:12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

Commentaries on Isaiah 57:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20But the wicked - All who are transgressors of the law and who remain unpardoned. The design of this is to contrast their condition with that of those who should enjoy peace. The proposition is, therefore, of the most general character. All the wicked are like the troubled sea. Whether prosperous or otherwise; rich or poor; bond or free; old or young; whether in Christian, in civilized, or in barbarous lands; whether living in palaces, in caves, or in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-21Verses 13-21 The idols and their worshippers shall come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace, shall be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know him as a holy God. He will have tender regard to those who bring their mind to their condition, and dread his wrath. He will make his abode with those whose hearts he has thus humbled, in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20storm-tossed sea … it cannot be still: People who constantly oppose God (see Psalms 46:3, 6; 93:3–4) do not find inner peace because they are not at peace with God (Isaiah 30:15; 32:17). churn up mire and muck: Their actions are often unproductive (see Psalm 40:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. when it cannot rest--rather, "for it can have no rest" (Job 15:20, &c.; Pr 4:16, 17). English Version represents the sea as occasionally agitated; but the Hebrew expresses that it can never be at rest.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 57:20

• Remorse
• Sin
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Bed
• Clay
• Dirt
• Eternity
• Inhabit
• Lofty
• Isaiah
• Saviour

Commentaries on Isaiah 57

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings