Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 28:20
20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its cover too small to wrap up in.
Isaiah 28:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
- New International Version (NIV)The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the bed is too short to stretch out on, And the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it.
Context of Isaiah 28:20
18Your covenant with Death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming catastrophe passes through, you will be trampled. 19Every time it passes through, it will carry you away; it will pass through every morning — every day and every night. Only terror will cause you to understand the message. Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its cover too small to wrap up in. 21For the Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim. He will rise in wrath, as at the Valley of Gibeon, to do his work, his unexpected work, and to perform his task, his unfamiliar task. 22So now, do not scoff, or your shackles will become stronger. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Armies a decree of destruction for the whole land.
Read all of Isaiah 28Isaiah 28:20 word by word
כִּֽי־קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽס׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 28:20
- Isaiah 57:12I will announce your righteousness, and your works — they will not profit you.
- Isaiah 59:5They hatch viper’s eggs and weave spider’s webs. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched.
- Isaiah 64:6All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
- Isaiah 66:3One person slaughters an ox, another kills a person; one person sacrifices a lamb, another breaks a dog’s neck; one person offers a grain offering, another offers pig’s blood; one person offers incense, another praises an idol — all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abhorrent practices.
- Jeremiah 7:8But look, you keep trusting in deceitful words that cannot help.
- Romans 9:30What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness — namely the righteousness that comes from faith.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.
Commentaries on Isaiah 28:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For the bed is shorter - A mashal or proverbial saying, the meaning of which is, that they will find all means of defense and protection insufficient to secure them, and cover them from the evils coming upon them. מסך massek, Isaiah 22:8, the covering, is used for the outworks of defense, the barrier of the country; and here, in the allegorical sense, it means much the same thing. Their beds were only mattresses laid on the floor; and the coverlet a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For the bed is shorter - This is evidently a proverbial saying, and means that they would find all their places of defense insufficient to secure them. They seek repose and security - as a man lies down to rest at night. But they find neither. His bed furnishes no rest; his scanty covering furnishes no security from the chills of the night. So it would be with those who sought protection in idols, in the promises of false prophets, and in the aid which…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion, in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm and able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone, approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corner stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whole weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20the bed … the blanket: The leaders were not ready for God's judgment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Proverbial, for they shall find all their sources of confidence fail them; all shall be hopeless perplexity in their affairs.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 28:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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
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