English Standard Version
Isaiah 2:21
21to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
Isaiah 2:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
- New Living Translation (NLT)while they crawl away into caverns and hide among the jagged rocks in the cliffs. They will try to escape the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty as he rises to shake the earth.
Context of Isaiah 2:21
19And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 20In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 22Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
Read all of Isaiah 2Isaiah 2:21 word by word
לָבוֹא֙ בְּנִקְר֣וֹת הַצֻּרִ֔ים וּבִסְעִפֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִ֑ים מִפְּנֵ֞י פַּ֤חַד יְהוָה֙ וּמֵהֲדַ֣ר גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ בְּקוּמ֖וֹ לַעֲרֹ֥ץ הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To goבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the cleftsנְקָרָהneqârâh · creviceH5366
- of the rocksצוּרtsûr tsûr · rockH6697
- and into the topsסָעִיףsâ‛îyph · cleftH5585
- of the ragged rocksסֶ֫לַעsela‛ · cragH5553
- forפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- fearפַּ֫חַדpachad · dreadH6343
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and for the gloryהָדָרhâdâr · gloryH1926
- of his majestyגָּאוֹןgâ'ôn · prideH1347
- when he arisethקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- to shake terriblyעָרַץ‛ârats · to trembleH6206
- the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Isaiah 2:21
- Isaiah 2:10Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty.
- Exodus 33:22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
- Job 30:6In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
Commentaries on Isaiah 2:21
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21To go - That is, that he may go. Clefts of the rocks - see the note at Isaiah 2:19. Into the tops - The tops of such rocks were not easily accessible, and were, therefore, deemed places of safety. We may remark here, how vain were the refuges to which they would resort - as if they were safe from “God,” when they had fled to the places in which they sought safety from “man.” The image here is, however, one that is very sublime. The earth shaking; the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down, either…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Animals such as rodents and bats live in dark, underground places. They avoid the light and stay hidden. In the same way, those who worship idols will try to hide from the Lord’s judgment. They will seek dark places instead of turning to God in repentance.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Is 2:1-22. 1. The inscription. The word--the revelation.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 2:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 2
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries