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 lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, 19Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far away and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. 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

• wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• are like the tossingגָּרַשׁgârash · to drive out: drive outH1644
• seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
• For it cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• For it cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• beשָׁקַטshâqaţ · to quietH8252
• And its watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• refuseרֶ֫פֶשׁrephesh · mireH7516
• and mudטִיטţîyţ · mudH2916

Cross-references for Isaiah 57:20

• Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him, For what he deserves will be done to him.
• Job 15:20The wicked person writhes in pain all his days, And the years reserved for the ruthless are numbered.
• Job 18:5“Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out, And the spark from his fire does not shine.
• Job 20:11His bones are full of his youthful strength, But it lies down with him in the dust.
• Psalms 73:18You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin.
• Proverbs 4:16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
• Jude 1:12These are the ones who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, like shepherds caring only for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, 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