New English Translation
Isaiah 1:31
31The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.
Isaiah 1:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
- New International Version (NIV)The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them.
Context of Isaiah 1:31
29Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship. 30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 1:31 word by word
וְהָיָ֤ה הֶחָסֹן֙ לִנְעֹ֔רֶת וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לְנִיצ֑וֹץ וּבָעֲר֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם יַחְדָּ֖ו וְאֵ֥ין מְכַבֶּֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the strongחָסֹןchâsôn · strongH2634
- shall be as towנְעֹ֫רֶתne‛ôreth · towH5296
- and the makerפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
- of it as a sparkנִיצוֹץnîytsôts · sparkH5213
- and they shall bothשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- burnבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
- togetherיָחְדָּוyachad · togetherH3162
- and none shall quenchכָּבָהkâbâh · to quenchH3518
Cross-references for Isaiah 1:31
- Ezekiel 32:21The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’
- Isaiah 27:4I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,
- Isaiah 43:17the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
- Isaiah 50:11Look, all of you who start a fire and who equip yourselves with flaming arrows, walk in the light of the fire you started and among the flaming arrows you ignited! This is what you will receive from me: you will lie down in a place of pain.
- Judges 15:14When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands.
- Revelation 6:14The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
- Isaiah 34:9Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch and her soil into brimstone; her land will become burning pitch.
- Isaiah 66:24“They will go out and observe the corpses of those who rebelled against me, for the maggots that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not die out. All people will find the sight abhorrent.”
- Ezekiel 20:47and say to the scrub land of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look here, I am about to start a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it.
- Malachi 4:1(3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It will not leave even a root or branch.
- Matthew 3:10Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Mark 9:43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire.
- Revelation 14:10that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb.
- Revelation 19:20Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf – signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.
- Revelation 20:10And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.
Commentaries on Isaiah 1:31
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31And the strong - Those who have been thought to be strong, on whom the people relied for protection and defense - their rulers, princes, and the commanders of their armies. As tow - The coarse or broken part of flax, or hemp. It means here that which shall be easily and quickly kindled and rapidly consumed. As tow burns and is destroyed at the touch of fire, so shall the rulers of the people be consumed by the approaching calamities. And the maker of it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-31Verses 21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. strong--powerful rulers (Am 2:9). maker of it--rather, his work. He shall be at once the fuel, "tow," and the cause of the fire, by kindling the first "spark." both--the wicked ruler, and "his work," which "is as a spark."Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 1:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 1
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries