New English Translation
Isaiah 28:20
20For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself.
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 treaty with death will be dissolved; your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by, you will be overrun by it. 19Whenever it sweeps by, it will overtake you; indeed, every morning it will sweep by, it will come through during the day and the night.” When this announcement is understood, it will cause nothing but terror. For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself. 21For the Lord will rise up, as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself, as he did in the Valley of Gibeon, to accomplish his work, his peculiar work, to perform his task, his strange task. 22So now, do not mock, or your chains will become heavier! For I have heard a message about decreed destruction, from the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, against the entire 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 denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.
- Isaiah 59:5They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, a poisonous snake is hatched.
- Isaiah 64:6We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.
- Isaiah 66:3The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.
- Jeremiah 7:8“‘But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.
- Romans 9:30What shall we say then? – that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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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