New English Translation
Isaiah 30:1
1“The rebellious children are as good as dead,” says the Lord, “those who make plans without consulting me, who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, and thereby compound their sin.
Isaiah 30:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
- New International Version (NIV)“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin;
Context of Isaiah 30:1
“The rebellious children are as good as dead,” says the Lord, “those who make plans without consulting me, who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, and thereby compound their sin. 2They travel down to Egypt without seeking my will, seeking Pharaoh’s protection, and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. 3But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame, and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation.
Read all of Isaiah 30Isaiah 30:1 word by word
ה֣וֹי בָּנִ֤ים סֽוֹרְרִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עֵצָה֙ וְלֹ֣א מִנִּ֔י וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א רוּחִ֑י לְמַ֛עַן סְפ֥וֹת חַטָּ֖את עַל־חַטָּֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Woeהוֹיhôy · woe!H1945
- to the rebelliousסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- that takeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
- but not of me; and that coverנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
- with a coveringמַסֵּכָהmassêkâh · molten metalH4541
- but not of my spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- that they may addסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
- sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
Cross-references for Isaiah 30:1
- Isaiah 30:9For these are rebellious people – they are lying children, children unwilling to obey the Lord’s law.
- Isaiah 1:2Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: “I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!
- Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled and offended his holy Spirit, so he turned into an enemy and fought against them.
- Isaiah 65:2I spread out my hands all day long to my rebellious people, who lived in a way that is morally unacceptable, and who did what they desired.
- Deuteronomy 9:7Remember – don’t ever forget – how you provoked the Lord your God in the desert; from the time you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place you were constantly rebelling against him.
- Deuteronomy 29:19When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says, “I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.” This will destroy the watered ground with the parched.
- Jeremiah 4:17They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,” says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 5:23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone their own way.
- Ezekiel 2:3He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the house of Israel, to rebellious nations who have rebelled against me; both they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day.
- Ezekiel 3:9I have made your forehead harder than flint – like diamond! Do not fear them or be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house.”
- Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.
- Hosea 7:13Woe to them! For they have fled from me! Destruction to them! For they have rebelled against me! I want to deliver them, but they have lied to me.
- Acts 7:51“You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!
- Isaiah 8:19They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?”
- Isaiah 29:15Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast, “Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?”
- 1 Chronicles 10:13So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits.
Commentaries on Isaiah 30:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And that cover with a covering "Who ratify covenants" - Hebrews "Who pour out a libation." Sacrifice and libation were ceremonies constantly used, in ancient times by most nations in the ratifying of covenants: a libation therefore is used for a covenant, as in Greek the word , for the same reason, stands for both. This seems to be the most easy explication of the Hebrew phrase, and it has the authority of the Septuagint, .Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Wo, - (see the note at Isaiah 18:1). To the rebellious children - To those whom he had nourished as children, and who had rebelled against him (see the note at Isaiah 1:23). That take counsel, but not of me - They look to Egypt, and depend on a human arm. And that cover with a covering - The idea here, according to our translation, is, that they seek protection or a covering from the impending calamity. Lowth renders this, Who ratify covenants;‘ supposing…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (Is. 30:1-7) Judgements in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (Is. 30:8-18) God's mercies to his church. (Is. 30:19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army, and of all God's enemies. (Is. 30:27-33) Verses 1-7 It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we avoid the dreadful…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The people of Judah did not follow God's guidance (compare Isaiah 11:2). They made alliances that God did not approve. The Assyrian attack on Jerusalem was overwhelming. By allying with Egypt, Judah's leaders showed they relied on human help instead of God. Fortunately, Hezekiah later changed his mind (see Isaiah 36–37).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-32Jewish ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria (Is 30:2-6, 15; 31:1). Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt rather than on Jehovah. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people (Ex 23:32; De 7:2). 1. take counsel--rather, as Is 30:4, 6 imply, "execute counsels." cover ... covering--that is, wrap themselves in reliances disloyal…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 30:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 30
- 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