New King James Version
Isaiah 22:16
16‘What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock?
Isaiah 22:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
- New International Version (NIV)What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
- English Standard Version (ESV)What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Who do you think you are, and what are you doing here, building a beautiful tomb for yourself— a monument high up in the rock?
Context of Isaiah 22:16
14Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, “Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. 15Thus says the Lord God of hosts: “Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the house, and say: ‘What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock? 17Indeed, the Lord will throw you away violently, O mighty man, And will surely seize you. 18He will surely turn violently and toss you like a ball Into a large country; There you shall die, and there your glorious chariots Shall be the shame of your master’s house.
Read all of Isaiah 22Isaiah 22:16 word by word
מַה־לְּךָ֥ פֹה֙ וּמִ֣י לְךָ֣ פֹ֔ה כִּֽי־חָצַ֧בְתָּ לְּךָ֛ פֹּ֖ה קָ֑בֶר חֹצְבִ֤י מָרוֹם֙ קִבְר֔וֹ חֹקְקִ֥י בַסֶּ֖לַע מִשְׁכָּ֥ן לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee outחָצַבchâtsab châtsêb · to hewH2672
- a sepulchreקֶ֫בֶרqeber qibrâh · graveH6913
- hereפֹּהpôh pô' pô · hereH6311
- on highמָרוֹםmârôm · heightH4791
- that gravethחָקַקchâqaq · to decreeH2710
- an habitationמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
- for himself in a rockסֶ֫לַעsela‛ · cragH5553
Cross-references for Isaiah 22:16
- Isaiah 52:5Now therefore, what have I here,” says the Lord, “That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail,” says the Lord, “And My name is blasphemed continually every day.
- Micah 2:10“Arise and depart, For this is not your rest; Because it is defiled, it shall destroy, Yes, with utter destruction.
- Isaiah 14:18“All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house;
- 2 Samuel 18:18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
- 2 Chronicles 16:14They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.
- Job 3:14With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves,
- Matthew 27:60and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Commentaries on Isaiah 22:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A sepulcher on high - in a rock - It has been observed before, on Isaiah 14, that persons of high rank in Judea, and in most parts of the east, were generally buried in large sepulchral vaults, hewn out in the rock for the use of themselves and their families. The vanity of Shebna is set forth by his being so studious and careful to have his sepulcher on high - in a lofty vault; and that probably in a high situation, that it might be more conspicuous…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16What hast thou here? - This verse contains a severe repoof of the pride and ostentation of Shebna, and of his expectation that he would be buried where be had built his own tomb. It also contains an “implied” declaration that he would not be permitted to lie there, but would be removed to a distant land to be buried in some less honorable manner. It is probable that Isaiah met him when he was at the sepulchre which he had made, and addressed this language…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 This message to Shebna is a reproof of his pride, vanity, and security; what vanity is all earthly grandeur, which death will so soon end! What will it avail, whether we are laid in a magnificent tomb, or covered with the green sod? Those who, when in power, turn and toss others, will be justly turned and tossed themselves. Eliakim should be put into Shebna's place. Those called to places of trust and power, should seek to God for grace to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Shebna was building an impressive tomb for himself. It was meant to be a monument. This large and costly burial place was designed to last for many generations.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. What ... whom--The prophet accosts Shebna at the very place where he was building a grand sepulcher for himself and his family (compare Is 14:18; Ge 23:1-20; 49:29; 50:13). "What (business) hast thou here, and whom hast thou (of thy family, who is likely to be buried) here, that thou buildest," &c., seeing that thou art soon to be deposed from office and carried into captivity? [Maurer]. on high--Sepulchres were made in the highest rocks (2Ch 32:33…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 22:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 22
- 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries