Isaiah 22:16

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 King James Version (NKJV)‘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?

Context of Isaiah 22:16

14The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has revealed this to me: “Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin.” That is the judgment of the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 15This is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, said to me: “Confront Shebna, the palace administrator, and give him this message: “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? 17For the Lord is about to hurl you away, mighty man. He is going to grab you, 18crumple you into a ball, and toss you away into a distant, barren land. There you will die, and your glorious chariots will be broken and useless. You are a disgrace to your master!

Isaiah 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 52:5What is this?” asks the Lord. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long.
• Micah 2:10Up! Begone! This is no longer your land and home, for you have filled it with sin and ruined it completely.
• Isaiah 14:18“The kings of the nations lie in stately glory, each in his own tomb,
• 2 Samuel 18:18During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.
• 2 Chronicles 16:14He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.
• Job 3:14I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers, whose great buildings now lie in ruins.
• Matthew 27:60He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

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

• Burial
• Isaiah
• Pride
• Shebna (Shebnah)

In the dictionaries

• Discover
• Eat
• Eliakim
• Grave
• Hew
• Sennacherib
• Shebna
• Tent
• Drunkenness
• Evil

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