New Living Translation
Isaiah 22:4
4That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep; do not try to comfort me. Let me cry for my people as I watch them being destroyed.”
Isaiah 22:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore I said, “Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore I said: "Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.”
Context of Isaiah 22:4
2The whole city is in a terrible uproar. What do I see in this reveling city? Bodies are lying everywhere, killed not in battle but by famine and disease. 3All your leaders have fled. They surrendered without resistance. The people tried to slip away, but they were captured, too. That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep; do not try to comfort me. Let me cry for my people as I watch them being destroyed.” 5Oh, what a day of crushing defeat! What a day of confusion and terror brought by the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, upon the Valley of Vision! The walls of Jerusalem have been broken, and cries of death echo from the mountainsides. 6Elamites are the archers, with their chariots and charioteers. The men of Kir hold up the shields.
Read all of Isaiah 22Isaiah 22:4 word by word
עַל־כֵּ֥ן אָמַ֛רְתִּי שְׁע֥וּ מִנִּ֖י אֲמָרֵ֣ר בַּבֶּ֑כִי אַל־תָּאִ֣יצוּ לְנַֽחֲמֵ֔נִי עַל־שֹׁ֖ד בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I, Look awayשָׁעָהshâ‛âh · to gazeH8159
- from me; I will weepבְּכִיbekîy · weepingH1065
- bitterlyמָרַרmârar · to provokeH4843
- labourאוּץ'ûts · to hastenH213
- not to comfortנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: comfortH5162
- me, because of the spoilingשֹׁדshôd shôd · violenceH7701
- of the daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
- of my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
Cross-references for Isaiah 22:4
- Ruth 1:20“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.
- Jeremiah 4:19My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries.
- Jeremiah 9:1If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered.
- Jeremiah 13:17And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.
- Luke 1:2They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples.
- Isaiah 33:7But now your brave warriors weep in public. Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment.
- Jeremiah 6:26Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap and sit among the ashes. Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son. For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!
- Micah 1:8Therefore, I will mourn and lament. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
- Matthew 26:75Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
- Psalms 77:2When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.
- Jeremiah 8:18My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.
- Jeremiah 31:15This is what the Lord says: “A cry is heard in Ramah— deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted— for her children are gone.”
- Matthew 2:18“A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”
Commentaries on Isaiah 22:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Look away from me - Do not look upon me - an indication of deep grief, for sorrow seeks to be alone, and grief avoids publicity and exposure. I will weep bitterly - Hebrew, I will be bitter in weeping.‘ Thus we speak of “bitter” sorrow, indicating excessive grief (see the note at Isaiah 15:5; compare Jeremiah 13:17; Jeremiah 14:17; Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 2:11; Micah 1:8-9). Labour not - The sense is, My grief is so great that I cannot be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4let me weep bitterly!: Isaiah grieved for the victims and the destruction of his people (see Isaiah 6:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Look ... from me--Deep grief seeks to be alone; while others feast joyously, Isaiah mourns in prospect of the disaster coming on Jerusalem (Mi 1:8, 9). daughter, &c.--(see on Is 1:8; La 2:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 22:4
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
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