Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 28:20
20For too short is the bed to stretch on, too narrow the blanket to wrap up in.
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 covenant with death is annulled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand. An overflowing scourge will pass through and you will be its trampling place. 19As often as it passes through, it will seize you—morning by morning, by day and by night passing through. It will be sheer terror to understand the message.’” For too short is the bed to stretch on, too narrow the blanket to wrap up in. 21For Adonai will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will quake with awe as at the valley of Gibeon, to do His deed, His strange deed, and to work His work, His extraordinary work. 22So now, stop your scoffing, lest your shackles be strengthened! For I have heard from Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot of destruction determined upon the whole 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 expose your ‘righteousness’, and your deeds—they will not profit you.
- Isaiah 59:5They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web— whoever eats their eggs dies; crack one open, a viper breaks out.
- Isaiah 64:6No one calls on Your Name, or stirs himself up to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities.
- Isaiah 66:3One who kills an ox is like one who kills a man; one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; one who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; one who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol. They have chosen their own ways, so their soul delights in their abominations.
- Jeremiah 7:8Look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are empty.
- Romans 9:30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—that is, a righteousness of faith.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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