The big picture
Isaiah 30 opens in verse 1 with “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD , that take counsel, but not of me; and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till…”, and closes in verse 33 with “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 33Isaiah 30:1-7
1–7: Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD , that take counsel, but…
Isaiah 30:1–7 opens with “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD , that take counsel, but not of me; and that…” and reaches “For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 30 develops its own movement around LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, with particular weight carried by Egypt, profit, strength.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD , that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but…” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh…” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 30:1-7
King James Version1Woe 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:
2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
7For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Isaiah 30:8-14
8–14: Go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may…
Isaiah 30:8–14 opens with “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to…” and reaches “And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 30 develops its own movement around LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, with particular weight carried by breaking, children, Holy.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:” The line’s distinctive content terms include book, note, table. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD :” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, hear, LORD. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 30:8-14
King James Version8Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD :
10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
11Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
12Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
13Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
14And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
Isaiah 30:15-21
15–21: For thus saith the Lord GOD , the Holy One of Israel; In returning and…
Isaiah 30:15–21 opens with “For thus saith the Lord GOD , the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved…” and reaches “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 30 develops its own movement around LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, with particular weight carried by flee, LORD, gracious.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For thus saith the Lord GOD , the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 30:15-21
King James Version15For thus saith the Lord GOD , the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
16But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
18And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
21And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:22-28
22–28: Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and…
Isaiah 30:22–28 opens with “Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten…” and reaches “And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 30 develops its own movement around LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, with particular weight carried by light, ground, high.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 30:22-28
King James Version22Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
23Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.
25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
28And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
Isaiah 30:29-33
29–33: Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and…
Isaiah 30:29–33 opens with “Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as…” and reaches “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 30 develops its own movement around LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, with particular weight carried by LORD, fire, voice.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 30:29-33
King James Version29Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD , to the mighty One of Israel.
30And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
31For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.
32And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.
33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD , like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 30:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 30:16 forms a natural hinge: “But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.”
The final note
Isaiah 30:33 leaves the reader with “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, people, fire, flee, Holy, Israel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives too little attention in a simplified family tree?
Bilhah and Zilpah, named women whose children are counted in Jacob's family.
How does the narrator explain Rachel's conception?
God remembers and hears her in verse 22, rather than attributing the result to the mandrakes.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.