Focused Passage

Isaiah 57:3-13

The High and Lofty One Revives the Contrite but Gives No Peace to the Wicked

From the unnoticed death of the righteous and their entrance into peace, to an indictment of sorcery-like idolatry and spiritual adultery, to exposure of political and religious self-expenditure, to the LORD’s challenge that idols cannot save, to a promise that the high and holy God revives the contrite, to healing and peace for mourners, and finally to the no-peace condition of the wicked.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

4Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit,

5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?

7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.

8Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness.

9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

10You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

11Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.

13When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 3

Original words

But comeקִרְבוּ־H7126Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralhereהֵ֖נָּהH2008Adverbyouוְאַתֶּ֥םH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine pluralsonsבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof a sorceressעֹנְנָ֑הH6049Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularyou offspringזֶ֥רַעH2233Noun - masculine singularof adulterersמְנָאֵ֖ףH5003Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularand prostitutesוַתִּזְנֶֽה׃H2181Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

vvvעַל־H5921PrepositionWhomמִי֙H4310Interrogativeare you mockingתִּתְעַנָּ֔גוּH6026Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralAtעַל־H5921Prepositionwhomמִ֛יH4310Interrogativedo you sneerתַּרְחִ֥יבוּH7337Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .פֶ֖הH6310Noun - masculine singularand stick outתַּאֲרִ֣יכוּH748Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralyour tongueלָשׁ֑וֹןH3956Noun - common singularAre youאַתֶּ֥םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralnotהֲלֽוֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlechildrenיִלְדֵי־H3206Noun - masculine plural constructof transgressionפֶ֖שַׁעH6588Noun - masculine singularoffspringזֶ֥רַעH2233Noun - masculine singular constructof deceitשָֽׁקֶר׃H8267Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

who burn with lustהַנֵּֽחָמִים֙H2552Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralamong the oaksבָּֽאֵלִ֔יםH352Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralunderתַּ֖חַתH8478Prepositioneveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructluxuriantרַעֲנָ֑ןH7488Adjective - masculine singulartreeעֵ֣ץH6086Noun - masculine singularwho slaughterשֹׁחֲטֵ֤יH7819Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructyour childrenהַיְלָדִים֙H3206Article | Noun - masculine pluralin the valleysבַּנְּחָלִ֔יםH5158Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralunderתַּ֖חַתH8478Prepositionthe cleftsסְעִפֵ֥יH5585Noun - masculine plural constructof the rocksהַסְּלָעִֽים׃H5553Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

Your portionחֶלְקֵ֔ךְH2506Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular[is] among the smooth [stones]בְּחַלְּקֵי־H2511Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural constructof the valleyנַ֣חַלH5158Noun - masculine singularindeed, theyהֵ֥םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine plural. . .הֵ֖םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare your lotגּוֹרָלֵ֑ךְH1486Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularEvenגַּם־H1571Conjunctionto themלָהֶ֞םPreposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralyou have poured outשָׁפַ֥כְתְּH8210Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singulara drink offeringנֶ֙סֶךְ֙H5262Noun - masculine singular[and] offeredהֶעֱלִ֣יתH5927Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singulara grain offeringמִנְחָ֔הH4503Noun - feminine singularShould I relentאֶנָּחֵֽם׃H5162Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singularbecause ofהַ֥עַלH5921Prepositiontheseאֵ֖לֶּהH428Pronoun - common plural
Verse 7

Original words

Onעַ֤לH5921Prepositiona highגָּבֹ֙הַּ֙H1364Adjective - masculine singularand loftyוְנִשָּׂ֔אH5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularhillהַר־H2022Noun - masculine singularyou have madeשַׂ֖מְתְּH7760Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularyour bedמִשְׁכָּבֵ֑ךְH4904Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularandגַּם־H1571Conjunctionthereשָׁ֥םH8033Adverbyou went upעָלִ֖יתH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularto offerלִזְבֹּ֥חַH2076Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructsacrificesזָֽבַח׃H2077Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Behindוְאַחַ֤רH310Conjunctive waw | Adverbthe doorהַדֶּ֙לֶת֙H1817Article | Noun - feminine singularand doorpostוְהַמְּזוּזָ֔הH4201Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singularyou have set upשַׂ֖מְתְּH7760Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularyour memorialזִכְרוֹנֵ֑ךְH2146Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularForsaking Meכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction. . .מֵאִתִּ֞יH854Preposition-m | Direct object marker | first person common singularyou uncoveredגִּלִּ֣יתH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person feminine singularyour bedמִשְׁכָּבֵךְ֙H4904Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularyou climbed upוַֽתַּעֲלִ֗יH5927Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularand opened it wideהִרְחַ֤בְתְּH7337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singularAnd you have made a pactוַתִּכְרָת־H3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularwith thoseלָ֣ךְPreposition | second person feminine singularwhose bedמִשְׁכָּבָ֖םH4904Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralyou have lovedאָהַ֥בְתְּH157Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularyou have gazedחָזִֽית׃H2372Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularupon their nakednessיָ֥דH3027Noun - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

You wentוַתָּשֻׁ֤רִיH7788Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularto [Molech]לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙H4428Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularwith oilבַּשֶּׁ֔מֶןH8081Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand multipliedוַתַּרְבִּ֖יH7235Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularyour perfumesרִקֻּחָ֑יִךְH7547Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singularYou have sentוַתְּשַׁלְּחִ֤יH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularyour envoysצִרַ֙יִךְ֙H6735Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singulara great distanceמֵ֣רָחֹ֔קH7350Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singularyou have descendedוַתַּשְׁפִּ֖ילִיH8213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular. . .עַד־H5704Prepositioneven toעַד־H5704PrepositionSheol itselfשְׁאֽוֹל׃H7585Noun - common singular

BSB notes

  • Or to the king
  • Or idols
Verse 10

Original words

You are weariedיָגַ֔עַתְּH3021Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularby your manyבְּרֹ֤בH7230Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructjourneysדַּרְכֵּךְ֙H1870Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singularbut you did notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesayאָמַ֖רְתְּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularThere is no hopeנוֹאָ֑שׁH2976Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularYou foundמָצָ֔אתH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularrenewalחַיַּ֤תH2416Noun - feminine singular constructof your strengthיָדֵךְ֙H3027Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singularthereforeעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֖ןH3651Adverbyou did notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlegrow weakחָלִֽית׃H2470Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerWhomמִ֞יH4310Interrogativehave you dreadedדָּאַ֤גְתְּH1672Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularand fearedוַתִּֽירְאִי֙H3372Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularso thatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou liedתְכַזֵּ֔בִיH3576Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine singularandוְאוֹתִי֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singularfailedלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto remember Meזָכַ֔רְתְּH2142Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular[or]לֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particletake thisשַׂ֖מְתְּH7760Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singulartoעַל־H5921Prepositionheartלִבֵּ֑ךְH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularIs it notהֲלֹ֨אH3808Adverb - Negative particle[because] I {have}אֲנִ֤יH589Pronoun - first person common singularlongוּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔םH5769Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularbeen silentמַחְשֶׁה֙H2814Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularthatוְאוֹתִ֖יH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singularyou do notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlefear Meתִירָֽאִי׃H3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Iאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularwill exposeאַגִּ֖ידH5046Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularyour righteousnessצִדְקָתֵ֑ךְH6666Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular-וְאֶֽת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand your worksמַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְH4639Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singularand they will notוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleprofit youיוֹעִילֽוּךְ׃H3276Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

When you cry outבְּזַֽעֲקֵךְ֙H2199Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person feminine singularlet your companies [of idols]קִבּוּצַ֔יִךְH6899Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singulardeliver youיַצִּילֻ֣ךְH5337Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person feminine singularYetוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe windר֖וּחַH7307Noun - common singularwill carry offיִשָּׂא־H5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularall of themכֻּלָּ֥םH3605Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plurala breathהָ֑בֶלH1892Noun - masculine singularwill take them awayיִקַּח־H3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularBut he who seeks refugeוְהַחוֹסֶ֥הH2620Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularin Meבִי֙Preposition | first person common singularwill inheritיִנְחַל־H5157Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe landאֶ֔רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularand possessוְיִירַ֖שׁH3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularMy holyקָדְשִֽׁי׃H6944Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularmountainהַר־H2022Noun - masculine singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.