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!

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

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

6 Your 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?

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

8 Behind 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.

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

10 You 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.

11 Whom 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?

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

13 When 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 come קִרְבוּ־ H7126 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural here הֵ֖נָּה H2008 Adverb you וְאַתֶּ֥ם H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of a sorceress עֹנְנָ֑ה H6049 Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular you offspring זֶ֥רַע H2233 Noun - masculine singular of adulterers מְנָאֵ֖ף H5003 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular and prostitutes וַתִּזְנֶֽה׃ H2181 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

vvv עַל־ H5921 Preposition Whom מִי֙ H4310 Interrogative are you mocking תִּתְעַנָּ֔גוּ H6026 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural At עַל־ H5921 Preposition whom מִ֛י H4310 Interrogative do you sneer תַּרְחִ֥יבוּ H7337 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . פֶ֖ה H6310 Noun - masculine singular and stick out תַּאֲרִ֣יכוּ H748 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural your tongue לָשׁ֑וֹן H3956 Noun - common singular Are you אַתֶּ֥ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural not הֲלֽוֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle children יִלְדֵי־ H3206 Noun - masculine plural construct of transgression פֶ֖שַׁע H6588 Noun - masculine singular offspring זֶ֥רַע H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct of deceit שָֽׁקֶר׃ H8267 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

who burn with lust הַנֵּֽחָמִים֙ H2552 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural among the oaks בָּֽאֵלִ֔ים H352 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural under תַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct luxuriant רַעֲנָ֑ן H7488 Adjective - masculine singular tree עֵ֣ץ H6086 Noun - masculine singular who slaughter שֹׁחֲטֵ֤י H7819 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct your children הַיְלָדִים֙ H3206 Article | Noun - masculine plural in the valleys בַּנְּחָלִ֔ים H5158 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural under תַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition the clefts סְעִפֵ֥י H5585 Noun - masculine plural construct of the rocks הַסְּלָעִֽים׃ H5553 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

Your portion חֶלְקֵ֔ךְ H2506 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular [is] among the smooth [stones] בְּחַלְּקֵי־ H2511 Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural construct of the valley נַ֣חַל H5158 Noun - masculine singular indeed, they הֵ֥ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural . . . הֵ֖ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are your lot גּוֹרָלֵ֑ךְ H1486 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Even גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction to them לָהֶ֞ם Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural you have poured out שָׁפַ֥כְתְּ H8210 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular a drink offering נֶ֙סֶךְ֙ H5262 Noun - masculine singular [and] offered הֶעֱלִ֣ית H5927 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singular a grain offering מִנְחָ֔ה H4503 Noun - feminine singular Should I relent אֶנָּחֵֽם׃ H5162 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular because of הַ֥עַל H5921 Preposition these אֵ֖לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural
Verse 7

Original words

On עַ֤ל H5921 Preposition a high גָּבֹ֙הַּ֙ H1364 Adjective - masculine singular and lofty וְנִשָּׂ֔א H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular hill הַר־ H2022 Noun - masculine singular you have made שַׂ֖מְתְּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular your bed מִשְׁכָּבֵ֑ךְ H4904 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular and גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction there שָׁ֥ם H8033 Adverb you went up עָלִ֖ית H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular to offer לִזְבֹּ֥חַ H2076 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct sacrifices זָֽבַח׃ H2077 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Behind וְאַחַ֤ר H310 Conjunctive waw | Adverb the door הַדֶּ֙לֶת֙ H1817 Article | Noun - feminine singular and doorpost וְהַמְּזוּזָ֔ה H4201 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular you have set up שַׂ֖מְתְּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular your memorial זִכְרוֹנֵ֑ךְ H2146 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Forsaking Me כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . מֵאִתִּ֞י H854 Preposition-m | Direct object marker | first person common singular you uncovered גִּלִּ֣ית H1540 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person feminine singular your bed מִשְׁכָּבֵךְ֙ H4904 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular you climbed up וַֽתַּעֲלִ֗י H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular and opened it wide הִרְחַ֤בְתְּ H7337 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singular And you have made a pact וַתִּכְרָת־ H3772 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular with those לָ֣ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular whose bed מִשְׁכָּבָ֖ם H4904 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural you have loved אָהַ֥בְתְּ H157 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular you have gazed חָזִֽית׃ H2372 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular upon their nakedness יָ֥ד H3027 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

You went וַתָּשֻׁ֤רִי H7788 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular to [Molech] לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ H4428 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular with oil בַּשֶּׁ֔מֶן H8081 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and multiplied וַתַּרְבִּ֖י H7235 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular your perfumes רִקֻּחָ֑יִךְ H7547 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular You have sent וַתְּשַׁלְּחִ֤י H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular your envoys צִרַ֙יִךְ֙ H6735 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular a great distance מֵ֣רָחֹ֔ק H7350 Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular you have descended וַתַּשְׁפִּ֖ילִי H8213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular . . . עַד־ H5704 Preposition even to עַד־ H5704 Preposition Sheol itself שְׁאֽוֹל׃ H7585 Noun - common singular

BSB notes

  • Or to the king
  • Or idols
Verse 10

Original words

You are wearied יָגַ֔עַתְּ H3021 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular by your many בְּרֹ֤ב H7230 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct journeys דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ H1870 Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singular but you did not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle say אָמַ֖רְתְּ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular There is no hope נוֹאָ֑שׁ H2976 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular You found מָצָ֔את H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular renewal חַיַּ֤ת H2416 Noun - feminine singular construct of your strength יָדֵךְ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular therefore עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֖ן H3651 Adverb you did not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle grow weak חָלִֽית׃ H2470 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Whom מִ֞י H4310 Interrogative have you dreaded דָּאַ֤גְתְּ H1672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular and feared וַתִּֽירְאִי֙ H3372 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular so that כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you lied תְכַזֵּ֔בִי H3576 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine singular and וְאוֹתִי֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular failed לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to remember Me זָכַ֔רְתְּ H2142 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular [or] לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle take this שַׂ֖מְתְּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition heart לִבֵּ֑ךְ H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Is it not הֲלֹ֨א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle [because] I {have} אֲנִ֤י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular long וּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔ם H5769 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular been silent מַחְשֶׁה֙ H2814 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular that וְאוֹתִ֖י H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular you do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle fear Me תִירָֽאִי׃ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular will expose אַגִּ֖יד H5046 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular your righteousness צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ H6666 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular - וְאֶֽת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and your works מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ H4639 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular and they will not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle profit you יוֹעִילֽוּךְ׃ H3276 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

When you cry out בְּזַֽעֲקֵךְ֙ H2199 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person feminine singular let your companies [of idols] קִבּוּצַ֔יִךְ H6899 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular deliver you יַצִּילֻ֣ךְ H5337 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person feminine singular Yet וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the wind ר֖וּחַ H7307 Noun - common singular will carry off יִשָּׂא־ H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular all of them כֻּלָּ֥ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural a breath הָ֑בֶל H1892 Noun - masculine singular will take them away יִקַּח־ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular But he who seeks refuge וְהַחוֹסֶ֥ה H2620 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in Me בִי֙ Preposition | first person common singular will inherit יִנְחַל־ H5157 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the land אֶ֔רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular and possess וְיִירַ֖שׁ H3423 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular My holy קָדְשִֽׁי׃ H6944 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular mountain הַר־ H2022 Noun - 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.