Isaiah 2:14
in Isaiah 2against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
KJV
And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
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This verse in Isaiah 2
Commentary
6 notes on this verse(Verse 14.) And above all high mountains, and above all elevated hills. Just as for the variety of virtues, mountains and hills are called good things: so among the impious for the diversity of vices, and especially pride, some are mountains, some are hills, over which the day of the Lord will come, of which it is written in Ezekiel: Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and hills: behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and your high places shall be destroyed, and your altars shall be broken down, and the rest (Ezech. VI, 3).
This site's exposition
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty
on Isaiah 2:12-16
The day of the Lord of hosts falls upon every category of natural and human height in a single list, the cedars of Lebanon and oaks of Bashan for the tallest trees the ancient world knew, every high mountain and lifted hill for the land's own geography, every tower and fenced wall for the works of defense, and the ships of Tarshish, the ocean going merchant fleet, for wealth that could outrun any army. Pleasant pictures closing the list is read by the older commentators as decorated craft or carved imagery, one more thing prized for its own beauty rather than for the Lord's. The list's variety is the point, nothing that stands tall by nature or by human effort is exempt from the day named twice already in the refrain around it.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
As to things which pertain to the fortification of places from nature: "and upon all the high mountains": "thus says the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, and to the rocks, and the valleys" (Ezek 6:3).
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. By which may be meant either kingdoms and cities belonging to the Roman jurisdiction, or churches and monasteries, and such like religious houses, and the dissolution of them. See Rev 16:20.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And upon all the high mountains - Judea abounded in lofty mountains, which added much to the grandeur of its natural scenery. Lowth supposes that by mountains and hills are meant here, ‘kingdoms, republics, states, cities;’ but there are probably no parallel places where they have this meaning. The meaning is probably this: high mountains and hills would not only be objects of beauty or grandeur, but also places of defense, and protection. In the caverns and fastnesses of such hills, it would be easy for the people to find refuge when the land was invaded.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
high . . . hills--referring to the "high places" on which sacrifices were unlawfully offered, even in Uzziah's (equivalent to Azariah) reign (2Ki 15:4).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
the cedars of the Lebanon This is symbolic of the heroes [var. the kings].
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַ֖ל | veal | and on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הֶהָרִ֣ים | heharim | the mountains | H2022 → | 546 times |
| הָרָמִ֑ים | haramim | that are lofty | H7311 → | 190 times |
| וְעַ֖ל | veal | and on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַגְּבָע֥וֹת | hagevaot | the hills | H1389 → | 68 times |
| הַנִּשָּׂאֽוֹת׃ | hanisaot | that are lifted up | H5375 → | 656 times |
וְעַ֖לand on
vealH5921 →5755 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הֶהָרִ֣יםthe mountains
heharimH2022 →546 times
הָרָמִ֑יםthat are lofty
haramimH7311 →190 times
וְעַ֖לand on
vealH5921 →5755 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַגְּבָע֥וֹתthe hills
hagevaotH1389 →68 times
הַנִּשָּׂאֽוֹת׃that are lifted up
hanisaotH5375 →656 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 10:5We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely…
- 1 Peter 1:14–15
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
- Romans 7:23
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
- Hebrews 4:12
Through
Isaiah 40:4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.
it leads to
- Luke 3:5
Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
- Ezekiel 21:26
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.
- Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 3:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Isaiah
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.