Isaiah 30:1
in Isaiah 30“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,
KJV
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 sin to sin:
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This verse in Isaiah 30
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wo, - (see the note at Isa 18:1). To the rebellious children - To those whom he had nourished as children, and who had rebelled against him (see the note at Isa 1:23). That take counsel, but not of me - They look to Egypt, and depend on a human arm. And that cover with a covering - The idea here, according to our translation, is, that they seek protection or a covering from the impending calamity.
This site's exposition
Woe to the rebellious children
on Isaiah 30:1-3
The woe falls on children who take counsel and cover themselves with a covering not the Lord's own, adding sin to sin by the very act meant to secure them. Their plan is an alliance walked to Egypt without asking the Lord's mouth, strengthening themselves in the strength of Pharaoh and trusting in Egypt's shadow. Henry reads the charge as covering two sins at once, a treaty made and a God not consulted, and the strength they leaned on becomes their shame and confusion instead.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Moreover, in the same [Gospel] he also says, "All who have come before are thieves and robbers." Who are such but the deserters of the faith and the transgressors of God's church, who strive against God's ordinance—whom the Holy Spirit rightly rebukes by the prophet, …
A commentator
John ChrysostomHOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 3:5 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Let every man and woman among us, whether meeting together at church, or remaining at home, call upon God with much earnestness, and He will doubtless accede to these petitions. Whence does this appear evident? Because He is exceedingly desirous, that we should always take refuge in Him, and in everything make our requests unto Him; and do nothing and speak nothing without Him. For men, when we trouble them repeatedly concerning our affairs, become slothful and evasive, and conduct themselves unpleasantly towards us; but with God it is quite the reverse. Not when we apply to him continually respecting our affairs, but when we fail to do so, then is he especially displeased. Hear at least what He reproves the Jews for, when He says, "Ye have taken counsel, but not of Me, and made treaties, but not by My Spirit." For this is the custom of those who love; they desire that all the concerns of their beloved should be accomplished by means of themselves; and that they should neither do anything, nor say anything, without them. On this account did God not only on that occasion, but again elsewhere, uttering a reproof, speak the same language. "They have reigned, but not by Me; they have ruled, and they made it not known to Me." Let us not then be slow to take refuge in Him continually; and whatever be the evil, it will in any case find its appropriate solution.
(Chapter 30, Verse 1 and following) Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, who make plans that are not from me, who weave a web without my Spirit, adding sin upon sin. You who walk to go down to Egypt, without consulting me, hoping for help from Pharaoh's strength and relying on the protection of Egypt's shadow. But Pharaoh's strength will be your shame, and the trust in Egypt's shadow will bring you disgrace. For there will be princes in Tanis, and your messengers have reached Hanes.
Reprimand is disapproval expressed in correction or strongly worded blame. The Educator resorts to this method of training when he says through Isaiah, "Woe to you, apostate children, says the Lord, that you would take counsel and not of me, and make treaties and not of my Spirit." He flavors each pronouncement in turn with the tart spice of fear to whet the appetite of his people for salvation and make them more aware of it, just as wool to be dyed is usually steeped first in an astringent to prepare it to preserve the dye.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In this are reproved certain ones who wish to be governed by their own knowledge; of whom Isaiah says: 'Woe to you, deserting children! That you would take counsel and not from me, and would begin a web and not through my Spirit.' They weave …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
667. Woe to you, apostate children. In this part, the prophet threatens against those who despised the prophet Jeremiah, and who went into Egypt against his counsel, as it says in Jeremiah 42 and 43. And this is divided into two parts: in the first, …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Cover - That seek protection. But not - Not such as by my spirit, speaking in my word, I have required them to do. That they may add - That unto all their sins, they may add distrust of my power and mercy, and put confidence in an arm of flesh.
And those that had abused God's mercies to them, making them the fuel of their lusts, abused their afflictions too, making them an excuse for their distrust of God; and so they make bad worse, and add sin to sin; and those that do so, as they make their own chain heavy, so it is just with God to make their plagues wonderful.
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord,....
A terrible threatening against those who slighted the good advice which God by his prophets gave them for the repose of their minds in that distress, assuring them that whatever became of others the judgment would certainly overtake them,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
But the Hebrew is literally, "who pour out libations"; as it was by these that leagues were made (Ex 24:8; Zec 9:11), translate, "who make a league." not of--not suggested by My Spirit" (Nu 27:21; Jos 9:14). that they may add--The consequence is here spoken of as their intention, so reckless were they of sinning: one sin entails the commission of another (De 29:19).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
And that cover with a covering “Who ratify covenants” - Hebrews “Who pour out a libation.” Sacrifice and libation were ceremonies constantly used, in ancient times by most nations in the ratifying of covenants: a libation therefore is used for a covenant, as in Greek the word σπονδη, for the same reason, stands for both. This seems to be the most easy explication of the Hebrew phrase, and it has the authority of the Septuagint, εποιησατε συνθηκας.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ה֣וֹי | ho | woe to! | H1945 → | 51 times |
| בָּנִ֤ים | banim | children | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| סֽוֹרְרִים֙ | sorim | [who are] rebellious | H5637 → | 17 times |
| נְאֻם־ | neum- | [the] utterance of | H5002 → | 376 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת | laasot | by making | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עֵצָה֙ | ʾetzah | a plan | H6098 → | 89 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| מִנִּ֔י | mini | from me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ | velinsokh | and by pouring out | H5258 → | 25 times |
| מַסֵּכָ֖ה | masekhah | a libation | H4541 → | 28 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| רוּחִ֑י | ruchi | spirit my | H7307 → | 378 times |
| לְמַ֛עַן | lemaan | so as | H4616 → | 272 times |
| סְפ֥וֹת | sefot | to add | H5595 → | 19 times |
| חַטָּ֖את | chatat | sin | H2403 → | 295 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| חַטָּֽאת׃ | chatat | sin | H2403 → | 295 times |
ה֣וֹיwoe to!
hoH1945 →51 times
בָּנִ֤יםchildren
banimH1121 →4930 times
סֽוֹרְרִים֙[who are] rebellious
sorimH5637 →17 times
נְאֻם־[the] utterance of
neum-H5002 →376 times
יְהוָ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתby making
laasotH6213 →2628 times
עֵצָה֙a plan
ʾetzahH6098 →89 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
מִנִּ֔יfrom me
miniH4480 →1188 times
וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְand by pouring out
velinsokhH5258 →25 times
מַסֵּכָ֖הa libation
masekhahH4541 →28 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
רוּחִ֑יspirit my
ruchiH7307 →378 times
לְמַ֛עַןso as
lemaanH4616 →272 times
סְפ֥וֹתto add
sefotH5595 →19 times
חַטָּ֖אתsin
chatatH2403 →295 times
עַל־to
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
חַטָּֽאת׃sin
chatatH2403 →295 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
Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
it leads to
- Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Psalms 78:56
But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees.
- Acts 7:51
Through
Isaiah 1:2Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:1
Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
- Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,
- Deuteronomy 32:1
Through
Isaiah 65:2All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,
it leads to
- Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
- Proverbs 1:24
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
- Jeremiah 4:14
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?
- Romans 10:21
About Isaiah
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 3:5; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Cyprian, To NOVATIAN 2:3-4 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.