Isaiah 2:20

2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. of the earth: Heb. of the dust

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; his idols of silver: Heb. the idols of his silver, etc each: or, for him

KJV

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In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

What does Isaiah 2:20 mean?

Isaiah 2:20 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יוֹם (yôwm), אָדָם (ʼâdâm), שָׁלַךְ (shâlak). It connects to 24 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

that

dayיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

manאָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

shall

castשָׁלַךְshâlak/shaw-lak/H7993to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

his

idolsאֱלִילʼĕlîyl/el-eel'/H457good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol

silver,כֶּסֶףkeçeph/keh'-sef/H3701silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

and

his

idolsאֱלִילʼĕlîyl/el-eel'/H457good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol

gold,זָהָבzâhâb/zaw-hawb'/H2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky

which

they

made

each

one

for

himselfעָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

worship,שָׁחָהshâchâh/shaw-khaw'/H7812to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God)

the

molesחֲפֹרchăphôr/khaf-ore'/H2661a burrower, i.e. probably a rat

and

the

bats;עֲטַלֵּףʻăṭallêph/at-al-lafe'/H5847a bat

his

idols

silver:

Heb.

the

idols

his

silver,

etc

each:

or,

for

him

Commentary on Isaiah 2:20

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 2:18–20

ave their hearts stirred up, as ours were, to take the benefit of the liberty granted." The beginnings of mercy are encouragements to us to pray for the completing of it. And while we are here in this world there will still be matter for prayer, even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. And, when we are free and in prosperity ourselves, we must not be unmindful of our brethren that are in trouble and under restraint. The bringing of those that were yet in captivity to join with their brethren that had returned would be as welcome to both sides as streams of water in those countries, which, lying far south, were parched and dry. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so would this good news be from that far country, Prov. xxv. 25 . 2. A promise for their encouragement to wait for it, assuring them that, though they had now a sorrowful time, yet it would end well. But the promise is expressed generally, that all the saints may comfort themselves with this confidence, that their seedness of tears will certainly end in a harvest of joy at last, v. 5, 6 . (1.) Suffering saints have a seedness of tears. They are in tears often; they share in the calamities of human life, and commonly have a greater share in them than others. But they sow in tears; they do the duty of an afflicted state and so answer the intentions of the providences they are under. Weeping must not hinder sowing; when we suffer ill we must be doing well. Nay, as the ground is by the rain prepared for the seed, and the husbandman sometimes chooses to sow in the wet, so we must improve times of affliction, as disposing us to repentance, and prayer, and humiliation. Nay, there are tears which are themselves the seed that we must sow, tears of sorrow for sin, our own and others, tears of sympathy with the afflicted church, and the tears of tenderness in prayer and under the word. These are precious seed, such as the husbandman sows when corn is dear and he has but little for his family, and therefore weeps to part with it, yet buries it under ground, in expectation of receiving it again with advantage. Thus does a good man sow in tears. (2.) They shall have a harvest of joy. The troubles of the saints will not last always, but, when they have done their work, shall have a happy period. The captives in Babylon were long sowing in tears, but at length they were brought forth with joy, and then they reaped the benefit of their patient suffering, and brought their sheaves with them to their own land, in their experiences of the goodness of God to them. Job, and Joseph, and David, and many others, had harvests of joy after a sorrowful seedness. Those that sow in the tears of godly sorrow shall reap in the joy of a sealed pardon and a settled peace. Those that sow to the spirit, in this vale of tears, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting, and that will be a joyful harvest indeed. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be for ever comforted. This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon," dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon," who wrote a great many; and they compare it with the Ecclesiastes, the scope of both being the same, to show the vanity of worldly care and how necessary it is that we keep in favour with God. On him we must depend, I. For wealth, ver. 1, 2 . II. For heirs to leave it to, ver. 3-5 . In singing this psalm we must have our eye up unto God for success in all our undertakings and a blessing upon all our comforts and enjoyments, because

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Chronicles 22:10

He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

1 Chronicles 22:11

Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

1 Chronicles 28:10

Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 29:19

And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

Proverbs 16:9

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Proverbs 21:31

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. safety: or, victory

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Song of Solomon 3:3

The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

Song of Solomon 5:7

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

Isaiah 21:5

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

Isaiah 27:3

I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

Isaiah 33:16

He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. high: Heb. heights, or, high places

Isaiah 56:10

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep

Jeremiah 51:12

Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. ambushes: Heb. liers in wait

Jeremiah 51:31

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

Ezekiel 33:2

Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: When: Heb. A land when I bring a sword upon her

Zechariah 2:4

And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

Zechariah 2:5

For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

1 Corinthians 3:7 1 Corinthians 3:9 1 Corinthians 15:14 Galatians 4:11

Topics

Fear of God Idolatry Silver

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 2:20.

1 Kings 10:16

And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

1 Kings 10:18

Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

1 Kings 10:21

And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. none: or, there was no silver in them

1 Kings 10:22

For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. ivory: or, elephants' teeth

1 Kings 10:25

And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kings 12:28

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 14:26

And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

1 Kings 14:9

But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 2:20 say?

Isaiah 2:20 (King James Version) reads: "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; his idols of silver: Heb. the idols of his silver, etc each: or, for him"

Is Isaiah 2:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 2:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 2:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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