Isaiah 57:9

57:8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. made: or, hewed it for thyself larger than theirs where: or, thou providedst room

And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. thou: or, thou respectedst

KJV

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You went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and degraded yourself even to Sheol.

And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

And you went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself even to hell.

57:10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. life: or, living

What does Isaiah 57:9 mean?

Isaiah 57:9 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שׁוּר (shûwr), מֶלֶךְ (melek), שֶׁמֶן (shemen). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

thou

wentestשׁוּרshûwr/shoor/H7788properly, to turn, i.e. travel about (as a harlot or a merchant)

the

kingמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king

with

ointment,שֶׁמֶןshemen/sheh'-men/H8081grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness

and

didst

increaseרָבָהrâbâh/raw-baw'/H7235to increase (in whatever respect)

thy

perfumes,רַקֻּחַraqquach/rak-koo'-akh/H7547a scented substance

and

didst

sendשָׁלַחshâlach/shaw-lakh'/H7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

thy

messengersצִירtsîyr/tseer/H6735a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a herald or erranddoer (as constrained by the principal)

far

off,רָחוֹקrâchôwq/raw-khoke'/H7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)

and

didst

debaseשָׁפֵלshâphêl/shaw-fale'/H8213to depress or sink (expectation figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive)

thyself

even

unto

hell.שְׁאוֹלshᵉʼôwl/sheh-ole'/H7585Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates

thou:

or,

thou

respectedst

Commentary on Isaiah 57:9

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 57:9

4495" 1. That which is here condemned is meddling with strife that belongs not to us. If we must not be hasty to strive in our own cause ( ch. xxv. 8 ), much less in other people's, especially theirs that we are no way related to or concerned in, but light on accidentally as we pass by. If we can be instrumental to make peace between those that are at variance we must do it, though we should thereby get the ill-will of both sides, at least while they are in their heat; but to make ourselves busy in other men's matters, and parties in other men's quarrels, is not only to court our own trouble, but to thrust ourselves into temptation. Who made me a judge? Let them end it, as they began it, between themselves. 2. We are cautioned against it because of the danger it exposes us to; it is like taking a snarling cur by the ears, that will snap at you and bite you; you had better have let him alone, for you cannot get clear of him when you would, and must thank yourselves if you come off with a wound and dishonour. He that has got a dog by the ears, if he lets him go he flies at him, if he keeps his hold, he has his hands full, and can do nothing else. Let every one with quietness work and mind his own business, and not with unquietness quarrel and meddle with other people's business. 18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? See here, 1. How mischievous th

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Isaiah 10:23

For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Isaiah 14:9

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. Hell: or, The grave chief: Heb. leaders, or, great goats

Ephesians 5:4

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

2 Peter 2:13

And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

Topics

Idolatry Infidelity Perfume

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 57:9.

2 Samuel 14:2

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2 Samuel 18:12

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand Beware: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc

2 Samuel 18:2

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

2 Samuel 18:29

And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. Is: Heb. Is there peace?

2 Samuel 19:11

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 57:9 say?

Isaiah 57:9 (King James Version) reads: "And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. thou: or, thou respectedst"

Is Isaiah 57:9 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 57:9 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

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As you read Isaiah 57:9, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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