Isaiah 28:15

Death and loss

¹³ Then the word of the LORD to them will become: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling backward and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.

For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”

¹⁶ So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

¹⁷ I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”
KJV: Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
WEB: “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’”
ASV: Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
DARBY: For ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol have we made an agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.
BLB: For you⁺ have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made an agreement. The overflowing scourge, when it passes over, it will not come [to] us, for we have made falsehood our refuge, and in deception we have hidden ourselves.”

ÅB: Fordi dere sier: Vi har gjort en pakt med døden og et forbund med dødsriket; når den susende svepe farer fram, skal den ikke nå oss; for vi har gjort løgn til vår tilflukt og svik til vårt skjul -
OTB: Fordi dere har sagt: "Vi har gjort en pakt med døden, og med Sheol har vi gjort en avtale. Når den overveldende svøpen går gjennom, vil den ikke nå oss, for vi har gjort løgn til vår tilflukt og skjult oss med bedrag."
B1930: Fordi I sier: Vi har gjort en pakt med døden og et forbund med dødsriket; når den susende svepe farer frem, skal den ikke nå oss; for vi har gjort løgn til vår tilflukt og svik til vårt skjul -

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 8:7–8
the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates — the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
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Hosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and weapons of war in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.
Read in context
Daniel 11:22
Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 8:8
As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
Read in context
Amos 2:4
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.
Read in context
Isaiah 28:18
Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it.
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:22
Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,
Read in context