Isaiah 28:18

Death and loss

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

¹⁷ Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

¹⁹ From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

²⁰ For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

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: 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.
KJV: And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
WEB: Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.
ASV: And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
DARBY: And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, ye shall be trodden down by it.
BLB: And your⁺ covenant with death will be dissolved, and your⁺ agreement with Sheol will not stand; the overwhelming scourge, when it passes over, then you⁺ will be trampled by it.

ÅB: Og deres pakt med døden skal slettes ut, og deres forbund med dødsriket skal ikke stå fast; når den susende svepe farer fram, da skal dere bli trådt ned.
OTB: Deres pakt med døden vil bli annullert, og deres avtale med Sheol vil ikke stå; når den overveldende svøpen går gjennom, vil dere bli trampet av den.
B1930: Og eders pakt med døden skal slettes ut, og eders forbund med dødsriket skal ikke stå fast; når den susende svepe farer frem, da skal I bli trådt ned.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 7:7
Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
Read in context
Isaiah 8:10
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Read in context
Isaiah 28:15
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:
Read in context
Malachi 4:1–3
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Read in context
Isaiah 28:3
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
Read in context
Daniel 11:40
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Read in context
Daniel 8:9–13
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Read in context
Daniel 9:26–27
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Read in context