Isaiah 5:14
12 At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
13 Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.
Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!
15 So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes.
16 But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.
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
- Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!
- KJV
- Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
- WEB
- Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it.
- ASV
- Therefore Sheol hath enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend [into it].
- DARBY
- Therefore doth Sheol enlarge its desire, and open its mouth without measure; and her splendour shall descend [into it], and her multitude, and her tumult, and [all] that is joyful within her.
- BLB
- Therefore Sheol has enlarged her soul and has opened her mouth beyond measure; her nobles will go down—and her crowd and her revelers and exulting—into her.
- ÅB
- Derfor blir dødsriket enda grådigere og spiler opp sin munn umåtelig, og ned farer byens fornemme og dens larmende hop og dens buldrende sverm og alle som jubler i den.
- OTB
- Derfor har Sheol utvidet sin strupe og åpnet sin munn uten mål; inn i den skal deres fornemme menn og masser stige ned, med all deres festing og jubel.
- B1930
- Derfor blir dødsriket ennu grådigere og spiler op sin munn umåtelig, og ned farer byens fornemme og dens larmende hop og dens buldrende sverm og alle som jubler i den.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:5
and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Read in contextProverbs 30:16
Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’
Read in contextPsalms 55:15
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.
Read in contextMatthew 7:13
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Read in contextRevelation 20:13–15
The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:33
For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
Read in contextProverbs 27:20
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Read in context