Isaiah 1 · Verse 31

Isaiah 1:31

And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Isaiah 1:31, King James Version

Isaiah 1:31 in other translations

BSBThe strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.
WEBThe strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”
ASVAnd the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
YLTAnd the strong hath been for tow, And his work for a spark, And burned have both of them together, And there is none quenching!
DARBYAnd the strong shall be for tow, and his work a spark; and they shall both burn together, and there shall be none to quench them.
BBEAnd the strong will be as food for the fire, and his work as a flame; and they will be burned together, with no one to put out the fire.
WebsterAnd the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

What does Isaiah 1:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. strong--powerful rulers (Am 2:9). maker of it--rather, his work. He shall be at once the fuel, "tow," and the cause of the fire, by kindling the first "spark." both--the wicked ruler, and "his work," which "is as a spark."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 1:21-31

Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 1:21-31 →

Isaiah 1:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָיָ֤הve.ha.Yahand he will becomeH1961
הֶחָסֹן֙he.cha.Sonthe strong [person]H2634
לִנְעֹ֔רֶתlin.'O.ret<into> towH5296
וּפֹעֲל֖וֹu.fo.'a.Loand work hisH6467
לְנִיצ֑וֹץle.ni.Tzotz<into> a sparkH5213
וּבָעֲר֧וּu.va.'a.Ruand they will burnH1197
שְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.Hemboth of themH8147
יַחְדָּ֖וyach.DavtogetherH3162
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Einand there notH369
מְכַבֶּֽה\׃\ \סme.kha.Beh[will be one who] extinguishesH3518

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 1:31

  • Isaiah 66:24

    And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

  • Malachi 4:1

    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.

  • Ezekiel 32:21

    The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

  • Isaiah 34:9-10

    And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Judges 15:14

    And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

  • Ezekiel 20:47-48

    And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

  • Matthew 3:10

    And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Revelation 14:10-11

    The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

  • Revelation 6:14-17

    And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

  • Isaiah 50:11

    Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

  • Revelation 20:10

    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the strong.
Eze 32:21
as tow.
27:4; 43:17; 50:11; Jud 15:14; Re 6:14-17
the maker of it. or, his work. and they.
34:9,10; 66:24; Eze 20:47,48; Mal 4:1; Mt 3:10; Mr 9:43-49
Re 14:10,11; 19:20; 20:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 1:30

    For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

  • Isaiah 1:31

    And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

Read all of Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el fuerte será como estopa, y lo que hizo como centella; y ambos serán encendidos juntamente, y no habrá quien apague.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le fort sera de l’étoupe, et son œuvre une étincelle, et tous deux brûleront ensemble, et il n’y a personne qui éteigne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Starke wird zum Werge werden und sein Tun zum Funken; und sie werden beide miteinander verbrennen, und niemand wird löschen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et erit fortitudo vestra ut favilla stuppæ, et opus vestrum quasi scintilla, et succendetur utrumque simul, et non erit qui extinguat.