Isaiah 22 · Verse 13

Isaiah 22:13

And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

Isaiah 22:13, King James Version

Isaiah 22:13 in other translations

BSB	But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
WEB	and behold, there is joy and gladness, killing cattle and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.”
ASV	and, behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.
YLT	And lo, joy and gladness, slaying of oxen, And slaughtering of sheep, Eating of flesh, and drinking of wine, Eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.
DARBY	and behold joy and rejoicing, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: — Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.
BBE	But in place of these there was joy and delight, oxen and sheep were being made ready for food, there was feasting and drinking: men said, Now is the time for food and wine, for tomorrow death comes.
Webster	And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we shall die.

What does Isaiah 22:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. Notwithstanding Jehovah's "call to mourning" (Is 22:12), many shall make the desperate state of affairs a reason for reckless revelry (Is 5:11, 12, 14; Jr 18:12; 1Co 15:32).

Is 22:15-25. Prophecy That Shebna Should Be Deposed from Being Prefect of the Palace, and Eliakim Promoted to the Office.

In Is 36:3, 22; 37:2, we find Shebna "a scribe," and no longer prefect of the palace ("over the household"), and Eliakim in that office, as is here foretold. Shebna is singled out as the subject of prophecy (the only instance of an individual being so in Isaiah), as being one of the irreligious faction that set at naught the prophet's warnings (Is 28:1-33:24); perhaps it was he who advised the temporary ignominious submission of Hezekiah to Sennacherib.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die - This has been the language or all those who have sought their portion in this life, since the foundation of the world. So the poet: - Heu, heu nos miserif quam totus homuncio nil est! Sic erimus cuncti, postquam nos auferet orcus. Ergo vivamus, dum licet esse, bene. Alas alas! what miserable creatures are we, oniy the semblances of men! And so shall we be all when we come to die. Therefore let us live joyfully while we may. Domitian had an image of death hung up in his dining-room, to show his guests that as life was uncertain, they should make the best of it by indulging themselves. On this Martial, to flatter the emperor, whom he styles god, wrote the following epigram: - Frange thoros, pete vina, tingere nardo. Ipse jubet mortis te meminisse Deus. Sit down to table - drink heartily - anoint thyself with spikenard; for God himself commands thee to remember death. So the adage: - Ede, bibe, lude post mortem nulla voluptas. "Eat, drink, and play, while here ye may: No revelry after your dying day." St. Paul quotes the same heathen sentiment, 1Cor 15:32 : "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." Anacreon is full in point, and from him nothing better can be expected: - Ὡς ουν ετ' ευδι' εστιν, Και πινε και κυβευε Και σπενδε τῳ Λυαιῳ· Μη νουσος, ην τις ελθῃ, Λεγῃ, σε μη δει πινειν. Anac. Od. xv., 50:11. "While no tempest blots your sky, Drink, and throw the sportful dye: But to Bacchus drench the ground, Ere you push the goblet round; Lest some fatal illness cry, 'Drink no more the cup of joy.'" Addison.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 22:8-14

The weakness of Judah now appeared more than ever. Now also they discovered their carnal confidence and their carnal security. They looked to the fortifications. They made sure of water for the city. But they were regardless of God in all these preparations. They did not care for his glory in what they did. They did not depend upon him for a blessing on their endeavours. For every creature is to us what God makes it…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 22:8-14 →

Isaiah 22:13 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.

וְהִנֵּ֣ה\׀ve.hi.Nehand there!H2009

שָׂשׂ֣וֹןsa.SonjoyH8342

וְשִׂמְחָ֗הve.sim.Chahand gladnessH8057

הָרֹ֤ג\׀ha.Rogthey are killingH2026

בָּקָר֙ba.KarcattleH1241

וְשָׁחֹ֣טve.sha.Chotand they are slaughteringH7819

צֹ֔אןTzonsheepH6629

אָכֹ֥ל'a.Kholthey are eatingH398

בָּשָׂ֖רba.SarmeatH1320

וְשָׁת֣וֹתve.sha.Totand they are drinkingH8354

יָ֑יִןYa.yinwineH3196

אָכ֣וֹל'a.Kholwe will eatH398

וְשָׁת֔וֹve.sha.Toand we will drinkH8354

כִּ֥יkiforH3588

מָחָ֖רma.ChartomorrowH4279

נָמֽוּת\׃na.Mutwe will dieH4191

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

Cross references for Isaiah 22:13

Isaiah 56:12
Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
1 Corinthians 15:32
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
Luke 17:26-29
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
James 5:5
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Isaiah 5:22
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isaiah 5:12
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Amos 6:3-7
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. …
Isaiah 21:4-5
My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Isaiah 28:7-8
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

behold.
5:12; 21:4,5; 56:12; Am 6:3-7; Lu 17:26-29
let.
56:12; 1Co 15:32; Jas 5:5

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

Context

Isaiah 22:12
And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
Isaiah 22:13
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.
Isaiah 22:14
And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

Read all of Isaiah 22

Isaiah 22:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y he aquí gozo y alegría, matando vacas y degollando ovejas, comer carne y beber vino, diciendo: Comamos y bebamos, que mañana moriremos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et voici, l’allégresse et la joie! On tue des bœufs et on égorge des moutons, on mange de la chair et on boit du vin: Mangeons et buvons, car demain nous mourrons!
German Elberfelder 1871	Aber siehe, Wonne und Freude, Rinderwürgen und Schafeschlachten, Fleischessen und Weintrinken: "Laßt uns essen und trinken, denn morgen sterben wir!"
Latin Clementine Vulgate	et ecce gaudium et lætitia, occidere vitulos et jugulare arietes, comedere carnes, et bibere vinum: comedamus et bibamus, cras enim moriemur.