Isaiah 30 · Verse 1

Isaiah 30:1

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Isaiah 30:1, King James Version

Isaiah 30:1 in other translations

BSB“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
WEB“Woe to the rebellious children”, says the LORD, “who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
ASVWoe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,
YLTWoe to apostate sons, The affirmation of Jehovah! To do counsel, and not from Me, And to spread out a covering, and not of My spirit, So as to add sin to sin.
DARBYWoe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of me, and who make leagues, but not by my Spirit, that they may heap sin upon sin;
BBEHo! uncontrolled children, says the Lord, who give effect to a purpose which is not mine, and who make an agreement, but not by my spirit, increasing their sin:
WebsterWoe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not from me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

What does Isaiah 30:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Is 30:1-32. The Thirtieth Through Thirty-second Chapters Refer Probably to the Summer of 714 B.C., AS THE Twenty-ninth Chapter to the Passover of That Year.

Jewish ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria (Is 30:2-6, 15; 31:1). Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt rather than on Jehovah. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people (Ex 23:32; De 7:2). 1. take counsel--rather, as Is 30:4, 6 imply, "execute counsels." cover ... covering--that is, wrap themselves in reliances disloyal towards Jehovah. "Cover" thus answers to "seek to hide deeply their counsel from the Lord" (Is 29:15). But the Hebrew is literally, "who pour out libations"; as it was by these that leagues were made (Ex 24:8; Zec 9:11), translate, "who make a league." not of--not suggested by My Spirit" (Nu 27:21; Jos 9:14). that they may add--The consequence is here spoken of as their intention, so reckless were they of sinning: one sin entails the commission of another (De 29:19).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The Jews reproved for their reliance on Egypt, Isa 30:1-7. Threatened for their obstinate adherence to this alliance, Isa 30:8-17. Images the most elegant and lofty, by which the intense gloriousness of Messiah's reign at the period when all Israel shall be added to the Church is beautifully set forth, Isa 30:18-26. Dreadful fall of Sennacherib's army, an event most manifestly typical of the terrible and sudden overthrow of Antichrist; as, unless this typical reference be admitted, no possible connection can be imagined between the stupendous events which took place in Hezekiah's reign, and the very remote and inconceivably more glorious displays of Divine vengeance and mercy in the days of the Messiah, Isa 30:27-33. Verse 1 And that cover with a covering "Who ratify covenants" - Hebrews "Who pour out a libation." Sacrifice and libation were ceremonies constantly used, in ancient times by most nations in the ratifying of covenants: a libation therefore is used for a covenant, as in Greek the word σπονδη, for the same reason, stands for both. This seems to be the most easy explication of the Hebrew phrase, and it has the authority of the Septuagint, εποιησατε συνθηκας.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 30:1-7
The Jews reproved for seeking aid from Egypt. (Is. 30:1-7) Judgements in consequence of their contempt of God's word. (Is. 30:8-18) God's mercies to his church. (Is. 30:19-26) The ruin of the Assyrian army, and of all God's enemies. (Is. 30:27-33) Verses 1-7 It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet submission to his will.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 30:1 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.

ה֣וֹיHowoe to!H1945
בָּנִ֤יםba.NimchildrenH1121
סֽוֹרְרִים֙so.Rim[who are] rebelliousH5637
נְאֻם\־ne.'um-[the] utterance ofH5002
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתla.'a.Sotby makingH6213
עֵצָה֙'e.Tzaha planH6098
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
מִנִּ֔יmi.Nifrom meH4480
וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְve.lin.Sokhand by pouring outH5258
מַסֵּכָ֖הma.se.Khaha libationH4541
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
רוּחִ֑יru.Chispirit myH7307
לְמַ֛עַןle.Ma.'anso asH4616
סְפ֥וֹתse.Fotto addH5595
חַטָּ֖אתcha.TatsinH2403
עַל\־'al-toH5921
חַטָּֽאת\׃cha.TatsinH2403

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

Cross references for Isaiah 30:1

  • Isaiah 65:2

    I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

  • Isaiah 1:2

    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

  • Hosea 7:13

    Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

  • Isaiah 63:10

    But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

  • Hosea 4:10-12

    For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

  • Isaiah 29:15

    Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

  • Romans 2:5

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Acts 7:51-52

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

  • 2 Timothy 3:13

    But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

  • Isaiah 30:9

    That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

  • Ezekiel 3:9

    As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

  • Psalms 61:4

    I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt,
8 and contempt of God's word.
18 God's mercies towards his church.
27 God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria.

A.M. cir. 3291. B.C. cir. 713. the rebellious.
9; 1:2; 63:10; 65:2; De 9:7,24; 29:19; Jer 4:17; 5:23; Eze 2:3
Eze 3:9,26,27; 12:2,3; Ho 7:13; Ac 7:51,52
that take.
8:19; 29:15; 1Ch 10:13,14; Ho 4:10-12
cover.
4:5; *marg:
28:15,20; 32:2; Ps 61:4; 91:1-4
add.
1:5; 5:18; Nu 32:14; Ho 13:2; Ro 2:5; 2Ti 3:13

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

Context

  • Isaiah 30:1

    Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

  • Isaiah 30:2

    That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Read all of Isaiah 30

Isaiah 30:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¡AY de los hijos que se apartan, dice Jehová, para tomar consejo, y no de mí; para cobijarse con cubierta, y no de mi espíritu, añadiendo pecado á pecado!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Malheur aux fils qui se rebellent, dit l’ Éternel, pour former des desseins, mais non de par moi, et pour établir des alliances, mais non par mon Esprit, afin d’ajouter péché sur péché;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wehe den widerspenstigen Kindern, spricht Jehova, welche Pläne ausführen, aber nicht von mir aus, und Bündnisse schließen, aber nicht nach meinem Geiste, um Sünde auf Sünde zu häufen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Væ filii desertores, dicit Dominus, ut faceretis consilium, et non ex me, et ordiremini telam, et non per spiritum meum, ut adderetis peccatum super peccatum;