Isaiah 2:17 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 2:17 mean?

Isaiah 2:17 describes how human pride and arrogance will be humbled, and only the LORD will be honored and lifted up on a future day of judgment. The verse says that people’s self-importance will be brought low, while God alone will stand exalted.

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, warning them about a coming time when God will judge human pride. This verse is part of a larger passage where Isaiah describes a future “day of the LORD,” a time when God’s power will be unmistakable and all human boasting will be silenced. The focus is on the contrast between human arrogance and God’s true greatness.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 2:17

• “Loftiness” (גַּבְהוּת, gavhuth) refers to being high or elevated, often used for pride or self-importance. Here, it points to people thinking highly of themselves.
• “Haughtiness” (רוּם, rum) means being lifted up or exalted, especially in an arrogant way. Isaiah uses it to show how people put themselves above others.
• “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that only God—not any human—will be exalted.
• “Exalted” (שָׂגַב, sagav) means to be set on high or made inaccessible. The verse uses it to stress that God’s greatness will be unmatched on that day.

Why Isaiah 2:17 matters

• Isaiah 2:17 clears up any idea that human power or status can last when compared to God’s authority; the verse insists that all human pride will eventually be brought down.
• The verse highlights the main theme of this section of Isaiah: the “day of the LORD” is not about human achievement but about God’s ultimate rule and glory.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by repeating the idea found in Isaiah 2:11 and 2:12, making it clear that God’s exaltation is the central point, not just a side note.