Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
ISAIAH 28:15KJVWhat does Isaiah 28:15 mean?
Isaiah 28:15 describes people who claim they have made an agreement with death and the grave, believing that disaster will not touch them because they have taken refuge in lies and hidden themselves in falsehood. The verse shows their confidence in their own schemes and deceptions as a way to avoid coming judgment.
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to leaders in Jerusalem who feel secure because of their own plans and alliances, rather than trusting God. Isaiah uses strong language to show how these leaders think they can escape trouble by relying on falsehoods and making deals, even with death itself. The verse sets up a warning that such confidence is misplaced and will not protect them from the consequences of their actions.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 28:15
- "Covenant" (בְּרִית, berit): This word means a formal agreement or treaty. Here, it is used ironically, as if the people have made a binding pact with death itself, highlighting the absurdity of their confidence.
- "Hell" (שְׁאוֹל, sheol): In Hebrew thought, שְׁאוֹל (sheol) refers to the realm of the dead or the grave, not a place of punishment. The leaders claim to have made an "agreement" (חָזוּת, chazut) with sheol, showing their belief that they can avoid death’s threat.
- "Lies" (כָּזָב, kazav) and "falsehood" (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer): Both words point to deception. The verse emphasizes that the people are relying on things that are not true as their protection, underlining the emptiness of their security.
Why Isaiah 28:15 matters
- Isaiah 28:15 clears up the misunderstanding that human schemes or alliances can guarantee safety from judgment or disaster; the verse exposes the false security people sometimes place in their own plans.
- The verse highlights the seriousness of relying on deception, showing that making lies a "refuge" is not just foolish but dangerous.
- Isaiah 28:15 connects to the wider passage by setting up God’s response in the following verses, where He promises a true foundation and warns of the consequences of rejecting it.