Isaiah 5:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 5:15 mean?

Isaiah 5:15 says that both ordinary people and powerful leaders will be brought low and humbled, and even those who think highly of themselves will be made humble. The verse shows that no one is above being humbled when God brings judgment.

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them about the consequences of their pride and injustice. In this part of his message, Isaiah makes it clear that social status or self-importance will not protect anyone from being humbled when God acts. The verse is part of a larger warning about the coming judgment on a nation that has turned away from what is right.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 5:15

• The word for "man" used first is אָדָם (adam), which often means a human being in a general sense, emphasizing the common person. This highlights that even everyday people are not exempt from being brought down.
• The second "man" is אִישׁ (ish), which can mean a man of distinction or an individual, sometimes with a sense of someone important. This shows that both the lowly and the mighty are included.
• The word for "down" is שָׁפַל (shaphal), meaning to be brought low or humbled. It carries the idea of being lowered from a place of pride or status.
• "Humbled" is שָׁחַח (shachach), which also means to be bowed down or humbled, reinforcing the theme of humiliation or loss of status.
• "Eyes" is עֵינַיִם (eynayim), and "lofty" is רָם (ram), meaning high or exalted. The phrase "eyes of the lofty" refers to people who look down on others or see themselves as above others, and the verse says even their pride will be brought down.

Why Isaiah 5:15 matters

• Isaiah 5:15 makes it clear that God's judgment is impartial; both the humble and the proud, the ordinary and the powerful, will be humbled if they act wrongly.
• The verse challenges the idea that social rank or self-importance can protect someone from consequences, which would have been a strong message in a society with clear class divisions.
• This verse fits into Isaiah's larger warning that pride and injustice will not go unnoticed, and it prepares the reader for the coming statements about God's justice and righteousness.