And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

ISAIAH 57:9KJV
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Isaiah 57:9 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 57:9 mean?

Isaiah 57:9 describes how the people of Israel went to great lengths to seek favor from foreign rulers, using costly ointments and perfumes, sending messengers far away, and lowering themselves even to the point of deep shame or spiritual ruin. The verse uses strong language to show how far the people were willing to go, even to the depths of "hell," to pursue these alliances.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, criticizing them for turning away from God and seeking help from other nations and their kings. The actions described—traveling to the king, using ointments and perfumes, sending messengers, and debasing themselves—are all ways of showing how desperate and unfaithful the people had become in their search for security outside of their relationship with God.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 57:9

  • "Wentest" (שָׁפַע, shafaʿ): This word often carries the sense of rushing or pouring oneself out, which highlights the eagerness and effort the people put into seeking these foreign alliances.
  • "Debase" (שָׁפֵל, shaphel): This word means to humble or lower oneself, sometimes to a humiliating degree. Here, it emphasizes the depth of humiliation or moral decline the people experienced in their pursuit.
  • "Hell" (שְׁאוֹל, she'ol): In Hebrew thought, שְׁאוֹל (she'ol) refers to the realm of the dead or the grave, not necessarily a place of fiery punishment. The verse uses it to stress how far the people had fallen spiritually.

Why Isaiah 57:9 matters

  • Isaiah 57:9 clears up that the people's actions were not just political but also spiritual, showing a deep unfaithfulness to God by seeking help from other nations.
  • The verse uses vivid language to emphasize the seriousness of turning away from God, making clear that these choices led to deep shame and spiritual loss.
  • Understanding the original words for "debase" and "hell" helps readers see that the verse is about more than physical actions—it is about a profound spiritual decline that affected the entire nation.