Isaiah 2:22
Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Original Language Analysis
חִדְל֤וּ
Cease
H2308
חִדְל֤וּ
Cease
Strong's:
H2308
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, to be flabby, i.e., (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 11
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָ֣אָדָ֔ם
ye from man
H120
הָ֣אָדָ֔ם
ye from man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
4 of 11
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נְשָׁמָ֖ה
whose breath
H5397
נְשָׁמָ֖ה
whose breath
Strong's:
H5397
Word #:
6 of 11
a puff, i.e., wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal
בְּאַפּ֑וֹ
is in his nostrils
H639
בְּאַפּ֑וֹ
is in his nostrils
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בַמֶּ֥ה
H4100
בַמֶּ֥ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
Cross References
Jeremiah 17:5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.Psalms 146:3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.James 4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.Psalms 8:4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?Psalms 62:9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.Genesis 7:22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.Genesis 2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.Isaiah 40:15Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.Job 27:3All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Historical Context
Judah's temptation to seek alliances with Egypt or Assyria rather than trusting God demonstrated misplaced confidence in human power. Isaiah consistently warned against such political reliance (Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1).
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas do we rely on human wisdom, connections, or resources rather than God?
- How does recognizing human frailty ('breath in his nostrils') reorient our ultimate trust?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The imperative 'Cease ye from man' commands abandoning reliance on human wisdom, power, or deliverance. The rhetorical question 'wherein is he to be accounted of?' dismisses human significance apart from God—man's breath is fleeting (Hebrew 'neshamah be'appo'—breath in his nostrils), emphasizing mortality and frailty (Psalm 144:3-4). This anticipates Jesus' warning against fearing those who kill the body (Matthew 10:28) and Paul's indictment of wisdom of this age as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:20). True wisdom recognizes human limitation and God's supremacy.