Isaiah 22:5
For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 15
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יוֹם֩
For it is a day
H3117
יוֹם֩
For it is a day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 15
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
8 of 15
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בְּגֵ֣י
in the valley
H1516
בְּגֵ֣י
in the valley
Strong's:
H1516
Word #:
9 of 15
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
מְקַרְקַ֥ר
breaking
H6979
מְקַרְקַ֥ר
breaking
Strong's:
H6979
Word #:
11 of 15
to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop)
Cross References
Isaiah 10:6I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.Isaiah 37:3And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.Luke 23:30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.Lamentations 1:5Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.Micah 7:4The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.Isaiah 22:1The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?Jeremiah 30:7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.Hosea 10:8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.Lamentations 2:2The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
Historical Context
The 'valley of vision' likely refers to valleys surrounding Jerusalem (Hinnom, Kidron, Tyropoeon). Jerusalem sits on hills, but battles often occurred in nearby valleys. The irony: the city that received divine visions becomes the scene of divine judgment. This prophecy saw fulfillment in both the Assyrian siege (701 BC) and more fully in Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC), when walls were broken and survivors fled to the mountains.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the threefold description (trouble, treading down, perplexity) capture the comprehensive nature of judgment when it comes?
- What does it mean that this day comes 'by the Lord GOD of hosts'—how should divine agency in judgment affect our response to crisis?
- What is the significance of the 'valley of vision' becoming a place of judgment rather than revelation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity—three Hebrew terms paint escalating crisis. Mehumah (trouble/confusion), mebushah (treading down/trampling), mebukah (perplexity/bewilderment). The alliteration in Hebrew emphasizes the completeness of disaster.
By the Lord GOD of hosts (לַאדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאוֹת, la-Adonai YHWH Tseva'ot)—this isn't random catastrophe but divine judgment from the sovereign LORD of armies. The full title stresses God's authority and power to execute judgment.
In the valley of vision (בְּגֵיא חִזָּיוֹן, begei chizzayon)—ironic title for Jerusalem, the place where prophetic visions were given. Now it's a valley of judgment, not revelation. Breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains—walls fail, people flee crying for help. This vivid scene depicts Jerusalem's defenses collapsing despite human efforts to fortify them (vv.9-11).