Isaiah 28:15
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:
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ
We have made
H3772
כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ
We have made
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
3 of 22
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
בְרִית֙
a covenant
H1285
בְרִית֙
a covenant
Strong's:
H1285
Word #:
4 of 22
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
מָ֔וֶת
with death
H4194
מָ֔וֶת
with death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
6 of 22
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וְעִם
H5973
וְעִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
7 of 22
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
שְׁא֖וֹל
and with hell
H7585
שְׁא֖וֹל
and with hell
Strong's:
H7585
Word #:
8 of 22
hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
עָשִׂ֣ינוּ
are we
H6213
עָשִׂ֣ינוּ
are we
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
9 of 22
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
חֹזֶ֑ה
at agreement
H2374
חֹזֶ֑ה
at agreement
Strong's:
H2374
Word #:
10 of 22
a beholder in vision; also a compact (as looked upon with approval)
שׁ֣יֹט
when the overflowing
H7857
שׁ֣יֹט
when the overflowing
Strong's:
H7857
Word #:
11 of 22
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
13 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עֲבֹר֙
shall pass through
H5674
עֲבֹר֙
shall pass through
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
14 of 22
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יְבוֹאֵ֔נוּ
it shall not come
H935
יְבוֹאֵ֔נוּ
it shall not come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
16 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
17 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שַׂ֧מְנוּ
unto us for we have made
H7760
שַׂ֧מְנוּ
unto us for we have made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
18 of 22
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
Cross References
Isaiah 28:18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.Amos 2:4Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:Ezekiel 13:22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:Hosea 2:18And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.Daniel 11:22And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Historical Context
Judah's kings repeatedly made treaties with Egypt against Assyria/Babylon, despite prophetic warnings (Isaiah 30:1-7, 31:1, Jeremiah 37:7). These alliances failed catastrophically—Egypt couldn't save Jerusalem from Babylon. In AD 70, Jewish leaders trusted in the temple and their political strategies; Rome destroyed both. Revelation 9:21 describes those who won't repent even under judgment. Human nature persists in trusting lies rather than God. Every generation makes 'covenants with death'—false securities that cannot save.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'covenants with death' (false securities, misplaced trusts) do people rely on instead of God?
- How do lies become a 'refuge' and falsehood a 'hiding place' for those avoiding confrontation with truth?
- What would it look like to break your 'covenant with death' and trust God alone for security?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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 exposes the scornful leaders' delusional security. We have made a covenant with death (karatnu berit et-mavet, כָּרַתְנוּ בְרִית אֶת־מָוֶת) and with hell are we at agreement (ve-et-she'ol asinu chozeh, וְאֶת־שְׁאוֹל עָשִׂינוּ חֹזֶה, with Sheol we have made a vision/pact) likely refers to treaties with Egypt and other powers, trusting political alliances rather than God. Ironically, these death-pacts can't protect from death. Mavet (מָוֶת, death) and she'ol (שְׁאוֹל, grave/underworld) represent ultimate enemies covenants cannot defeat.
When the overflowing scourge shall pass through (ki ya'avor shot shofef, כִּי יַעֲבֹר שׁוֹט שׁוֹטֵף, when the overwhelming whip passes through) depicts Assyrian/Babylonian invasion as flood of judgment. They think their political machinations exempt them: it shall not come unto us. The reason for false confidence: we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves (ki samnu kazav machsenu va-sheker nistarna, כִּי שַׂמְנוּ כָזָב מַחְסֵנוּ וּבַשֶּׁקֶר נִסְתָּרְנוּ). Their refuge is lies; their hiding place is deception. This could mean:
All three apply.