Isaiah Chapter 28 · Verse 18

Authorized King James Version

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And 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.

Original Language Analysis

וְכֻפַּ֤ר shall be disannulled H3722
וְכֻפַּ֤ר shall be disannulled
Strong's: H3722
Word #: 1 of 16
to cover (specifically with bitumen)
בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ And your covenant H1285
בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ And your covenant
Strong's: H1285
Word #: 2 of 16
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
אֶת H854
אֶת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 3 of 16
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 #: 4 of 16
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם and your agreement H2380
וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם and your agreement
Strong's: H2380
Word #: 5 of 16
a look; hence (figuratively) striking appearance, revelation, or (by implication) compact
אֶת H854
אֶת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 6 of 16
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
שְׁא֖וֹל with hell H7585
שְׁא֖וֹל with hell
Strong's: H7585
Word #: 7 of 16
hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תָק֑וּם shall not stand H6965
תָק֑וּם shall not stand
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 9 of 16
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
שׁ֤וֹט scourge H7752
שׁ֤וֹט scourge
Strong's: H7752
Word #: 10 of 16
a lash (literally or figuratively)
שׁוֹטֵף֙ when the overflowing H7857
שׁוֹטֵף֙ when the overflowing
Strong's: H7857
Word #: 11 of 16
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 12 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר shall pass through H5674
יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר shall pass through
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 13 of 16
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
וִהְיִ֥יתֶם H1961
וִהְיִ֥יתֶם
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 14 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
ל֖וֹ H0
ל֖וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 15 of 16
לְמִרְמָֽס׃ then ye shall be trodden down H4823
לְמִרְמָֽס׃ then ye shall be trodden down
Strong's: H4823
Word #: 16 of 16
abasement (the act or the thing)

Analysis & Commentary

And 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. God explicitly cancels the false covenant of verse 15. Your covenant with death shall be disannulled (ve-kupar beritkem et-mavet, וְכֻפַּר בְּרִיתְכֶם אֶת־מָוֶת, and your covenant with death shall be annulled/atoned) uses kapar (כָּפַר), often translated "atone" but here meaning "annulled, disannulled, made void." Their death-pact is canceled. And your agreement with hell shall not stand (ve-chozechem et-she'ol lo yaqum, וְחָזוּתְכֶם אֶת־שְׁאוֹל לֹא תָקוּם, and your vision/pact with Sheol shall not rise/stand) emphasizes total failure of their false security.

When the overflowing scourge shall pass through (repeating v.15's phrase) shows the judgment they thought exempt from will indeed come. Then ye shall be trodden down by it (vihyitem lo le-mirmas, וִהְיִיתֶם לוֹ לְמִרְמָס, you shall become to it a trampling)—not protected but crushed underfoot. Political alliances cannot save from divine judgment. Egypt, their supposed ally, fled before Babylon. Only covenant with God through Christ saves from death and hell. Jesus defeated death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) and has keys of hell (Revelation 1:18). All other covenants are worthless parchment.

Historical Context

History vindicated Isaiah. Judah's alliance with Egypt failed; Jerusalem fell to Babylon (586 BC). Leaders who trusted political savvy were trampled by invaders. In AD 70, Jewish leaders' strategies failed before Rome. Every generation learns: covenants with death don't protect from death. Only Christ's New Covenant, sealed in His blood, conquers death and hell. Those outside Christ remain under death's power (Hebrews 2:14-15). No political, economic, or religious system except Christ defeats these ultimate enemies.

Questions for Reflection