Isaiah 30:1
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Original Language Analysis
בָּנִ֤ים
children
H1121
בָּנִ֤ים
children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 18
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
סֽוֹרְרִים֙
to the rebellious
H5637
סֽוֹרְרִים֙
to the rebellious
Strong's:
H5637
Word #:
3 of 18
to turn away, i.e., (morally) be refractory
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת
that take
H6213
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת
that take
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
6 of 18
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מִנִּ֔י
H4480
מִנִּ֔י
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ
but not of me and that cover
H5258
וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ
but not of me and that cover
Strong's:
H5258
Word #:
10 of 18
to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king
מַסֵּכָ֖ה
with a covering
H4541
מַסֵּכָ֖ה
with a covering
Strong's:
H4541
Word #:
11 of 18
properly, a pouring over, i.e., fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e., league; concretely a coverlet (as if pour
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
רוּחִ֑י
but not of my spirit
H7307
רוּחִ֑י
but not of my spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
13 of 18
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
לְמַ֛עַן
H4616
לְמַ֛עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
14 of 18
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
סְפ֥וֹת
that they may add
H5595
סְפ֥וֹת
that they may add
Strong's:
H5595
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, to scrape (literally, to shave; but usually figuratively) together (i.e., to accumulate or increase) or away (i.e., to scatter, remove, or r
חַטָּֽאת׃
sin
H2403
חַטָּֽאת׃
sin
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
16 of 18
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
Cross References
Isaiah 65:2I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;Isaiah 1:2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.Hosea 7:13Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Romans 2:5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;Isaiah 29:15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.Isaiah 30:9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:Psalms 61:4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.Jeremiah 5:23But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Historical Context
Around 705-701 BCE, after Assyrian king Sargon II died, Judah's King Hezekiah considered joining an anti-Assyrian coalition backed by Egypt's 25th Dynasty (Cushite/Ethiopian pharaohs). Isaiah vehemently opposed this, urging trust in Yahweh alone. Hezekiah's ambassadors traveled to Egypt seeking military aid—the very journey Isaiah condemns in verses 2-7. This represented the perennial temptation: trust visible military power (Egypt's chariots and horsemen) rather than invisible divine protection. Egypt had been Israel's oppressor (Exodus), so returning for help was doubly shameful—going back to the house of bondage for security.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you 'take counsel, but not of me' by making plans without seeking God's will through prayer and Scripture?
- What modern 'Egypts' do we trust instead of God—money, technology, political alliances, human wisdom?
- How does piling 'sin to sin' happen when one faithless decision leads to another, compounding disobedience?
Analysis & Commentary
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD (הוֹי בָּנִים סוֹרְרִים/hoy banim sorerim)—The fifth of six woe oracles in Isaiah (28:1, 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1). Hoy is a funeral cry, lamenting those spiritually dead. Rebellious children (banim sorerim) echoes Israel's covenant relationship—sons who refuse their Father's authority. Sorer means stubborn, rebellious, turning away (same term for the rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21:18).
That take counsel, but not of me (לַעֲצֹת עֵצָה וְלֹא־מִנִּי/la'atsot etsah velo-minni)—They make plans (etsah, counsel/advice) without consulting Yahweh. The phrase "not of me" emphasizes the source: their wisdom originated from human calculation, not divine revelation. This indicts Judah's politicians negotiating Egyptian alliance against Assyria without seeking God's will. And that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit (וְלִנְסֹךְ מַסֵּכָה וְלֹא רוּחִי/velinseok massekah velo ruchi)—Massekah can mean molten image (idolatry) or woven covering (alliance treaty). They weave covenants without God's Spirit guiding. That they may add sin to sin (לְמַעַן סְפוֹת חַטָּאת עַל־חַטָּאת/lema'an sefot chattat al-chattat)—Piling sin upon sin, compounding rebellion. Political scheming without God adds to the original sin of distrust.