Isaiah 30:22
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
Original Language Analysis
וְטִמֵּאתֶ֗ם
Ye shall defile
H2930
וְטִמֵּאתֶ֗ם
Ye shall defile
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
1 of 15
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כַסְפֶּ֔ךָ
of silver
H3701
כַסְפֶּ֔ךָ
of silver
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
5 of 15
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲפֻדַּ֖ת
and the ornament
H642
אֲפֻדַּ֖ת
and the ornament
Strong's:
H642
Word #:
7 of 15
a girding on (of the ephod); hence, generally, a plating (of metal)
מַסֵּכַ֣ת
of thy molten images
H4541
מַסֵּכַ֣ת
of thy molten images
Strong's:
H4541
Word #:
8 of 15
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
זְהָבֶ֑ךָ
of gold
H2091
זְהָבֶ֑ךָ
of gold
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
9 of 15
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
תִּזְרֵם֙
thou shalt cast them away
H2219
תִּזְרֵם֙
thou shalt cast them away
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
10 of 15
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
צֵ֖א
unto it Get thee hence
H3318
צֵ֖א
unto it Get thee hence
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
13 of 15
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
Cross References
Isaiah 31:7For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.Isaiah 46:6They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.Zechariah 13:2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.Ezekiel 36:31Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.Hosea 14:8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Historical Context
Judah under Ahaz and early Hezekiah struggled with syncretism—worshiping Yahweh while maintaining idols for political alliances and cultural conformity. Expensive idols (silver and gold) represented both religious apostasy and economic investment. Destroying them meant financial loss and social stigma. Isaiah prophesies that genuine repentance costs, but renewed relationship with God makes the cost worthwhile.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'idols' do Christians prize (career, image, comfort) that true encounter with God would make us cast away with revulsion?
- Why does the menstrual cloth comparison shock—and what does this extreme language reveal about God's view of idolatry?
- How does gradual reformation differ from the radical repentance described here—and which does the gospel produce?
Analysis & Commentary
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold (וְטִמֵּאתֶם אֶת־צִפּוּי פְסִילֵי כַסְפֶּךָ וְאֶת־אֲפֻדַּת מַסֵּכַת זְהָבֶךָ)—This verse describes radical repentance through idol destruction. The verb timme'tem (defile, make unclean) indicates treating as ritually impure what was once treasured. Covering (tsippuy) and ornament (afudat) refer to silver and gold plating on idols. Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth—The comparison to davah (menstruous cloth/woman) shocks with its revulsion. What was once beautiful and valuable now disgusts like the most unclean thing in Levitical law.
Thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence (צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ)—The command tse (get out!) is direct address, personifying the idol to emphasize its expulsion. This represents the fruit of God's judgment and restoration (vv. 18-21): when people truly encounter God, idols lose all appeal. Not gradual reform but sudden revulsion. The language mirrors Hezekiah's purge (2 Kings 18:4) and anticipates Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 23). True revival doesn't gently phase out idols; it violently expels them. Jesus's cleansing the temple (John 2:13-17) and Paul's confrontation at Ephesus (Acts 19:19) follow this pattern—decisive, costly rejection of what once was prized.