Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָרְשָׁעִ֖ים
But the wicked
H7563
וְהָרְשָׁעִ֖ים
But the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
1 of 11
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
כַּיָּ֣ם
sea
H3220
כַּיָּ֣ם
sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
2 of 11
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ
are like the troubled
H1644
וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ
are like the troubled
Strong's:
H1644
Word #:
3 of 11
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יוּכָ֔ל
when it cannot
H3201
יוּכָ֔ל
when it cannot
Strong's:
H3201
Word #:
7 of 11
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ
are like the troubled
H1644
וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ
are like the troubled
Strong's:
H1644
Word #:
8 of 11
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
Cross References
Isaiah 3:11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.Jude 1:12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Historical Context
Isaiah had witnessed this firsthand—Judah's persistent anxiety despite repeated attempts to find security through alliances, idolatry, and self-reliance. The prophetic literature consistently portrays the wicked as troubled and restless (Job 15:20, 18:11, Proverbs 4:16-17). This continued through the intertestamental and New Testament periods, climaxing in Jerusalem's rejection of Christ despite His offer of rest (Matthew 11:28-30, 23:37).
Questions for Reflection
- What does inner restlessness and anxiety reveal about the spiritual condition of our hearts?
- How does sin produce ongoing pollution in our lives and communities?
- What is the only source of genuine rest and peace for troubled souls?
Analysis & Commentary
The contrast with verse 19 is stark: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." This vivid simile portrays unregenerate humanity's inner turmoil. The Hebrew nigrash (troubled/driven) describes violent agitation, the opposite of shalom (peace). "Cannot rest" emphasizes the inability, not merely unwillingness—apart from God, humans cannot find peace (Isaiah 48:22). The sea "casting up mire and dirt" depicts how sin produces moral pollution and spiritual filth. This echoes James's description of the double-minded person (James 1:6-8) and anticipates Revelation's troubled sea of humanity in rebellion (Revelation 13:1, 17:15). Reformed theology recognizes this as depicting natural man apart from regenerating grace—restless, agitated, and continuously producing corruption. Augustine described it as the restless heart that finds no rest until it rests in God. This is the human condition under the bondage of sin: perpetual inner turmoil despite outward success or pleasure.