Isaiah 57:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Isaiah 57:20
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Chapter Context
Isaiah 57 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, creation, judgment. Written during the Assyrian and pre-exilic periods (c. 740-680 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Addressed Judah during Assyria's rise, Babylon's threat, and anticipated restoration.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-21: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it contributes to the biblical metanarrative of redemption. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Isaiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Isaiah 57:20
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Analysis
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.
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).
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?
Cross-References
- Evil: Isaiah 3:11
- Parallel theme: Jude 1:12