The Meaning of Isaiah 22:4 Explained

Isaiah 22:4

KJV: Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

YLT: Therefore I said, 'Look ye from me, I am bitter in my weeping, Haste not to comfort me, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.'

Darby: Therefore said I, Look away from me; let me weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

ASV: Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore said  I, Look away  from me; I will weep  bitterly,  labour  not to comfort  me, because of the spoiling  of the daughter  of my people. 

What does Isaiah 22:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Therefore Isaiah rejected the attempts of his fellow citizens to get him to participate in their celebration. The terrible end of the city drew tears from him that the present rejoicing could not stop. Isaiah was a compassionate person because he identified with his countrymen in their suffering.

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 22

1  The prophet laments the invasion of Jerusalem
8  He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy
15  He prophesies Shebna's deprivation
20  And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ

What do the individual words in Isaiah 22:4 mean?

Upon therefore I said Look away from me I will bitterly weep not do labor to comfort me because of the plundering of the daughter of my people
עַל־ כֵּ֥ן אָמַ֛רְתִּי שְׁע֥וּ מִנִּ֖י אֲמָרֵ֣ר בַּבֶּ֑כִי אַל־ תָּאִ֣יצוּ לְנַֽחֲמֵ֔נִי עַל־ שֹׁ֖ד בַּת־ עַמִּֽי

עַל־  Upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אָמַ֛רְתִּי  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שְׁע֥וּ  Look  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁעָה  
Sense: to look at or to, regard, gaze at or about.
מִנִּ֖י  from  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
אֲמָרֵ֣ר  I  will  bitterly 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: מָרַר  
Sense: to be bitter.
בַּבֶּ֑כִי  weep 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכִי  
Sense: a weeping, weeping.
תָּאִ֣יצוּ  do  labor 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אוּץ  
Sense: to press, be pressed, make haste, urge, be narrow.
לְנַֽחֲמֵ֔נִי  to  comfort  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
עַל־  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שֹׁ֖ד  of  the  plundering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֹׁד  
Sense: havoc, violence, destruction, devastation, ruin.
בַּת־  of  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
עַמִּֽי  of  my  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.