The Meaning of Isaiah 30:1 Explained

Isaiah 30:1

KJV: 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:

YLT: Woe to apostate sons, The affirmation of Jehovah! To do counsel, and not from Me, And to spread out a covering, and not of My spirit, So as to add sin to sin.

Darby: Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of me, and who make leagues, but not by my Spirit, that they may heap sin upon sin;

ASV: Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Isaiah 30:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh pronounced woe on the Judahites who were acting like rebellious children (cf. Isaiah 1:2; Deuteronomy 21:18-21). They were carrying out a plan that was not the Lord"s. Specifically they were seeking an alliance with Egypt. Yahweh had forbidden alliances with Egypt ( Exodus 13:17; Deuteronomy 17:16). These Judahites added to the sin of acting without divine direction, the sin of seeking security from a source other than the Lord Himself.

Context Summary

Isaiah 30:1-17 - Fatal Reliance On Human Aid
Toward the close of the 8th century, b.c. Jerusalem sent ambassadors to seek help from Egypt against Assyria, in distinct defiance of God's repeated warnings. Isaiah denounced this as adding sin to sin. Even though their princes reached Zoan and Hanes, capital cities, and succeeded in their object, it would not help them. The beasts of burden might traverse the deserts with presents and bribes, but all would be in vain. These truths, however, were unpalatable, and the politicians endeavored to silence the prophet, Isaiah 30:9-11. All sin recoils on the sinner. At first his efforts seem to protect him, but soon the wall begins to bulge, then it totters, finally it falls. The true policy, urged by Isaiah in Isaiah 30:15, would be to renounce these efforts for Egyptian help and return to rest in the loving care of God. In returning and rest they would be saved! Oh, that we were more quiet and calm in the face of danger, hushing our fears, stilling our throbbing hearts, and leaning back on the everlasting arms! God cannot fail you, ye fearful saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 30

1  The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt
8  And contempt of God's word
18  God's mercies toward his church
27  God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:1 mean?

Woe to the sons rebellious says Yahweh who take counsel but not of Me and who devise plans of My Spirit that they may add sin to sin
ה֣וֹי בָּנִ֤ים סֽוֹרְרִים֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עֵצָה֙ וְלֹ֣א מִנִּ֔י וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ מַסֵּכָ֖ה רוּחִ֑י לְמַ֛עַן סְפ֥וֹת חַטָּ֖את עַל־ חַטָּֽאת

ה֣וֹי  Woe  to 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֹוי  
Sense: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!.
בָּנִ֤ים  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
סֽוֹרְרִים֙  rebellious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: סָרַר  
Sense: to rebel, be stubborn, be rebellious, be refractory.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת  who  take 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֵצָה֙  counsel 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מִנִּ֔י  of  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.
וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ  and  who  devise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָסַךְ 
Sense: to pour out, pour, offer, cast.
מַסֵּכָ֖ה  plans 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַסֵּכָה 
Sense: a pouring, libation, molten metal, cast image, drink offering.
רוּחִ֑י  of  My  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
לְמַ֛עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
סְפ֥וֹת  they  may  add 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָפָה  
Sense: to sweep or snatch away, catch up, destroy, consume.
חַטָּ֖את  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
חַטָּֽאת  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.