> [[isaiah-56|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-58|Next →]] --- # Isaiah, Chapter 57 ## Chapter 57 1 The just have perished, ^isaiah-57-1 but no one takes it to heart; The steadfast are swept away, while no one understands. Yet the just are taken away from the presence of evil, 2 and enter into peace; ^isaiah-57-2 They rest upon their couches, the sincere, who walk in integrity. ### An Idolatrous People 3 But you, draw near, ^isaiah-57-3 you children of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! 4 Against whom do you make sport, ^isaiah-57-4 against whom do you open wide your mouth, and stick out your tongue? Are you not rebellious children, deceitful offspring— 5 You who burn with lust among the oaks, ^isaiah-57-5 under every green tree; You who immolate children in the wadies, among the clefts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion, ^isaiah-57-6 they, they are your allotment; Indeed, you poured out a drink offering to them, and brought up grain offerings. With these things, should I be appeased? 7 Upon a towering and lofty mountain ^isaiah-57-7 you set up your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the door and the doorpost ^isaiah-57-8 you set up your symbol. Yes, deserting me, you carried up your bedding; and spread it wide. You entered an agreement with them, you loved their couch, you gazed upon nakedness. 9 You approached the king with oil, ^isaiah-57-9 and multiplied your perfumes; You sent your ambassadors far away, down even to deepest Sheol. 10 Though worn out with the length of your journey, ^isaiah-57-10 you never said, “It is hopeless”; You found your strength revived, and so you did not weaken. 11 Whom did you dread and fear, ^isaiah-57-11 that you told lies, And me you did not remember nor take to heart? Am I to keep silent and conceal, while you show no fear of me? 12 I will proclaim your justice ^isaiah-57-12 and your works; but they shall not help you. 13 When you cry out, ^isaiah-57-13 let your collection of idols save you. All these the wind shall carry off, a mere breath shall bear them away; But whoever takes refuge in me shall inherit the land, and possess my holy mountain. ### The Way to Peace for God’s People 14 And I say: ^isaiah-57-14 Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from my people’s way. 15 For thus says the high and lofty One, ^isaiah-57-15 the One who dwells forever, whose name is holy: I dwell in a high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, To revive the spirit of the lowly, to revive the heart of the crushed. 16 For I will not accuse forever, ^isaiah-57-16 nor always be angry; For without me their spirit fails, the life breath that I have given. 17 Because of their wicked avarice I grew angry; ^isaiah-57-17 I struck them, hiding myself from them in wrath. But they turned back, following the way of their own heart. 18 I saw their ways, ^isaiah-57-18 but I will heal them. I will lead them and restore full comfort to them and to those who mourn for them, 19 creating words of comfort. ^isaiah-57-19 Peace! Peace to those who are far and near, says the LORD; and I will heal them. 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea ^isaiah-57-20 which cannot be still, Its waters cast up mire and mud. 21 There is no peace for the wicked! ^isaiah-57-21 says my God. \* (57:2) Despite their sad fate, the just will ultimately attain peace (most likely in this world); cf. v. [13]. \* (57:3] – [13) In this courtroom imagery, the idolaters are summoned before the judge (v. [3]), their crimes are graphically described (vv. [4] – [11]), their guilt is established, and condemnation is carried out (vv. [12] – [13b]). In contrast to this, v. [13c] describes the inheritance of God’s land and holy mountain given to those who place their confidence in God instead of in idols. \* (57:3) Language of sexual infidelity is often used in a figurative way to describe idolatry. Cf. [[ezekiel-16|Ez 16]]:15 – [22]; [Hos 2:4] – [7]; [Col 3:5]. \* (57:5) Child sacrifice is also attested in [[2-kings-23|2 Kgs 23]]:10; [Jer 7:31]; [[ezekiel-16|Ez 16]]:20; [20:28], [31]; [23:37] – [39]. \* (57:6) Smooth stones: the Hebrew word for this expression has the same consonants as the word for “portion”; instead of making the Lord their portion (cf. ([[psalm-16|Ps 16]]:5]), the people adored slabs of stone which they took from the streambeds in valleys and set up as idols; cf. [Jer 3:9]. Therefore, it is implied, they will be swept away as by a sudden torrent of waters carrying them down the rocky-bottomed gorge to destruction and death without burial. \* (57:8) Nakedness: literally in Hebrew, “hand.” In this context, it may euphemistically refer to a phallus. \* (57:9) The king: in Hebrew, the word for king is *melek*, similar in sound to the Canaanite god Molech, to whom children were offered as a sacrifice in pagan ritual. The expression “your ambassadors” could be a figurative expression for the children whose death served as an offering to this deity. \* (57:12) Justice: here used sarcastically. The activity described in these verses is far from the justice which God demands of those who are aligned with the covenant (cf. [56:1], [4], [6]). In the larger context of Third Isaiah and the whole of the Isaian tradition, justice is a key theological motif. The justice to which God calls Israel will eventually come to its fulfillment in an act of divine intervention (cf. [60:21]; [61:3c]). Until then, the people of God must strive to live in the ways of justice and right judgment ([56:1]). \* (57:13) In v. [6], the smooth stones of the valley are the portion which the unfaithful will receive as their due reward (cf. note on v. [6]); while in v. [13c], an inheritance of the land and possession of God’s holy mountain will be the portion of the upright. \* (57:14) The way…my people’s way: the language and imagery are reminiscent of [40:1] – [2], but in this context, when the people have already returned, the physical road through the desert is replaced by the spiritual way that leads to redemption. \* (57:15) The God of Israel is presented in both a transcendent and an immanent manner. God’s holiness is the transcendent quality; the immanence is shown in the choice of dwelling among the downtrodden and humble. \* (57:19) Creating words of comfort: lit., “fruit of the lips,” perhaps referring to praise and thanksgiving for the divine healing; cf. [[hosea-14|Hos 14]]:3. a. (57:2) ([[wisdom-03|Wis 3]]:1] – [3]. b. (57:5) [Dt 12:2]; [[2-kings-17|2 Kgs 17]]:10; [Jer 7:31]; [19:5]; [[ezekiel-20|Ez 20]]:28, [31]. c. (57:7) [Jer 2:20]; ([[ezekiel-06|Ez 6]]:13]; [Hos 4:13]. d. (57:14) [Is 40:3] – [4]. e. (57:16) [Gn 2:7]. f. (57:17) [Is 56:11]. g. (57:18) [Is 61:2]. h. (57:20) [Jon 2:3] – [7]. i. (57:21) [Is 48:22]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[isaiah-56|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-58|Next →]]