Isaiah 22:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 22:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He will surely wind thee round and round, [and toss thee] like a ball into a large country; there shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of thy lord`s house.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He will surely wind thee round and round, [and toss thee] like a ball into a large country; there shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of thy lord`s house.
Isaiah 22:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18He will surely wind thee round and round, [and toss thee] like a ball into a large country; there shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of thy lord`s house.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He will surely violently turn and toss thee, &c.] Or, “wrapping he will wrap thee with a wrapping”; as anything is wrapped up close and round, either to be more commodiously carried, or more easily tossed: or, “rolling he will roll thee with a rolling”f442; that is, roll thee over and over again, till brought to a place appointed: [like] a ball into a large country; where there is nothing to stop it; and being cast with a strong hand, runs a great way, and with prodigious swiftness; and signifies, that Shebna’s captivity was inevitable, which he could not escape; that he was no more in the hands of the Lord than a ball in the hands of a strong man; and could as easily, and would be, hurled…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“violently turn and toss--literally, "whirling He will whirl thee," that is, He will, without intermission, whirl thee [MAURER]. "He will whirl thee round and round, and (then) cast thee away," as a stone in a sling is first whirled round repeatedly, before the string is let go [LOWTH]. large country--perhaps Assyria. chariots . . . shall be the shame of thy lord's house--rather, "thy splendid chariots shall be there, O thou disgrace of thy lord's house" [NOYES]; "chariots of thy glory" mean "thy magnificent chariots." It is not meant that he would have these in a distant land, as he had in Jerusalem, but that he would be borne thither in ignominy instead of in his magnificent chariots. The…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He will surely violently turn - Lowth has well expressed the sense of this: He will whirl thee round and round, and cast thee away. Thus it refers to the action of throwing a stone with a “sling,” when the sling is whirled round and round several times before the string is let go, in order to increase the velocity of the stone. The idea is here, that God designed to cast him into a distant land, and that he would give such an “impulse” to him that he would be sent afar, so far that he would not be able to return again. Like a ball - A stone, ball, or other projectile that is cast from a sling. Into a large country - Probably Assyria. When this was done we have no means of determining. And…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thy chariots - Thy glorious chariots where thou didst ride in great state at Jerusalem, shall be turned into shame to thyself, and to thy master. Isaiah 22:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“22:18 toss you away into a distant, barren land: Shebna would not find a resting place or have a memorial (cp. 14:11-20). • your glorious chariots: In his high position, Shebna had lived in luxury.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“surely: Isa 17:13; Amo 7:17 a large country: Heb. a land large of spaces Isaiah 22:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification