Isaiah 28:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 28:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
Isaiah 28:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the bed is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it], &c.] When a bed is short, a man cannot lie at his full length, and at ease: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it]; when the bedclothes are narrow a man cannot cover himself with them, so as to be warm and comfortable. These proverbial expressions are interpreted by Kimchi of Jerusalem, when besieged by the Assyrian army, when the inhabitants of it were much straitened, distressed, and made uncomfortable; perhaps it may be better understood of the same city when besieged by the Romans, to which the Jews flocked from all parts, in such numbers, for shelter, that there was not room enough for them,…”
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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
“Proverbial, for they shall find all their sources of confidence fail them; all shall be hopeless perplexity in their affairs.”
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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
“For - For those lying refuges, to which you trust, will not be able to give you that protection, which you expect from them; no more than a man can stretch himself upon a bed that is too short for him. Isaiah 28:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“28:20 The bed. . . . The blankets: The leaders were ill-prepared for God’s coming in judgment.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the bed: Isa 57:12, Isa 57:13, Isa 59:5, Isa 59:6, Isa 64:6, Isa 66:3-6; Jer 7:8-10; Rom 9:30-32; Co1 1:18-31 Isaiah 28:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification