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Isaiah 30:16

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 30:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
Isaiah 30:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly in an instant.
14And he shall break it as a potter`s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.
15For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not:
16but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17One thousand [shall flee] at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.
18And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him.
19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee.
← Isaiah 30:15Isaiah 30:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses, &c.] Hither and thither to get help and assistance; go down to Egypt for it on them, or thither for them, as some render it; and then face the enemy, and, if we can not conquer him, will flee from him, and so provide for our safety; this is man’s way of salvation, as opposed to God’s way; (see <280107>Hosea 1:7 14:3) or this may design their fleeing on horses and camels with their riches into Egypt, both for the security of them and their persons, (<233006>Isaiah 30:6): therefore shall ye flee; on horses from the enemy, and be pursued and taken by him; this was fulfilled long after, when the city was taken by the Chaldeans; (see <122504>2 Kings…”
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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
“flee--not as fugitives, but we will speed our course; namely, against the Assyrians, by the help of cavalry supplied by Egypt (Isa 31:1). This was expressly against the Mosaic law (Deu 17:16; see on Isa 2:7; Hos 14:3). shall . . . flee--literally, "before your enemies"; their sin and its punishment correspond.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:16 Judah’s reliance on Egypt to supply swift horses (see Ps 33:17) amounted to a rejection of God’s help and threatened to bring about its fall.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for we will: Isa 5:26-30, Isa 10:28-32, Isa 31:1; Deu 28:25; Kg2 25:5; Psa 33:17, Psa 147:10; Jer 52:7; Amo 2:14-16, Amo 9:1; Mic 1:13 therefore: Deu 28:49; Jer 4:13; Lam 4:19; Hab 1:8 Isaiah 30:17”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 30 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification