The Key of David

Isaiah 22

Isaiah rebukes Jerusalem for reveling in feasting and false security, saying let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die, even as the city faces a day of trouble sent from the Lord, and mourns bitterly for the ruin of his people. He then pronounces judgment on Shebna, the steward who carved himself a lofty tomb, declaring that the Lord will remove him from office and give his authority, including the key of the house of David, to Eliakim, who will become like a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWHAT aileth thee, that you are all now gone up to the housetops?

BrentonThe Word of the Valley of Sion. What has happened to thee, that now ye are all gone up to the housetops which help you not?

GreekΤί ἐγένετό σοι, ὅτι νῦν ἀνέβητε πάντες εἰς δώματα μάταια;

KJVThe burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

JPSThe burden concerning the Valley of Vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops,

ThomsonThis vain city is full of people shouting. Thy slain are not slain with the sword; nor have thy dead died in battle.

BrentonThe city is filled with shouting men: thy slain are not slain with swords, nor are thy dead those who have died in battle.

GreekἘνεπλήσθη ἡ πόλις βοώντων, οἱ τραυματίαι σου οὐ τραυματίαι ἐν μαχαίραις, οὐδὲ οἱ νεκροί σου νεκροὶ πολέμων.

KJVThou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

JPSThou that art full of uproar, a tumultuous city, a joyous town? Thy slain are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

ThomsonAll thy chiefs have fled and they who are taken are cruelly bound. Even the mighty men in thee have fled far away.

BrentonAll thy princes have fled, and thy captives are tightly bound, and the mighty men in thee have fled far away.

GreekΠάντες οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πεφεύγασι, καὶ οἱ ἁλόντες σκληρῶς δεδεμένοι εἰσί, καὶ οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἐν σοὶ πόῤῥω πεφεύγασι.

KJVAll thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.

JPSAll thy rulers are fled together, Without the bow they are bound; All that are found of thee are bound together, they are fled afar off.

ThomsonTherefore I said, Let me alone; let me weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, for this distress of the daughter of my people.

BrentonTherefore I said, Let me alone, I will weep bitterly; labour not to comfort me for the breach of the daughter of my people.

GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο εἶπα, ἄφετέ με, πικρῶς κλαύσομαι· μὴ κατισχύσητε παρακαλεῖν με ἐπὶ τὸ σύντριμμα τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ γένους μου,

KJVTherefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

JPSTherefore said I: ‘Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Strain not to comfort me, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.’

ThomsonFor it is a day of trouble and destruction and treading down. There is indeed some wandering from the Lord of Hosts; in the valley of Sion they are wandering about; from the least to the greatest they are wandering on the mountains.

BrentonFor it is a day of trouble, and of destruction, and of treading down, and there is perplexity sent from the Lord of hosts: they wander in the valley of Sion; they wander from the least to the greatest on the mountains.

Greekὅτι ἡμέρα ταραχῆς καὶ ἀπωλείας καὶ καταπατήματος, καὶ πλάνησις παρὰ Κυρίου σαβαώθ· ἐν φάραγγι Σιὼν πλανῶνται, ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου πλανῶνται ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη.

KJVFor it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

JPSFor it is a day of trouble, and of trampling, and of perplexity, From the Lord, the GOD of hosts, in the Valley of Vision; Kir shouting, and Shoa at the mount.

ThomsonBut the Elamites have taken up their quivers; and the horsemen have mounted their horses; and the army is arrayed in order for battle;

BrentonAnd the Elamites took their quivers, and there were men mounted on horses, and there was a gathering for battle.

GreekΟἱ δὲ Ἐλαμεῖται ἔλαβον φαρέτρας, καὶ ἀναβάται ἄνθρωποι ἐφʼ ἵππους, καὶ συναγωγὴ παρατάξεως.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand on they will come. Thy choicest valleys shall be filled with chariots;

BrentonAnd it shall be that thy choice valleys shall be filled with chariots, and horsemen shall block up thy gates.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται αἱ ἐκλεκταὶ φάραγγές σου, πλησθήσονται ἁρμάτων, οἱ δὲ ἱππεῖς ἐμφράξουσι τὰς πύλας σου,

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

JPSAnd it came to pass, when thy choicest valleys were full of chariots, And the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate,

Thomsonand the horsemen will block up thy gates, and burst open the gates of Juda; and look, on that day, into the choicest houses of the city;

BrentonAnd they shall uncover the gates of Juda, and they shall look in that day on the choice houses of the city.

Greekκαὶ ἀνακαλύψουσι τὰς πύλας Ἰούδα· καὶ ἐμβλέψονται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ εἰς τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς οἴκους τῆς πόλεως·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand lay open the stores of the houses of David’s citadel. They indeed know that they are many, and that the water of the old pool is turned into the city,

BrentonAnd they shall uncover the secret places of the houses of the citadel of David: and they saw that they were many, and that one had turned the water of the old pool into the city;

GreekΚαὶ ἀνακαλύψουσι τὰ κρυπτὰ τῶν οἴκων τῆς ἄκρας Δαυείδ· καὶ εἴδοσαν, ὅτι πλείους εἰσί, καὶ ὅτι ἀπέστρεψε τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς ἀρχαίας κολυμβήθρας εἰς τὴν πόλιν,

KJVYe have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

JPSAnd ye saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many; and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

Thomsonand that the houses of Jerusalem have been pulled down, to fortify the wall in the city.

Brentonand that they had pulled down the houses of Jerusalem, to fortify the wall of the city.

Greekκαὶ ὅτι καθείλοσαν τοὺς οἴκους Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς ὀχυρώματα τείχους τῇ πόλει.

KJVAnd ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.

JPSAnd ye numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and ye broke down the houses to fortify the wall;

ThomsonYou have indeed provided water for yourselves, between the two walls nearer than the old pool, and have not looked to Him Who formed it of old, nor regarded Him Who created it.

BrentonAnd ye procured to yourselves water between the two walls within the ancient pool: but ye looked not to him that made it from the beginning, and regarded not him that created it.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς ὕδωρ ἀναμέσον τῶν δύο τειχῶν ἐσώτερον τῆς κολυμβήθρας τῆς ἀρχαίας, καὶ οὐκ ἐνεβλέψατε εἰς τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ποιήσαντα αὐτὴν, καὶ τὸν κτίσαντα αὐτὴν οὐκ εἴδετε.

KJVYe made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.

JPSye made also a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool— But ye looked not unto Him that had done this, Neither had ye respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago.

ThomsonThough the Lord of Hosts, on that day called for mourning and lamentation, and for shaving of hair and girding with sackcloth,

BrentonAnd the Lord, the Lord of hosts, called in that day for weeping, and lamentation, and baldness, and for girding with sackcloth:

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε Κύριος Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ κλαυθμὸν καὶ κοπετὸν, καὶ ξύρησιν καὶ ζῶσιν σάκκων,

KJVAnd in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

JPSAnd in that day did the Lord, the GOD of hosts, call To weeping, and to lamentation, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;

Thomsonyet they indulged themselves in joy and gladness, slaying oxen and sacrificing sheep, that they might eat flesh and drink wine, saying, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

Brentonbut they engaged in joy and gladness, slaying calves, and killing sheep, so as to eat flesh, and drink wine; saying, Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

Greekαὐτοὶ δὲ ἐποιήσαντο εὐφροσύνην καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα, σφάζοντες μόσχους, καὶ θύοντες πρόβατα, ὥστε φαγεῖν κρέατα, καὶ πιεῖν οἶνον, λέγονες, φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν, αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνήσκομεν.

KJVAnd behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

JPSAnd behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine— 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die!’

ThomsonYes, these were their undisguised expressions in the hearing of the Lord of Hosts, therefore this sin will not be forgiven you till you die.

BrentonAnd these things are revealed in the ears of the Lord of hosts: for this sin shall not be forgiven you, until ye die.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνακεκαλυμμένα ταῦτά ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ Κυρίου σαβαὼθ, ὅτι οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται ὑμῖν αὕτη ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνητε.

KJVAnd it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

JPSAnd the LORD of hosts revealed Himself in mine ears: Surely this iniquity shall not be expiated by you till ye die, Saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord of Hosts, Go to the treasury—to Somnas the steward, and say to him,

BrentonThus saith the Lord of hosts, Go into the chamber, to Somnas the treasurer, and say to him, Why art thou here?

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος σαβαὼθ, πορεύου εἰς τὸ παστοφόριον, πρὸς Σομνᾶν τὸν ταμίαν, καὶ εἰπὸν αὐτῷ,

KJVThus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,

JPSThus saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts: Go, get thee unto this steward, even unto Shebna, who is over the house:

ThomsonWhy art thou here? and what hast thou here? that thou hast hewn out for thyself a monument, and hast made for thyself a sepulchre on high, and graved for thyself a tabernacle in a rock?

Brentonand what hast thou to do here, that thou hast here hewn thyself a sepulchre, and madest thyself a sepulchre on high, and hast graven for thyself a dwelling in the rock?

Greekτί σὺ ὧδε καὶ τί σοί ἐστιν ὧδε; ὅτι ἐλατόμησας σεαυτῷ ὧδε μνημεῖον, καὶ ἐποίησας σεαυτῷ ἐν ὑψηλῷ μνημεῖον, καὶ ἔγραψας σεαυτῷ ἐν πέτρᾳ σκηνήν;

KJVWhat hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?

JPSWhat hast thou here, and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre, Thou that hewest thee out a sepulchre on high, And gravest a habitation for thyself in the rock?

ThomsonBehold the Lord of Hosts is now driving out and will utterly destroy men of rank, and He will take away thy robe and this gorgeous crown of thine,

BrentonBehold now, the Lord of hosts casts forth and will utterly destroy such a man, and will take away thy robe and thy glorious crown,

GreekἸδοὺ δὴ Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐκβάλλει καὶ ἐκτρίψει ἄνδρα, καὶ ἀφελεῖ τὴν στολήν σου καὶ τὸν στέφανόν σου τὸν ἔνδοξον,

KJVBehold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.

JPSBehold, the LORD will hurl thee up and down with a man’s throw; yea, He will wind thee round and round;

Thomsonand whirl thee into a large immeasurable country, and there thou shalt die. And He will bring to disgrace thy splendid chariot, and make the house of thy chief a public walk.

Brentonand will cast thee into a great and unmeasured land, and there thou shalt die: and he will bring thy fair chariot to shame, and the house of thy prince to be trodden down.

Greekκαὶ ῥίψει σε εἰς χώραν μεγάλην καὶ ἀμέτρητον, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἀποθανῇ· καὶ θήσει τὸ ἅρμα σου τὸ καλὸν εἰς ἀτιμίαν, καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἄρχοντός σου εἰς καταπάτημα.

KJVHe will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house.

JPSHe will violently roll 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 the lord’s house.

ThomsonAnd when thou shalt be removed from thine office and station:

BrentonAnd thou shalt be removed from thy stewardship, and from thy place.

GreekΚαὶ ἀφαιρεθήσῃ ἐκ τῆς οἰκονομίας σου καὶ ἐκ τῆς στάσεώς σου.

KJV—

JPSAnd I will thrust thee from thy post, And from thy station shalt thou be pulled down.

Thomsonit shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim son of Chelkias,

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Chelcias:

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ καλέσω τὸν παῖδά μου Ἐλιακεὶμ τὸν τοῦ Χελκίου,

KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;

Thomsonand clothe him with thy robe. And this crown of thine I will confirm to him, and I will commit to his hands this office of thine: and he shall be as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to them who dwell in Juda.

Brentonand I will put on him thy robe, and I will grant him thy crown with power, and I will give thy stewardship into his hands: and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to them that dwell in Juda.

Greekκαὶ ἐνδύσω αὐτὸν τὴν στολήν σου, καὶ τὸν στέφανόν σου δώσω αὐτῷ κατὰ κράτος, καὶ τὴν οἰκονομίαν σου δώσω εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔσται ὡς πατὴρ τοῖς ἐνοικοῦσιν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ τοῖς ἐνοικοῦσιν ἐν Ἰούδᾳ.

KJVAnd I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

JPSAnd I will clothe him with thy robe, and bind him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

ThomsonAnd I will give him the glory of David, and he shall rule and there shall be no antagonist; and on his shoulder I will lay the key of the house of David; and he will open and none shall shut; and he will shut and none shall open:

BrentonAnd I will give him the glory of David; and he shall rule, and there shall be none to speak against him: and I will give him the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and there shall be none to shut; and he shall shut, and there shall be none to open.

GreekΚαὶ δώσω τὴν δόξαν Δαυεὶδ αὐτῷ, καὶ ἄρξει, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἀντιλέγων· καὶ δώσω αὐψῷ τὴν κλεῖδα οἴκου Δαυὶδ ἐπὶ τῷ ὢμῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀνοίξει, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἀποκλείων· καὶ κλείσει, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἀνοίγων.

KJVAnd the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

JPSAnd the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; And he shall shut, and none shall open.

Thomsonand I will make him a ruler in a sure place, and he shall be a throne of glory for the house of his father.

BrentonAnd I will make him a ruler in a sure place, and he shall be for a glorious throne of his father's house.

GreekΚαὶ στήλω αὐτὸν ἄρχοντα ἐν τόπῳ πιστῷ, καὶ ἔσται εἰς θρόνον δόξης τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.

JPSAnd I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place; And he shall be for a throne of honour to his father’s house.

ThomsonAnd on him will they rely with confidence, every honourable man in his father’s house, from the least even to the greatest. On him they shall be dependant in that day.

BrentonAnd every one that is glorious in the house of his father shall trust in him, from the least to the greatest; and they shall depend upon him in that day.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται πεποιθὼς ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πᾶς ἔνδοξος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου, καὶ ἔσονται ἐπικρεμάμενοι αὐτῷ

KJVAnd they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.

JPSAnd they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flagons.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord of Hosts: The man who is now fixed in a sure place shall be removed and taken away and shall fall; and the glory which is on him shall be utterly destroyed, for the Lord hath spoken it.

BrentonThus saith the Lord of hosts, The man that is fastened in the sure place shall be removed and be taken away, and shall fall; and the glory that is upon him shall be utterly destroyed: for the Lord has spoken it.

Greekτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος σαβαὼθ, κινηθήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ ἐστηριγμένος ἐν τόπῳ πιστῷ, καὶ ἀφαιρεθήσεται, καὶ πεσεῖται, καὶ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ δόξα ἡ ἐπʼ αὐτόν, ὅτι Κύριος ἐλάλησεν. ΤΟ ῬΗΜΑ ΤΥΡΟΥ.

KJVIn that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

JPSIn that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the peg that was fastened in a sure place give way; and it shall be hewn down, and fall, and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off; for the LORD hath spoken it.