The Meaning of Isaiah 22:8 Explained

Isaiah 22:8

KJV: And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.

YLT: And one removeth the covering of Judah, And thou lookest in that day Unto the armour of the house of the forest,

Darby: And he uncovereth the covering of Judah: and thou didst look in that day to the armour in the house of the forest;

ASV: And he took away the covering of Judah; and thou didst look in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he discovered  the covering  of Judah,  and thou didst look  in that day  to the armour  of the house  of the forest. 

What does Isaiah 22:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Such an attack would be possible because the Lord would remove His defensive screen from around the city. The reason was that the people had relied on physical implements of warfare for their security rather than on Him. Evidently the "house of the forest" of Lebanon was an armory in Isaiah"s day (cf. 1 Kings 7:2-5; 1 Kings 10:17).
"The Lord is always the ultimate agent in his people"s experiences . . ." [1]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 22

1  The prophet laments the invasion of Jerusalem
8  He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy
15  He prophesies Shebna's deprivation
20  And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ

What do the individual words in Isaiah 22:8 mean?

And He removed - the protection of Judah and You looked in day that to the armor of the House of the Forest
וַיְגַ֕ל אֵ֖ת מָסַ֣ךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַתַּבֵּט֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אֶל־ נֶ֖שֶׁק בֵּ֥ית הַיָּֽעַר

וַיְגַ֕ל  And  He  removed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מָסַ֣ךְ  the  protection 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָסָךְ  
Sense: covering, rag, screen.
יְהוּדָ֑ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וַתַּבֵּט֙  and  You  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
בַּיּ֣וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֔וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
נֶ֖שֶׁק  the  armor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נֶשֶׁק 
Sense: equipment, weapons, armoury.
בֵּ֥ית  of  the  House 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַיָּֽעַר  of  the  Forest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעַר 
Sense: forest, wood, thicket, wooded height.