The Meaning of Isaiah 57:17 Explained

Isaiah 57:17

KJV: For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

YLT: For the iniquity of his dishonest gain, I have been wroth, and I smite him, Hiding -- and am wroth, And he goeth on turning back in the way of his heart.

Darby: For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on backslidingly in the way of his heart.

ASV: For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the iniquity  of his covetousness  was I wroth,  and smote  him: I hid  me, and was wroth,  and he went on  frowardly  in the way  of his heart. 

What does Isaiah 57:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord had been angry with the proud Israelite because of his desire for unjust gain, namely, for more and more for himself. Greed is the essential sin that results in idolatry (cf. Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10). God"s anger led Him to discipline the proud Israelites and to become inaccessible to their calls for help. Israel, instead of repenting and returning to the Lord, continued in her sinful ways.

Context Summary

Isaiah 57:1-21 - No Peace To The Wicked
A terrible portrayal is given here of the idolatries and impurities into which the Chosen People had fallen. These scenes under "the oaks" (r.v.) and in the valleys remind us of the invariable evils associated with idolatry which the great Apostle has recorded in Romans 1:23-28. They refused to retain God in their knowledge, and He gave them over to a reprobate mind; that is, He ceased to restrain them.
But amid the degenerate nation, there was a handful of elect souls; God is always careful against rooting up the tares, lest one stalk of wheat perish. Amid the destruction that must overtake the guilty land they that trusted in Him, would not be overlooked. See Isaiah 57:13-14.
With what comfort the chapter closes! Isaiah 57:15, etc. We may have been covetous and froward, and have deserved wrath and chastisement, but God will not always chide. Only return to Him! He will revive your heart, and "restore comfort" to you. He will heal where He has wounded, and will bring you near, through the blood of the Cross. See Ephesians 2:16-17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 57

1  The blessed death of the righteous
3  God reproves the People for their idolatry
13  He gives promises of mercy to the penitent

What do the individual words in Isaiah 57:17 mean?

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him I hid and was angry and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart
בַּעֲוֺ֥ן בִּצְע֛וֹ קָצַ֥פְתִּי וְאַכֵּ֖הוּ הַסְתֵּ֣ר וְאֶקְצֹ֑ף וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ שׁוֹבָ֖ב בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ לִבּֽוֹ

בַּעֲוֺ֥ן  For  the  iniquity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
בִּצְע֛וֹ  of  his  covetousness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּצַע  
Sense: profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence.
קָצַ֥פְתִּי  I  was  angry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָצַף  
Sense: to be displeased, be angry, fret oneself, be wroth.
וְאַכֵּ֖הוּ  and  struck  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
הַסְתֵּ֣ר  I  hid 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: סָתַר  
Sense: to hide, conceal.
וְאֶקְצֹ֑ף  and  was  angry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: קָצַף  
Sense: to be displeased, be angry, fret oneself, be wroth.
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ  and  he  went  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
שׁוֹבָ֖ב  backsliding 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁובָב  
Sense: backsliding, backturning, apostate, recusant.
בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ  in  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
לִבּֽוֹ  of  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.