Isaiah 28:18 · Bible study
Isaiah 28:18 Commentary: The Annulled Covenant with Death
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 28:18 study: meaning of 'covenant with death', God's judgment on false refuges, and the sure foundation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God annuls human pacts with death and judgment; only he provides lasting refuge.
- Key words: covenant (berit), annulled (kuppar, covered over), Sheol, scourge, trampling.
- Main debate: Is the covenant with death a literal political treaty (Egypt alliance) or a metaphor for spiritual self-deception?
- Theological theme: Human security is futile; only God's cornerstone (Christ) provides lasting refuge.
- Best use: As a warning against false confidence and an invitation to trust in Christ the foundation.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.
KJV King James Version 1769
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And disannulled hath been your covenant with death, And your provision with Sheol doth not stand, An overflowing scourge, when it passeth over, Then ye have been to it for a treading-place.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, ye shall be trodden down by it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And your league with death shall be abolished, and your covenant with hell shall not stand: when the overflowing scourge shall pass, you shall be trodden down by it.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y será anulado vuestro concierto con la muerte, y vuestro acuerdo con el sepulcro no será firme: cuando pasare el turbión del azote, seréis de él hollados.
E vosso pacto com a morte se anulará, e vosso contrato com o mundo dos mortos não será cumprido; e quando a abundância de açoites passar, então por ela sereis esmagados.
Votre alliance avec la mort sera détruite,
daß euer Bund mit dem Tode los werde und euer Vertrag mit der Hölle nicht bestehe. Und wenn eine Flut dahergeht, wird sie euch zertreten; sobald sie dahergeht, wird sie euch wegnehmen.
En ulieder verbond met den dood zal te niet worden, en uw voorzichtig verdrag met de hel zal niet bestaan; wanneer de overvloeiende gesel doortrekken zal, dan zult gijlieden van denzelven vertreden worden.
La vostra alleanza con la morte sarà annullata, e il vostro patto con il soggiorno de’ morti non reggerà; quando l’inondante flagello passerà, voi sarete da essi calpestati.
A tak zgładzone będzie przymierze wasze z śmiercią, a porozumienie wasze z piekłem nie ostoi się; gdy bicz gwałtowny przechodzić będzie, będziecie od niego podeptani.
И союз ваш со смертью рушится, и договор ваш с преисподнею не устоит. Когда пойдет всепоражающий бич, вы будете попраны.
你們與 死亡 所立的約 必然廢掉，與 陰間 所結的盟 必立 不住。敵軍（原文是鞭子）如水漲漫 經過的時候，你們必 被他 踐踏；
And the help you were looking for from death will come to nothing, and your agreement with the underworld will be broken; when the overflowing waters come through, then you will be overcome by them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 28:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse pronounces God's nullification of every false security. The 'covenant with death' refers to the scoffers' boast in verse 15 that they had made a pact with death itself, likely through political alliances with Egypt (Barnes) or a self-deceived confidence that their sins would go unpunished (Calvin). Calvin notes that 'they mocked at God and all his threatenings' but will be forced to acknowledge him as judge. The verb rendered 'annulled' (kuppar) means to cover over, as one blots out a document (Gill; Keil & Delitzsch); the covenant document itself is obliterated. The 'overflowing scourge' combines images of a whip, flood, and invading army (Barnes). All agree: human refuges cannot stand against the Lord's decree.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Political alliance with Egypt: Context of Isaiah 30–31, word 'lies' in v.15 linked to Egyptian promises; Barnes and Keil support.
- Metaphorical self-deception: Calvin and Matthew Henry see the scoffers' boast as a spiritual delusion, not a literal treaty.
What is clear: God will annul every false refuge, and only faith in his cornerstone provides lasting security.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'covenant with death' | It refers to a false sense of security that excludes God. | Some commentators (Barnes, Keil) see it as Judah's alliance with Egypt; others (Calvin, Matthew Henry) treat it as internal self-deception and mockery of God. |
| The 'overflowing scourge' | It symbolizes comprehensive divine judgment. | Whether the primary image is a whip, a flood, or the invading Assyrian army, or all three interwoven. |
| Verb 'annulled' (kuppar) in Isaiah 28:18 | The word means to cover or obliterate, making the covenant void. | Whether this usage connects to the atonement sense of 'cover sin' (kipper) or is a different idiom for cancellation. |
| Relation to the cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16) | The cornerstone is God's provision of a secure refuge. | How directly the Messiah is intended: Christian consensus sees fulfillment in Jesus; Jewish interpretation reads it of God's own foundation for Zion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 28 addresses the rulers of Jerusalem whom the prophet calls 'scoffers' (v.14). The chapter belongs to a series of oracles against the nation's pride and false security. In the late 8th century BC, Judah faced the Assyrian menace. Some leaders courted Egypt for protection (Isaiah 30, 31), a policy Isaiah denounced as a 'covenant with death' (v.15). The phrase 'overflowing scourge' echoes earlier descriptions of Assyria as the rod of God's anger (Isaiah 10:5) and as floodwaters (Isaiah 8:7, 8).
The verb for 'annulled', kuppar in the Pual stem, carries the image of a wax tablet whose writing is smeared over and rendered illegible (Cambridge Bible). Keil & Delitzsch compare it to striking out a wrong word with ink. Sheol, the abode of the dead, represents the ultimate threat that these leaders thought they had neutralized. Legal language of covenant and agreement highlights the formality of their misplaced trust. God's response is equally formal: he cancels their pact. The 'treading down' (mirmās) occurs when an army marches over defeated enemies, the same image used of Ephraim's pride being trampled (Isaiah 28:3).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note two textual points. First, the Kethib in Isaiah 28:15 reads שַׁיִט ( 'oar' ) but the Qere and most manuscripts read שׁוֹט ( 'scourge' ), which fits the judgment context (Lange). Second, the verb 'annulled' (כפר) is accepted by most, though the Chaldee Targum reads תפר ( 'sew' or 'join' ), possibly a different root (Clarke). Cambridge Bible argues an emendation is unnecessary given Syriac usage. No significant variants affect the interpretation of the verse.
Reception History
Throughout church history this verse has been read as a warning against self-reliance. Early church fathers such as Jerome interpreted the 'covenant with death' as humanity's pact with sin and the devil, broken by Christ. The Reformers (Calvin, Luther) saw the futility of trusting in works or human strength. In hymnody the verse's imagery of a 'scourge' and 'trampling' appears in songs about judgment, but the contrasting cornerstone (v.16) is celebrated more widely, as in hymns like 'The Church's One Foundation.' Contemporary readers often apply the verse to reliance on wealth, military power, or diplomatic treaties.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The false refuge: The leaders made a covenant with death, trusting in political alliances, lies, or self-deception to escape God's judgment (Isa 28:15).
- The divine response: God annuls their pact, sending an overflowing scourge that tramples them, no human security can withstand his decree.
- The only sure foundation: In contrast, God lays a tested cornerstone in Zion (v.16). True refuge is found not in human schemes but in faith in Christ.
Five-point outline
- The scoffers' boast: 'We have made a covenant with death' (v.15).
- The document of false security: a legal pact that guarantees safety from judgment.
- The obliteration: God 'covers over' the covenant, making it void.
- The instruments of judgment: a whip, a flood, an invading army, all working together to trample the proud.
- The alternative: the cornerstone (v.16), the only foundation that cannot be shaken, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Illustration hooks
- A person who relies on a signed contract only to find the other party has no legal standing, the paper is worthless.
- The feeling of financial security that vanishes overnight when the market crashes.
- Someone who trusts a 'sure thing', a promise from a friend, a health plan, and then sees it collapse under pressure.
Questions your congregation is asking
- What are the 'covenants with death' we make today, in careers, relationships, or politics?
- How can I tell if my security is in God or in a false refuge?
- Does God really cancel our false refuges, or can we hold onto them while also trusting him?
Leading a Discussion
This verse confronts our natural tendency to construct safety nets that exclude God. As you read Isaiah 28:18 in its context, consider where you might be trusting something other than God's sure foundation.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 28:14, 22. What did the 'scoffers' say about death and the scourge (v.15)? How did they expect to escape?
- The word 'annulled' (kuppar) originally means 'covered over' like blotting out a document. Why is that image powerful for God's judgment on false refuges?
- What is the 'overflowing scourge'? What real-world event does the prophet have in view (consider Assyrian invasion)?
- How does verse 16 (the cornerstone) provide the alternative to the covenant with death? What kind of trust does the cornerstone require?
- In what ways do people today make 'covenants with death', relying on money, relationships, or reputation to protect them from hard realities?
- How does this passage help you examine your own life for hidden false securities?
- What would it look like to shift your trust from human assurances to God's cornerstone this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 2:15 | for every lofty tower, for every fortified wall, |
| Isaiah 7:7 | This is what the Lord Yahweh says: “It shall not stand, neither shall it happen.” |
| Isaiah 8:8 | It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through. It will reach even to the neck. The stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, O Immanuel. |
| Isaiah 8:10 | Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand, for God is with us.” |
| Isaiah 28:3 | The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot. |
| Isaiah 28:15 | “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’” |
| Jeremiah 44:28 | Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah few in number. All the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, will know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. |
| Jeremiah 47:2 | Yahweh says: “Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and will become an overflowing stream, and will overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and those who dwell therein. The men will cry, and all the inhabitants of the land will wail. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points to a likely scribal error in the Hebrew text. The word translated "disannulled" (caphar) seems out of place, and the Chaldee Targum reads "taphar" (broken), a reading supported by other scholars and confirmed by the same phrase in Jeremiah.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the Hebrew word underlying "disannulled," noting it means to cover or forgive but here carries the sense of blotting out completely, like erasing writing in wax. He also observes that the verse mixes three distinct images — a scourge, a flood, and an invading army — all pointing to the same truth: every refuge the people trusted will be swept away.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that the ease hypocrites feel comes from a spiritual stupor that blinds them to their danger. God will jolt them awake, shattering their imagined safety and forcing them to confront Him as judge with sudden, inescapable terror. Their momentary peace is no real protection.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the word translated "disannulled" literally means "smeared over," the same verb used for atonement in other passages. He argues it means "cancelled" or "obliterated," and that this sense is supported by Syriac usage, so no textual alteration is needed.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that all human agreements made in defiance of God, even pacts with death itself, will be annulled. Their point is that no alliance can withstand the scourge of divine judgment, which will not merely pass by but will trample the offenders. False security offers no protection when God acts.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill pictures the covenant with death being smeared over like pitch on Noah's ark, making it illegible and therefore void. The careful agreement they made with hell will prove utterly powerless. When the scourge comes, they will be trampled under it, their supposed security exposed as worthless.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB treats "disannulled" as the erasure of writing on a wax tablet, an image of total obliteration. He explains that "trodden down" shifts from the metaphor of a scourge to the literal army that crushes enemies.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch read the covenant with death as a written document God crosses out with ink, striking it illegible. They also saw the endless scourges as a painful sermon Jehovah preaches, turning the mockers' question about intelligible preaching back on them as a terrifying lesson.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the scoffers' refuge was political cunning and lies, so the true foundation God lays in Zion must be the opposite: a personal, living cornerstone, not a thing or a king. This stone is the Messiah, the Logos, who is both firm and a test, making every heart disclose itself through faith or refusal.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry's main point is that mocking God's judgments is as serious an offense as mocking His word. Those who trust in false agreements and earthly refuges are defying the very God who will sweep away every refuge, leaving only the sure foundation He Himself lays in Zion.