Isaiah 32:19
Isaiah 32:19 in Multiple Translations
But hail will level the forest, and the city will sink to the depths.
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low.
But the tall trees will come down with a great fall, and the town will be low in a low place.
Even though hail can destroy a forest, and a town can be demolished,
When it haileth, it shall fall on the forest, and the citie shall be set in the lowe place.
And it hath hailed in the going down of the forest, And in the valley is the city low.
though hail flattens the forest, and the city is leveled completely.
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
But hail shall be in the descent of the forest, and the city shall be made very low.
Even if a severe hailstorm knocks down the trees in the forest, and all the buildings in the city are blown down,
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 32:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 32:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וּ/בָרַ֖ד
בְּ/רֶ֣דֶת
הַ/יָּ֑עַר
וּ/בַ/שִּׁפְלָ֖ה
תִּשְׁפַּ֥ל
הָ/עִֽיר
וּ/בָרַ֖ד
bârad
H1258
to hail
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
בְּ/רֶ֣דֶת
yârad
H3381
to go down
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
הַ/יָּ֑עַר
yaʻar
H3293
Jaar
Art | N-ms
וּ/בַ/שִּׁפְלָ֖ה
shiphlâh
H8218
humiliation
Conj | Prep | N-fs
תִּשְׁפַּ֥ל
shâphêl
H8213
to abase
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
הָ/עִֽיר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Art | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 32:19
וּ/בָרַ֖ד
bârad
H1258
"to hail"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
This Hebrew word means to send hail, like a storm. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power and judgment.
Definition: (Qal) to hail
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: hail. See also: Isaiah 32:19.
בְּ/רֶ֣דֶת
yârad
H3381
"to go down"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
To go down or descend, like going to a lower place or falling. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing people and things moving downwards.
Definition: 1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come down 1a2) to sink 1a3) to be prostrated 1a4) to come down (of revelation) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to bring down 1b2) to send down 1b3) to take down 1b4) to lay prostrate 1b5) to let down 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought down 1c2) to be taken down
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. See also: Genesis 11:5; Judges 3:28; 2 Kings 1:15.
הַ/יָּ֑עַר
yaʻar
H3293
"Jaar"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Definition: honeycomb Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: (honey-) comb, forest, wood. See also: Deuteronomy 19:5; Isaiah 10:18; Psalms 29:9.
וּ/בַ/שִּׁפְלָ֖ה
shiphlâh
H8218
"humiliation"
Conj | Prep | N-fs
This term refers to a state of being humiliated or brought low, often used to describe a low or humble position. It appears in the Old Testament, such as in the book of Job, to describe a low place or state of humility. It emphasizes a sense of modesty or lack of pride.
Definition: lowliness, humiliation, a low place
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: low place. See also: Isaiah 32:19.
תִּשְׁפַּ֥ל
shâphêl
H8213
"to abase"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
To humble or abase oneself, to lower one's expectations or pride. In the Bible, it can mean to bring someone or something down, like in Proverbs 29:23, where a person's pride is humbled.
Definition: 1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased 1a) (Qal) to be or become low 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate 1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement 1b3) to make low, sit down
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: abase, bring (cast, put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put) low(-er). See also: 1 Samuel 2:7; Isaiah 2:17; Psalms 18:28.
הָ/עִֽיר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Art | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
Study Notes — Isaiah 32:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 32:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 32:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 32:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 32:19
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 32:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
- Sermons on Isaiah 32:19
Context — The Women of Jerusalem
17The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
18Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest.
19But hail will level the forest, and the city will sink to the depths.
20Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 28:17 | I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. |
| 2 | Isaiah 30:30 | And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones. |
| 3 | Isaiah 28:2 | Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground. |
| 4 | Isaiah 26:5 | For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust. |
| 5 | Zechariah 11:2 | Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down! |
| 6 | Isaiah 14:22–23 | “I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will cut off from Babylon her name and her remnant, her offspring and her posterity,” declares the LORD. “I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts. |
| 7 | Isaiah 10:19 | The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them. |
| 8 | Nahum 2:10–13 | She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale! Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away? The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.” |
| 9 | Isaiah 27:10 | For the fortified city lies deserted— a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken. There the calves graze, and there they lie down; they strip its branches bare. |
| 10 | Isaiah 25:4 | For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall, |
Isaiah 32:19 Summary
[Isaiah 32:19 tells us that God's judgment is coming, and it will bring down the proud and powerful things that stand against Him, just like hail levels a forest. This is a warning to us to turn to God and seek His peace and righteousness, as described in Isaiah 32:17-18. By following God and living righteously, we can experience the peace and security that comes from Him, rather than the fleeting and false security offered by the world (Psalm 37:37). As we trust in God, we can be blessed and fruitful, like those who 'sow beside abundant waters' in Isaiah 32:20.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the hail in Isaiah 32:19 represent?
The hail in this verse likely symbolizes God's judgment, as seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Isaiah 28:2 and Revelation 8:7, where hail is associated with divine punishment and destruction.
Why does the city sink to the depths in Isaiah 32:19?
The city sinking to the depths may represent the downfall of worldly systems and strongholds that oppose God, as mentioned in Isaiah 25:2 and Ezekiel 26:20, where cities are brought low due to their wickedness and rebellion against God.
How does this verse relate to the preceding verse, Isaiah 32:18?
Isaiah 32:19 serves as a contrast to the peaceful and secure dwelling place described in Isaiah 32:18, highlighting the difference between the fate of those who follow God and those who do not, as also seen in Psalm 37:37 and Proverbs 10:30.
What is the significance of the forest being leveled in Isaiah 32:19?
The leveling of the forest may represent the removal of obstacles and proud things that stand against God, as mentioned in Isaiah 2:12-17 and Ezekiel 31:12, where God brings down the lofty and proud, making way for the humble and righteous to flourish.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'forests' in my life that need to be leveled by God's judgment and mercy, and how can I surrender them to Him?
- In what ways can I be a part of building a 'city' that will not sink to the depths, but rather be a beacon of hope and righteousness in a world that desperately needs it?
- How can I distinguish between the 'peaceful place' described in Isaiah 32:18 and the false sense of security offered by the world, and what are the implications for my daily life?
- What are some ways I can 'sow beside abundant waters' as mentioned in Isaiah 32:20, and how can I trust God for the fruit of my labor?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 32:19
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest,.... The people of God will be peaceable and quiet, safe and secure, when the judgments of God, signified by a "hail" storm, shall come upon antichrist,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 32:19
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest, Heb. And it shall hail, &c. As my blessings shall be poured down upon my people, who from a wilderness are turned into a fruitful field, as it is said, ; so my wrath and judgments (which are signified by hail, ,17, and elsewhere) shall fall upon them, who were a fruitful field, but are turned into a forest, as was said, , i.e. upon the unbelieving and rebellious Jews, who seem there to be designed under that notion. The city; either, 1. Babylon, the great enemy and oppressor of God’ s people. Or, 2. Jerusalem, which, though now it was the seat of God’ s worship and people, yet he foresaw by the Spirit of prophecy that it would be the great enemy of the Messiah, and of God’ s people. Shall be low in a low place, Heb. shall be humbled with humiliation; which by an ordinary Hebraism signifies, shall be greatly humbled, or brought very low.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
Isaiah 32:19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.Ver. 19. When it shall hail, coming down on the forest.] When reprobates - here compared to a forest or tall wood - shall be hail beaten, that is, grievously plagued, as those Egyptians once were, it shall be hale, or well, with the elect. The Church, as a city that standeth in a low bottom, is secure and safe, her afflictions also working together for her good. In humbling her, God remembereth her, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
(19) When it shall hail, coming down on the forest.—Better, But it shall hail. A time of sharp judgment, “hailstones and coals of fire,” is to precede that of blessedness and peace. Of such a judgment “hail” was the natural symbol. (Comp. Isaiah 30:30; Ezekiel 13:13.) The “forest” stands in the symbolism of prophecy for the rulers and princes of any kingdom, as in Isaiah 10:34 for those of Assyria, and here probably of Judah. Not a few commentators refer the words here also to Assyria, but the city that follows is clearly Jerusalem, and the interpretation given above harmonises accordingly better with the context. Of that city Isaiah says that it shall be “brought down to a low estate,” its pride humbled even to the ground, in order that it may afterwards be exalted.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
Verse 19. The city shall be low in a low place. - "The city shall be laid level with the plain."] For ובשפלה ubashephelah, the Syriac reads וכשפלה ukeshephelah. The city - probably Nineveh or Babylon: but this verse is very obscure. Saltus; Assyriorum regnum: civitas; magnifica Assyriorum castra. Ephrem Syr. in loc. For וברד ubarad, a MS. has וירד vaiyered; and so conjectured Abp. Secker, referring to Zechariah 11:2.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 32:19
19. The verse reads: And it shall hail at the falling of the forest, and in lowliness shall the city be laid low. According to most commentators the “forest” is a symbol for Assyria, as in ch. Isaiah 10:18 f., 33 f. But this is suggested by nothing in the context, and the “city” in the next line cannot be Nineveh, which is never referred to by Isaiah, and is far from his thoughts here. The verse as a whole must (if genuine) be taken as an announcement of judgment on Jerusalem; but it comes in so awkwardly between Isaiah 32:18; Isaiah 32:20, that it may not unreasonably be regarded as an interpolation. On the “hail” as a synonym for Divine judgment see ch. Isaiah 28:2; Isaiah 28:17, Isaiah 30:30.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 32:19
When it shall hail - Hebrew, ברדת ברד bârad beredeth - ‘And it shall hail in coming down.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 32:19
19. It shall hail, coming down on the forest — That is, the fierce storm shall overthrow it. Hail storms in Palestine are fearful agencies of destruction. Note the scenes under Joshua at Beth-horon, and at Megiddo under Barak.
Sermons on Isaiah 32:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Attributes of God (Series 1): The Justice of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of a judge being caught between mercy and justice. He uses the example of a man torn between his love for a woman and his sense o |
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Attributes of God (Series 2): God's Perfect Justice by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of atonement for our sins. He explains that every moral inequity will be judged unless covered by sufficient atonement. He hi |
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To God Be Glory in the Church by Art Katz | In this sermon entitled "To God Be Glory In The Church," Arthur Katz emphasizes the importance of aligning ourselves with the perfect standard that comes from heaven. He encourages |
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The Holiness and Righteousness of God by Richard Langworthy | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of using Jesus Christ as the measuring line and plum line for justice and righteousness. He references Isaiah 28 to support t |
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Attributes of God #4 "God's Justice" by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the essential nature of God's justice, asserting that it is not merely an attribute but the very essence of God Himself. He explains that God's justice is per |
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Epistle 200 by George Fox | George Fox preaches about the importance of conducting business and trade with righteousness, justice, and honesty in the sight of God and man. He emphasizes the need for using jus |
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The Death of the Flesh the Life of the Spirit by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the spiritual journey of King Hezekiah, emphasizing the deep work of God in the heart to bring believers to a true understanding of their own sinfulness |