Isaiah 22:17 — Word Study
WLCהִנֵּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ מְטַלְטֶלְךָ֔ טַלְטֵלָ֖ה גָּ֑בֶר וְעֹטְךָ֖ עָטֹֽה׃
BSALookhinnêh [behold, see] O mighty mangeber [great warrior, strong one] ◂The LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah] is about to shake you violentlyṭûwl [cast, hurl, with great force, strongly] He will take holdʻâṭâh of youʻâṭâh [enwrap, grasp firmly]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֤ה | there! | Particle |
| יְהוָה֙ | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| מְטַלְטֶלְךָ֔ | [is] about to hurl away you | Verb piel participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| טַלְטֵלָ֖ה | hurling | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| גָּ֑בֶר | O man | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְעֹטְךָ֖ | and [is] about to grasp you | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| עָטֹֽה׃ | completely | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you, |
| KJV | Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. |
| ASV | Behold, Jehovah, like a strong man, will hurl thee away violently; yea, he will wrap thee up closely. |
| YLT | Lo, Jehovah is casting thee up and down, A casting up and down, O mighty one, |
| WEB | Behold, Yahweh will overcome you and hurl you away violently. Yes, he will grasp you firmly. |
| BBE | See, O strong man, the Lord will send you violently away, gripping you with force, |
Where they part company is מְטַלְטֶלְךָ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses that detail the actions of the LORD.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיהוה
verbעָטָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 22:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Prophecy of Judgmentgenerated
Isaiah 22:17 presents a warning to a powerful man, indicating that the LORD will shake him violently. This verse is part of a larger prophecy that addresses the consequences of pride and the certainty of divine judgment. The surrounding verses elaborate on the fate that awaits this individual, emphasizing the seriousness of the message.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esther 7:8 | Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. |
| 2 | Job 9:24 | The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? |
| 3 | Jeremiah 14:3 | The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מְטַלְטֶלְךָ, me.tal.tel.Khagenerated
The word מְטַלְטֶלְךָ (me.tal.tel.Kha) is a piel participle meaning 'about to hurl away you'. It conveys a sense of forceful action, indicating that the subject will be thrown or cast away with great intensity. The parsing as a participle suggests ongoing action, emphasizing the immediacy of the LORD's intervention.
This term is derived from the root טוּל (tul), which means 'to cast' or 'to throw'. The use of this verb in the context of judgment underscores the power and authority of the LORD over those who oppose Him.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of a main clause and several phrases that elaborate on the actions of the LORD. The finite verb מְטַלְטֶלְךָ (shake) serves as the focal point, indicating the LORD's direct action towards the subject.
The structure emphasizes the forceful nature of the LORD's actions, with the subject יְהוָה (Yahweh) placed prominently at the beginning, highlighting His authority and the seriousness of the impending judgment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מְטַלְטֶלְךָ as ἐκτρίψει, which means 'to overthrow' or 'to cast out'. This choice reflects a similar sense of violent action but may also suggest a broader interpretation of being removed from a position of power.
The use of ἐκτρίψει indicates an interpretation that emphasizes the consequences of divine judgment, aligning with the overall theme of the passage.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 22:17 warns a mighty man that the LORD is about to shake him violently. This means that God will take hold of him firmly, indicating a serious judgment. The surrounding verses elaborate on the consequences that await him.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the LORD will bring about a violent upheaval in the life of this powerful individual, indicating a loss of control and authority.
The term emphasizes the strength and power of the individual being addressed, highlighting the contrast between human might and divine authority.
It illustrates the LORD's active role in judgment, showing that He will not only shake but also grasp the individual firmly, signifying the certainty of the impending consequences.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy that addresses themes of pride and judgment, warning that even the mightiest will face the consequences of their actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's authority over those in power today?
- How can I reflect on the consequences of pride in my own life?
- What does it mean for me to recognize the LORD's hand in the events around me?
- How can I prepare myself for the times when God may shake my foundations?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 22:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBehold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity,.... Or with the captivity of a man; so the Targum, of a mighty man, Sennacherib king of Assyria; who, as the Jews say (z), when he went
Read John Gill on Isaiah 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBehold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 22 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI will carry thee away with a mighty captivity; will cause thee to be carried into captivity by a strong hand, or by the hand of a mighty man, from which therefore thou shalt not be able to escape. Or, will cast thee away with the casting of a mighty man, i.e. with great force; or, in casting will cast thee away, O thou mighty man. Will surely cover thee, to wit, with confusion, as is here implied, and as this phrase is more fully expressed, 109:29. Or covering may be put for obscuring his glory, which he designed to publish, and to that end erected stately monuments, &c. Or this may be an allusion to the ancient custom of covering the faces of condemned persons; of which see . Compare ,12.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 22 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 22:17 Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.Ver. 17. Behold, the Lord will carry thee away, &c.] Or, Is casting thee out with casting, O thou mighty man. Not, God will carry thee away as a cock is carried, so the Vulgate translator hath it; which caused a learned interpreter to say he wondered whence this cock flew into the text. And will surely cover thee.] As they used to do to condemned persons unworthy any longer to see the light, they covered their faces,
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) The Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity.—Better, will hurl thee with the hurling of a mighty man—i.e., strongly and effectually. The words have, however, been rendered (Cheyne), “will hurl, will hurl thee, O mighty man.” The marginal rendering rests on no sufficient grounds.Will surely cover thee.—Better, Will surely grasp thee, so that thou shalt not escape.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 22 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Cover thee] That is, thy face. This was the condition of mourners in general, and particularly of condemned persons. See Esther 6:12; Esther 7:8.
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesCh. Isaiah 22:15-25. A Philippic against an influential PoliticianShebna, the minister here addressed, is supposed from his name and from Isaiah’s indignation at his ambitious desire to have a magnificent sepulchre in Jerusalem, to have been a foreigner in the royal service. The office which he holds is the highest in the court, and is of course a measure of his influence with the king. That he was a partisan of the Egyptian alliance may be safely assumed, and it is likely that Isaiah had found in him the most astute and resolute opponent of the policy which he advocated. This opposition, together with hearty contempt for the character of the man, is the occasion of Isaiah’s only invective…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 22 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBehold, the Lord will carry thee away - Of the historical fact here referred to we have no other information. To what place he was to be carried, we know not. It is probable, however, that it was to Assyria.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you,
Behold, Yahweh will overcome you and hurl you away violently. Yes, he will grasp you firmly.
Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you,
Look, the Lord will throw you far away, you mere man! He will wrap you up tightly.
Tyndale line
Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
Behold, Jehovah, like a strong man, will hurl thee away violently; yea, he will wrap thee up closely.
Behold, the LORD will hurl thee away violently as a strong man; yea, he will wrap thee up closely.
Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
Beholde, the Lord wil carie thee away with a great captiuitie, and will surely couer thee.
Strictly literal
Behold, Jehovah will hurl thee with the force of a mighty man, and will cover thee entirely.
Lo, Jehovah is casting thee up and down, A casting up and down, O mighty one,
Behold, YHWH is casting you up and down, || A casting up and down, O mighty one,
Behold, the Lord will thrust thee about with a mighty throw, O man! and will lay fast hold of thee;
See, Yahweh is about to throw you, a mighty man, about to throw you down; he will grasp you tightly.
From the Latin
Behold the Lord will cause thee to be carried away, as a cock is carried away, and he will lift thee up as a garment.
Simplified
Watch out, you great man! The Lord is about to grab you and violently toss you aside.
See, O strong man, the Lord will send you violently away, gripping you with force,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as it is traditionally understood, while the Septuagint matches closely with six out of seven words. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with certain words restored, but they consistently reflect the core message of the prophecy.
הִנֵּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ מְטַלְטֶלְךָ֔ טַלְטֵלָ֖ה גָּ֑בֶר וְעֹטְךָ֖ עָטֹֽה׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[הנה] יהוה מטלטל׳ך טלטלה גבור ויעט׳ך [עטה]
3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
[הנה] [יהוה] [מטלטל׳ך] [טלטלה] [גבר] ויעט׳ך עטה
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
הנה יהוה מטלטל׳ך [טלטלה] [גבר] [ועט׳ך] עטה
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
הנה יהוה מטלטל׳ך טלטלה גבר יעוט׳ך עטה
7 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 22:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Part — ParticleHTj
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
טוּל (tul) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cast or hurl. It encompasses various forms, including to throw away or carry off, and can describe both active and passive actions, such as being thrown or hurled down. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, but do not specify particular verses.
[טוּל] vb. Pilp. etc., hurl, cast
Pilp. hurleth thee violently
Hiph. cast, cast out
Hoph.
be hurled
of inanimate thing, be cast, thrown
base
H2904 [טוּל] Pilp. etc., hurl, cast
2904 tuwl tool
a primitive root; to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively)
to cast down or out:--carry away, (utterly) cast (down, forth,
out), send out.
טוּל (tul) — to cast.
1) to hurl, cast
1a) (Pilpel) to throw away, carry away, hurl
1b) (Hiphil) to throw, cast, cast out
1c)(Hophal)
1c1) to be hurled, hurled down
1c2) to be cast, be thrown, be cast out, be thrown down
V-l | Suff — Verb piel participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHVprmsc/Sp2ms
טַלְטֵלָה n.f. a hurling, Is 22:17
ref
H2925 טַלְטֵלָה a hurling
2925 taltelah tal-tay-law'
from 2904; overthrow or rejection:--captivity.
see HEBREW for 02904
טַלְטֵלָה (tal.te.lah) — captivity.
a hurling, captivity
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
גֶּ֫בֶר (geber) refers to a man, particularly one who is strong or valiant, often distinguished from women and children. The term is used primarily in poetic contexts and emphasizes the qualities of strength and warrior-like attributes. It is derived from a root meaning to be strong, and lexicons highlight its use in describing a mighty or capable individual.
גֶּ֫בֶר 66 n.m. man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic
base
H1397 גֶּ֫בֶר man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic
1397 geber gheh'-ber
from 1396; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a
person simply:--every one, man, X mighty.
see HEBREW for 01396
גָּבֶר (ga.ver) — great man.
man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
See ANTHROPOLOGY.
Man
(1.) Heb. ‘Adam, used as the proper name of the first man. The name is derived from a word meaning “to be red,” and thus the first man was called Adam because he was formed from the red earth. It is also the generic name of the human race (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:2; 8:21; Deut. 8:3). Its equivalents are the Latin homo and the Greek anthropos (Matt. 5:13, 16). It denotes also man in opposition to woman (Gen. 3:12; Matt. 19:10).
(2.) Heb. ‘ish, like the Latin vir and Greek aner, denotes properly a man in opposition to a woman (1 Sam. 17:33;
Four Hebrew terms are rendered "man" in the Authorized Version: Adam, the name of the man created in the image of God. It appears to be derived from adam , "he or it was red or ruddy," like Edom. This was the generic term for the human race. Ish , "man," as distinguished from woman, husband. Geber , "a man," from gabar , "to be strong," generally with reference to his strength. Methim , "men," always masculine. Perhaps it may be derived from the root muth , "he died."
עָטָה (atah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wrap, enwrap, or cover oneself. It can also mean to grasp. The entries indicate that in the Qal form, it refers to actions like wrapping or enveloping, while the Hiphil form involves covering someone with shame. The word appears in contexts related to mourning and physical covering.
עָטָה vb. wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself
Qal
wrap, envelop oneself with sthg.
Hiph. thou hast wrapped shame upon him
H5844a עָטָה wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself H5844b עָטָה grasp
5844 `atah aw-taw'
a primitive root; to wrap, i.e. cover, veil, cloth, or
roll:--array self, be clad, (put a) cover (-ing, self), fill,
put on, X surely, turn aside.
עָטָה (a.tah) — to enwrap.
1) to cover, enwrap, wrap oneself, envelop oneself
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to wrap, envelop oneself
1a2) to cover (the beard in mourning)
1a3) mourner, one who covers (participle)
1b) (Hiphil) to cover, enwrap, envelop
עָטָה (a.tah) — to grasp.
1) to grasp
1a) (Qal) to grasp
Conj | V-Qal | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHC/Vqrmsc/Sp2ms
עָטָה (atah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wrap, enwrap, or cover oneself. It can also mean to grasp. The entries indicate that in the Qal form, it refers to actions like wrapping or enveloping, while the Hiphil form involves covering someone with shame. The word appears in contexts related to mourning and physical covering.
עָטָה vb. wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself
Qal
wrap, envelop oneself with sthg.
Hiph. thou hast wrapped shame upon him
H5844a עָטָה wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself H5844b עָטָה grasp
5844 `atah aw-taw'
a primitive root; to wrap, i.e. cover, veil, cloth, or
roll:--array self, be clad, (put a) cover (-ing, self), fill,
put on, X surely, turn aside.
עָטָה (a.tah) — to enwrap.
1) to cover, enwrap, wrap oneself, envelop oneself
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to wrap, envelop oneself
1a2) to cover (the beard in mourning)
1a3) mourner, one who covers (participle)
1b) (Hiphil) to cover, enwrap, envelop
עָטָה (a.tah) — to grasp.
1) to grasp
1a) (Qal) to grasp
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa