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Selected Verse: Isaiah 5:14 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 5:14	Strong Concordance	Therefore hell [07585] hath enlarged [07337] herself [05315], and opened [06473] her mouth [06310] without measure [02706]: and their glory [01926], and their multitude [01995], and their pomp [07588], and he that rejoiceth [05938], shall descend [03381] into it.
	King James	Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
hell--the grave; Hebrew, sheol; Greek, hades; "the unseen world of spirits." Not here, "the place of torment." Poetically, it is represented as enlarging itself immensely, in order to receive the countless hosts of Jews, which should perish (Num 16:30). their--that is, of the Jewish people. he that rejoiceth--the drunken reveller in Jerusalem.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

hell--the grave; Hebrew, sheol; Greek, hades; "the unseen world of spirits." Not here, "the place of torment." Poetically, it is represented as enlarging itself immensely, in order to receive the countless hosts of Jews, which should perish (Num 16:30).

their--that is, of the Jewish people.

he that rejoiceth--the drunken reveller in Jerusalem.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Therefore hell - The word transated "hell," שׁאול she'ôl, has not the same meaning that we now attach to that word; its usual signification, among the Hebrews, was "the lower world, the region of departed spirits." It corresponded to the Greek ἅδης Hadēs, "hades," or place of the dead. This word occurs eleven times in the New Testament Mat 11:23; Mat 16:18; Luk 10:15; Luk 16:23; Act 2:27, Act 2:31; Co1 15:55; Rev 1:18; Rev 6:8; Rev 20:13-14, in all of which places, except Co1 15:55, it is rendered "hell," though denoting, in most of those places, as it does in the Old Testament, the abodes of the dead. The Septuagint, in this place, and usually, translates the word שׁאול she'ôl by ἅδης Hadēs, "Hades." It was represented by the Hebrews as "low down, or deep" in the earth - contrasted with the height of heaven; Deu 32:22; Job 11:8; Psa 139:7-8. It was a place where thick darkness reigns; Job 10:21-22 : 'The land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself.' It is described as having "valleys, or depths," Pro 9:18. It is represented also as having "gates," Isa 38:10; and as being inhabited by a great multitude, some of whom sit on thrones, occupied in some respects as they were on earth; see the note at Isa 14:9. And it is also said that the wicked descend into it by openings in the earth, as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did; Num 15:30, ... In this place, it means evidently the "regions of the dead," without the idea of punishment; and the poetic representation is, that so many of the Jews would be cut off by famine, thirst, and the sword, that those vast regions would be obliged "to enlarge themselves" in order to receive them. It means, therefore, that while many of them would go into captivity Isa 5:13, vast multitudes of them would be cut off by famine, thirst, and the sword. Opened her mouth - As if to absorb or consume them; as a "cavern," or opening of the earth does; compare Num 16:30. Without measure - Without any limit. And their glory - All that they esteemed their pride and honor shall descend together into the yawning gulf. Their multitude - The multitude of people; their vast hosts. Their pomp - Noise, tumult; the bustle, and shouting, and display made in battle, or war, or victory; Isa 13:4; Amo 2:2; Hos 10:14. And he that rejoiceth - All that the nation prided itself on, and all that was a source of joy, should be destroyed.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Therefore hell - The word transated "hell," שׁאול she'ôl, has not the same meaning that we now attach to that word; its usual signification, among the Hebrews, was "the lower world, the region of departed spirits." It corresponded to the Greek ἅδης Hadēs, "hades," or place of the dead. This word occurs eleven times in the New Testament Mat 11:23; Mat 16:18; Luk 10:15; Luk 16:23; Act 2:27, Act 2:31; Co1 15:55; Rev 1:18; Rev 6:8; Rev 20:13-14, in all of which places, except Co1 15:55, it is rendered "hell," though denoting, in most of those places, as it does in the Old Testament, the abodes of the dead. The Septuagint, in this place, and usually, translates the word שׁאול she'ôl by ἅδης Hadēs, "Hades." It was represented by the Hebrews as "low down, or deep" in the earth - contrasted with the height of heaven; Deu 32:22; Job 11:8; Psa 139:7-8. It was a place where thick darkness reigns; Job 10:21-22 : 'The land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself.' It is described as having "valleys, or depths," Pro 9:18. It is represented also as having "gates," Isa 38:10; and as being inhabited by a great multitude, some of whom sit on thrones, occupied in some respects as they were on earth; see the note at Isa 14:9. And it is also said that the wicked descend into it by openings in the earth, as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did; Num 15:30, ... In this place, it means evidently the "regions of the dead," without the idea of punishment; and the poetic representation is, that so many of the Jews would be cut off by famine, thirst, and the sword, that those vast regions would be obliged "to enlarge themselves" in order to receive them. It means, therefore, that while many of them would go into captivity Isa 5:13, vast multitudes of them would be cut off by famine, thirst, and the sword.

Opened her mouth - As if to absorb or consume them; as a "cavern," or opening of the earth does; compare Num 16:30.

Without measure - Without any limit.

And their glory - All that they esteemed their pride and honor shall descend together into the yawning gulf.

Their multitude - The multitude of people; their vast hosts.

Their pomp - Noise, tumult; the bustle, and shouting, and display made in battle, or war, or victory; Isa 13:4; Amo 2:2; Hos 10:14.

And he that rejoiceth - All that the nation prided itself on, and all that was a source of joy, should be destroyed.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
hell Hebrew, "Sheol," (See Scofield) - (Hab 2:5).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The threat of punishment commences again with "therefore;" it has not yet satisfied itself, and therefore grasps deeper still. "Therefore the under-world opens its jaws wide, and stretches open its mouth immeasurably wide; and the glory of Jerusalem descends, and its tumult, and noise, and those who rejoice within it." The verbs which follow lâcēn (therefore) are prophetic preterites, as in Isa 5:13. The feminine suffixes attached to what the lower world swallows up do not refer to sheol (though this is construed more frequently, no doubt, as a feminine than as a masculine, as it is in Job 26:6), but, as expressed in the translation, to Jerusalem itself, which is also necessarily required by the last clause, "those who rejoice within it." The withdrawal of the tone from ועלז to the penultimate (cf., Châphētz in Psa 18:20; Psa 22:9) is intentionally omitted, to cause the rolling and swallowing up to be heard as it were. A mouth is ascribed to the under-world, also a nephesh, i.e., a greedy soul, in which sense nephesh is then applied metonymically sometimes to a thirst for blood (Psa 27:12), and sometimes to simple greediness (Isa 56:11), and even, as in the present passage and Hab 2:5, to the throat or swallow which the soul opens "without measure," when its craving knows no bounds (Psychol. p. 204). It has become a common thing now to drop entirely the notion which formerly prevailed, that the noun sheol was derived from the verb shâal in the sense in which it was generally employed, viz., to ask or demand; but Caspari, who has revived it again, is certainly so far correct, that the derivation of the word which the prophet had in his mind was this and no other. The word sheol (an infinitive form, like pekōd) signifies primarily the irresistible and inexorable demand made upon every earthly thing; and then secondarily, in a local sense, the place of the abode of shades, to which everything on the surface of the earth is summoned; or essentially the divinely appointed curse which demands and swallows up everything upon the earth. We simply maintain, however, that the word sheol, as generally sued, was associated in thought with shâal, to ask or demand. Originally, no doubt, it may have been derived from the primary and more material idea of the verb שׁאל, possibly from the meaning "to be hollow," which is also assumed to be the primary meaning of שׁעל. (Note: The meaning "to be hollow" is not very firmly established, however; as the primary meaning of שׁעל, and the analogy sometimes adduced of hell = hollow (Hlle = Hhle), is a deceptive one, as Hlle (hell), to which Luther always gives the more correct form Helle, does not mean a hollow, but a hidden place (or a place which renders invisible: from hln, to conceal), Lat. celans (see Jtting, Bibl. Wrterbuch, 1864, pp. 85, 86). It is much more probable that the meaning of sheol is not the hollow place, but the depression or depth, from של, which corresponds precisely to the Greek χαλᾶν so far as its primary meaning is concerned (compare the talmudic shilshêl, to let down; shilshul, sinking or depression, Erubin 83b; shul, the foundation, fundus): see Hupfeld on Psa 6:6. Luzzatto on this passage also explains sheol as signifying depth, and compares the talmudic hishchil = hēshil, to let down (or, according to others, to draw up - two meanings which may easily be combined in the same word, starting from its radical idea, which indicates in a general a loosening of the previous connection). Frst has also given up the meaning cavitas, a hollow, and endeavours to find a more correct explanation of the primary signification of shâ'al (see at Isa 40:12).) At any rate, this derivation answers to the view that generally prevailed in ancient times. According to the prevalent idea, Hades was in the interior of the earth. And there was nothing really absurd in this, since it is quite within the power and freedom of the omnipresent God to manifest Himself wherever and however He may please. As He reveals Himself above the earth, i.e., in heaven, among blessed spirits in the light of His love; so did He reveal Himself underneath the earth, viz., in Sheōl, in the darkness and fire of His wrath. And with the exception of Enoch and Elijah, with their marvellous departure from this life, the way of every mortal ended there, until the time when Jesus Christ, having first paid the λὐτρον, i.e., having shed His blood, which covers our guilt and turns the wrath of God into love, descended into Hades and ascended into heaven, and from that time forth has changed the death of all believers from a descent into Hades into an ascension to heaven. But even under the Old Testament the believer may have known, that whoever hid himself on this side the grave in Jehovah the living One, would retain his eternal germ of life even in Sheōl in the midst of the shades, and would taste the love of God even in the midst of wrath. It was this postulate of faith which lay at the foundation of the fact, that even under the Old Testament the broader and more comprehensive idea of Sheōl began to be contracted into the more limited notion of hell (see Psychol. p. 415). This is the case in the passage before us, where Isaiah predicts of everything of which Jerusalem was proud, and in which it revelled, including the persons who rejoice din these things, a descent into Hades; just as the Korahite author of Ps 49 wrote (Psa 49:14) that the beauty of the wicked would be given up to Hades to be consumed, without having hereafter any place in the upper world, when the upright should have dominion over them in the morning. Hades even here is almost equivalent to the New Testament gehenna.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The threat of punishment commences again with "therefore;" it has not yet satisfied itself, and therefore grasps deeper still. "Therefore the under-world opens its jaws wide, and stretches open its mouth immeasurably wide; and the glory of Jerusalem descends, and its tumult, and noise, and those who rejoice within it." The verbs which follow lâcēn (therefore) are prophetic preterites, as in Isa 5:13. The feminine suffixes attached to what the lower world swallows up do not refer to sheol (though this is construed more frequently, no doubt, as a feminine than as a masculine, as it is in Job 26:6), but, as expressed in the translation, to Jerusalem itself, which is also necessarily required by the last clause, "those who rejoice within it." The withdrawal of the tone from ועלז to the penultimate (cf., Châphētz in Psa 18:20; Psa 22:9) is intentionally omitted, to cause the rolling and swallowing up to be heard as it were. A mouth is ascribed to the under-world, also a nephesh, i.e., a greedy soul, in which sense nephesh is then applied metonymically sometimes to a thirst for blood (Psa 27:12), and sometimes to simple greediness (Isa 56:11), and even, as in the present passage and Hab 2:5, to the throat or swallow which the soul opens "without measure," when its craving knows no bounds (Psychol. p. 204). It has become a common thing now to drop entirely the notion which formerly prevailed, that the noun sheol was derived from the verb shâal in the sense in which it was generally employed, viz., to ask or demand; but Caspari, who has revived it again, is certainly so far correct, that the derivation of the word which the prophet had in his mind was this and no other. The word sheol (an infinitive form, like pekōd) signifies primarily the irresistible and inexorable demand made upon every earthly thing; and then secondarily, in a local sense, the place of the abode of shades, to which everything on the surface of the earth is summoned; or essentially the divinely appointed curse which demands and swallows up everything upon the earth. We simply maintain, however, that the word sheol, as generally sued, was associated in thought with shâal, to ask or demand. Originally, no doubt, it may have been derived from the primary and more material idea of the verb שׁאל, possibly from the meaning "to be hollow," which is also assumed to be the primary meaning of שׁעל.

(Note: The meaning "to be hollow" is not very firmly established, however; as the primary meaning of שׁעל, and the analogy sometimes adduced of hell = hollow (Hlle = Hhle), is a deceptive one, as Hlle (hell), to which Luther always gives the more correct form Helle, does not mean a hollow, but a hidden place (or a place which renders invisible: from hln, to conceal), Lat. celans (see Jtting, Bibl. Wrterbuch, 1864, pp. 85, 86). It is much more probable that the meaning of sheol is not the hollow place, but the depression or depth, from של, which corresponds precisely to the Greek χαλᾶν so far as its primary meaning is concerned (compare the talmudic shilshêl, to let down; shilshul, sinking or depression, Erubin 83b; shul, the foundation, fundus): see Hupfeld on Psa 6:6. Luzzatto on this passage also explains sheol as signifying depth, and compares the talmudic hishchil = hēshil, to let down (or, according to others, to draw up - two meanings which may easily be combined in the same word, starting from its radical idea, which indicates in a general a loosening of the previous connection). Frst has also given up the meaning cavitas, a hollow, and endeavours to find a more correct explanation of the primary signification of shâ'al (see at Isa 40:12).)

At any rate, this derivation answers to the view that generally prevailed in ancient times. According to the prevalent idea, Hades was in the interior of the earth. And there was nothing really absurd in this, since it is quite within the power and freedom of the omnipresent God to manifest Himself wherever and however He may please. As He reveals Himself above the earth, i.e., in heaven, among blessed spirits in the light of His love; so did He reveal Himself underneath the earth, viz., in Sheōl, in the darkness and fire of His wrath. And with the exception of Enoch and Elijah, with their marvellous departure from this life, the way of every mortal ended there, until the time when Jesus Christ, having first paid the λὐτρον, i.e., having shed His blood, which covers our guilt and turns the wrath of God into love, descended into Hades and ascended into heaven, and from that time forth has changed the death of all believers from a descent into Hades into an ascension to heaven. But even under the Old Testament the believer may have known, that whoever hid himself on this side the grave in Jehovah the living One, would retain his eternal germ of life even in Sheōl in the midst of the shades, and would taste the love of God even in the midst of wrath. It was this postulate of faith which lay at the foundation of the fact, that even under the Old Testament the broader and more comprehensive idea of Sheōl began to be contracted into the more limited notion of hell (see Psychol. p. 415). This is the case in the passage before us, where Isaiah predicts of everything of which Jerusalem was proud, and in which it revelled, including the persons who rejoice din these things, a descent into Hades; just as the Korahite author of Ps 49 wrote (Psa 49:14) that the beauty of the wicked would be given up to Hades to be consumed, without having hereafter any place in the upper world, when the upright should have dominion over them in the morning. Hades even here is almost equivalent to the New Testament gehenna.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And he - That spends all his days in mirth and jollity.

Top

³⁰ But if the LORD [03068] make [01254] a new thing [01278], and the earth [0127] open [06475] her mouth [06310], and swallow them up [01104], with all that appertain unto them, and they go down [03381] quick [02416] into the pit [07585]; then ye shall understand [03045] that these men [0582] have provoked [05006] the LORD [03068].

¹⁴ Therefore shall a tumult [07588] arise [06965] among thy people [05971], and all thy fortresses [04013] shall be spoiled [07703], as Shalman [08020] spoiled [07701] Betharbel [01009] in the day [03117] of battle [04421]: the mother [0517] was dashed in pieces [07376] upon her children [01121].

² But I will send [07971] a fire [0784] upon Moab [04124], and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Kerioth [07152]: and Moab [04124] shall die [04191] with tumult [07588], with shouting [08643], and with the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]:

⁴ The noise [06963] of a multitude [01995] in the mountains [02022], like as [01823] of a great [07227] people [05971]; a tumultuous [07588] noise [06963] of the kingdoms [04467] of nations [01471] gathered together [0622]: the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] mustereth [06485] the host [06635] of the battle [04421].

¹³ Therefore my people [05971] are gone into captivity [01540], because they have no knowledge [01847]: and their honourable [03519] men [04962] are famished [07458], and their multitude [01995] dried up [06704] with thirst [06772].

³⁰ But the soul [05315] that doeth [06213] ought presumptuously [07311] [03027], whether he be born in the land [0249], or a stranger [04480] [01616], the same reproacheth [01442] the LORD [03068]; and that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].

⁹ Hell [07585] from beneath is moved [07264] for thee to meet [07125] thee at thy coming [0935]: it stirreth up [05782] the dead [07496] for thee, even all the chief ones [06260] of the earth [0776]; it hath raised up [06965] from their thrones [03678] all the kings [04428] of the nations [01471].

¹⁰ I said [0559] in the cutting off [01824] of my days [03117], I shall go [03212] to the gates [08179] of the grave [07585]: I am deprived [06485] of the residue [03499] of my years [08141].

¹⁸ But he knoweth [03045] not that the dead [07496] are there; and that her guests [07121] are in the depths [06012] of hell [07585].

²¹ Before I go [03212] whence I shall not return [07725], even to the land [0776] of darkness [02822] and the shadow of death [06757];
²² A land [0776] of darkness [05890], as darkness [0652] itself; and of the shadow of death [06757], without any order [05468], and where the light [03313] is as darkness [0652].

⁷ Whither shall I go [03212] from thy spirit [07307]? or whither shall I flee [01272] from thy presence [06440]?
⁸ If I ascend up [05266] into heaven [08064], thou art there: if I make my bed [03331] in hell [07585], behold, thou art there.

⁸ It is as high [01363] as heaven [08064]; what canst thou do [06466]? deeper [06013] than hell [07585]; what canst thou know [03045]?

²² For a fire [0784] is kindled [06919] in mine anger [0639], and shall burn [03344] unto the lowest [08482] hell [07585], and shall consume [0398] the earth [0776] with her increase [02981], and set on fire [03857] the foundations [04144] of the mountains [02022].

⁵⁵ O death [2288], where [4226] is thy [4675] sting [2759]? O grave [86], where [4226] is thy [4675] victory [3534]?

¹³ And [2532] the sea [2281] gave up [1325] the dead [3498] which [3588] were in [1722] it [846]; and [2532] death [2288] and [2532] hell [86] delivered up [1325] the dead [3498] which [3588] were in [1722] them [846]: and [2532] they were judged [2919] every man [1538] according to [2596] their [846] works [2041].
¹⁴ And [2532] death [2288] and [2532] hell [86] were cast [906] into [1519] the lake [3041] of fire [4442]. This [3778] is [2076] the second [1208] death [2288].

⁸ And [2532] I looked [1492], and [2532] behold [2400] a pale [5515] horse [2462]: and [2532] his [846] name [3686] that sat [2521] on [1883] him [846] was Death [2288], and [2532] Hell [86] followed [190] with [3326] him [846]. And [2532] power [1849] was given [1325] unto them [846] over [1909] the fourth part [5067] of the earth [1093], to kill [615] with [1722] sword [4501], and [2532] with [1722] hunger [3042], and [2532] with [1722] death [2288], and [2532] with [5259] the beasts [2342] of the earth [1093].

¹⁸ [2532] I am he that liveth [2198], and [2532] was [1096] dead [3498]; and [2532], behold [2400], I am [1510] alive [2198] for [1519] evermore [165] [165], Amen [281]; and [2532] have [2192] the keys [2807] of hell [86] and [2532] of death [2288].

⁵⁵ O death [2288], where [4226] is thy [4675] sting [2759]? O grave [86], where [4226] is thy [4675] victory [3534]?

³¹ He seeing this before [4275] spake [2980] of [4012] the resurrection [386] of Christ [5547], that [3754] his [846] soul [5590] was [2641] not [3756] left [2641] in [1519] hell [86], neither [3761] his [846] flesh [4561] did see [1492] corruption [1312].

²⁷ Because [3754] thou wilt [1459] not [3756] leave [1459] my [3450] soul [5590] in [1519] hell [86], neither [3761] wilt thou suffer [1325] thine [4675] Holy One [3741] to see [1492] corruption [1312].

²³ And [2532] in [1722] hell [86] he lift up [1869] his [846] eyes [3788], being [5225] in [1722] torments [931], and seeth [3708] Abraham [11] afar [3113] off [575], and [2532] Lazarus [2976] in [1722] his [846] bosom [2859].

¹⁵ And [2532] thou [4771], Capernaum [2584], which [3588] art exalted [5312] to [2193] heaven [3772], shalt be thrust down [2601] to [2193] hell [86].

¹⁸ And [1161] I say [3004] also [2504] unto thee [4671], That [3754] thou [4771] art [1488] Peter [4074], and [2532] upon [1909] this [5026] rock [4073] I will build [3618] my [3450] church [1577]; and [2532] the gates [4439] of hell [86] shall [2729] not [3756] prevail against [2729] it [846].

²³ And [2532] thou [4771], Capernaum [2584], which [3588] art exalted [5312] unto [2193] heaven [3772], shalt be brought down [2601] to [2193] hell [86]: for [3754] if [1487] the mighty works [1411], which [3588] have been done [1096] in [1722] thee [4671], had been done [1096] in [1722] Sodom [4670], it would have remained [302] [3306] until [3360] this day [4594].

⁵ Yea also, because he transgresseth [0898] by wine [03196], he is a proud [03093] man [01397], neither keepeth at home [05115], who enlargeth [07337] his desire [05315] as hell [07585], and is as death [04194], and cannot be satisfied [07646], but gathereth [0622] unto him all nations [01471], and heapeth [06908] unto him all people [05971]:

¹⁴ Like sheep [06629] they are laid [08371] in the grave [07585]; death [04194] shall feed [07462] on them; and the upright [03477] shall have dominion [07287] over them in the morning [01242]; and their beauty [06697] [06736] shall consume [01086] in the grave [07585] from their dwelling [02073].

¹² Who hath measured [04058] the waters [04325] in the hollow of his hand [08168], and meted out [08505] heaven [08064] with the span [02239], and comprehended [03557] the dust [06083] of the earth [0776] in a measure [07991], and weighed [08254] the mountains [02022] in scales [06425], and the hills [01389] in a balance [03976]?

⁶ I am weary [03021] with my groaning [0585]; all the night [03915] make I my bed [04296] to swim [07811]; I water [04529] my couch [06210] with my tears [01832].

¹¹ Yea, they are greedy [05794] [05315] dogs [03611] which can [03045] never have [03045] enough [07654], and they are shepherds [07462] that cannot understand [0995]: they all look [06437] to their own way [01870], every one [0376] for his gain [01215], from his quarter [07097].

¹² Deliver [05414] me not over unto the will [05315] of mine enemies [06862]: for false [08267] witnesses [05707] are risen up [06965] against me, and such as breathe out [03307] cruelty [02555].

⁹ But thou art he that took [01518] me out of the womb [0990]: thou didst make me hope [0982] when I was upon my mother's [0517] breasts [07699].

²⁰ The LORD [03068] rewarded [01580] me according to my righteousness [06664]; according to the cleanness [01252] of my hands [03027] hath he recompensed [07725] me.

⁶ Hell [07585] is naked [06174] before him, and destruction [011] hath no covering [03682].