Isaiah 22:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.

Complete Jewish Bible:

thus is Y'hudah's protection removed. That day you looked for the armor in the House of the Forest.

Berean Standard Bible:

He has uncovered the defenses of Judah. On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest.

American Standard Version:

And he took away the covering of Judah; and thou didst look in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he discovered^{H1540} the covering^{H4539} of Judah^{H3063}, and thou didst look^{H5027} in that day^{H3117} to the armour^{H5402} of the house^{H1004} of the forest^{H3293}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Isaiah 22:8

Isaiah 22:8 is a verse set within the broader context of the prophecies of Isaiah concerning the judgments and eventual restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. The historical backdrop of this verse is the Assyrian threat to Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah in the late 8th century BCE. In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is conveying a message from the Lord about the uncovering or removal of Judah's defenses.

The phrase "he discovered the covering of Judah" suggests that the protective measures or fortifications that Judah had trusted in were laid bare or proven inadequate. This could be a literal reference to the city's walls and defensive structures or a metaphor for the loss of divine protection due to the people's unfaithfulness to God.

The second part of the verse, "and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest," likely refers to a specific arsenal within Jerusalem known as the "House of the Forest of Lebanon." This was a storeroom or armory mentioned in 1 Kings 10:17 and 2 Chronicles 9:16, renowned for housing a vast array of weaponry and shields. The name suggests it was so-called because of the extensive use of cedar wood from Lebanon in its construction.

In the face of imminent danger, the people of Judah turned to their military might and physical defenses for security. However, the verse implies a rebuke from God, as their reliance on military strength alone, without repentance and trust in God, would not save them. The theme here is a common one in the prophetic books: the futility of human efforts and military might when divorced from trust in and obedience to the Lord. The verse serves as a reminder that true security comes from aligning with God's will and that the nation's spiritual state is more critical than its physical defenses.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1540
   There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּלָה
   Transliteration: gâlâh
   Pronunciation: gaw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal; [phrase] advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, [idiom] plainly, publish, remove, reveal, [idiom] shamelessly, shew, [idiom] surely, tell, uncover.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4539
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָסָךְ
   Transliteration: mâçâk
   Pronunciation: maw-sawk'
   Description: from סָכַךְ; a cover, i.e. veil; covering, curtain, hanging.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3063
   There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוּדָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5027
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָבַט
   Transliteration: nâbaṭ
   Pronunciation: naw-bat'
   Description: a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care; (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5402
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶשֶׁק
   Transliteration: nesheq
   Pronunciation: neh'-shek
   Description: or נֵשֶׁק; from נָשַׁק; military equipment, i.e. (collectively) arms (offensive or defensive), or (concretely) an arsenal; armed men, armour(-y), battle, harness, weapon.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
8. Strong's Number: H3293
   There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַעַר
   Transliteration: yaʻar
   Pronunciation: yah'-ar
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees); (honey-) comb, forest, wood.