Isaiah 2:10

¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

Enter {H935} into the rock {H6697}, and hide {H2934} thee in the dust {H6083}, for {H6440} fear {H6343} of the LORD {H3068}, and for the glory {H1926} of his majesty {H1347}.

Come into the rock, hide in the dust to escape the terror of ADONAI and the glory of his majesty.

Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty.

Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty.

Commentary

Isaiah 2:10 (KJV) delivers a powerful and stark command, urging humanity to seek refuge in the face of God's overwhelming presence and impending judgment: "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty."

Context

This verse is part of a prophetic declaration in Isaiah that shifts dramatically from a glorious vision of God's future kingdom of peace (Isaiah 2:2-4) to a severe indictment of Judah's pride, idolatry, and self-reliance. The preceding verses (Isaiah 2:6-9) describe the nation's spiritual corruption and its reliance on human strength and material wealth. Isaiah 2:10 serves as a direct call to humility and fear, anticipating the "Day of the Lord," a recurring theme in prophetic literature where God's judgment and ultimate exaltation are revealed.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Awe: The command to "enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust" vividly portrays the terror and abasement that will grip those who stand before God's holy wrath. It's a call to extreme humility and recognition of human insignificance in the face of divine power.
  • God's Majesty vs. Human Pride: The verse sharply contrasts the fleeting glory of humanity, which will be brought low, with the eternal, overwhelming "glory of his majesty." It underscores that all human arrogance and self-exaltation are utterly meaningless when confronted by the Creator.
  • The Fear of the LORD: While often understood as reverential awe, in this context, "fear of the LORD" (Hebrew: yir'at Yahweh) carries a strong element of dread and terror in the face of impending divine judgment. It is a necessary, humbling response to God's holiness and power.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust" uses powerful imagery. "Rock" (Hebrew: tsur) often symbolizes strength and refuge, but here it implies a desperate attempt to burrow into the earth, while "dust" (Hebrew: `aphar) signifies extreme lowliness, mortality, and utter submission. This double imagery emphasizes a profound, almost desperate, attempt to escape or conceal oneself from an inescapable divine presence.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 2:10 serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and holiness. It calls us to:

  • Cultivate Humility: Recognize that all human achievements and pride pale in comparison to God's glory. This verse encourages a posture of humility and dependence on God rather than self-reliance, echoing Proverbs 16:18 which warns against pride.
  • Reverence and Awe: Develop a healthy "fear of the LORD" that goes beyond mere terror to a profound reverence and respect for His power and holiness. This reverential fear is often described elsewhere as the beginning of wisdom.
  • Seek True Refuge: While the verse describes hiding from God's judgment, the ultimate biblical message is to find true and lasting refuge in God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Psalm 91:2). Those who humble themselves before Him and accept His provision for sin have no need to hide in terror.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 6:15

    And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

  • Revelation 6:16

    And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

  • Isaiah 2:19

    And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Isaiah 2:21

    To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Isaiah 6:3

    And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.

  • Isaiah 6:5

    ¶ Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

  • Job 37:22

    Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God [is] terrible majesty.
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