Isaiah 28:15

KJV

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

KJV (with Strong's)

Because ye have said {H559}, We have made {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with death {H4194}, and with hell {H7585} are we {H6213} at agreement {H2374}; when the overflowing {H7857} scourge {H7752}{H7885} shall pass through {H5674}{H5674}, it shall not come {H935} unto us: for we have made {H7760} lies {H3577} our refuge {H4268}, and under falsehood {H8267} have we hid {H5641} ourselves:

Complete Jewish Bible

Because you said, "We made a covenant with death, we made a contract with Sh'ol. When the raging flood passes through, it will not touch us. For we have made lies our refuge and hid ourselves in falsehoods"

Berean Standard Bible

For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”

American Standard Version

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 28:15 vividly portrays the arrogant and self-deceptive boast of Jerusalem's leaders, who, under the looming threat of the Assyrian empire, placed their trust not in the Lord but in cunning political alliances and deceitful strategies. They confidently declared a perverse "covenant with death and hell," believing their human schemes would shield them from the inevitable divine judgment, symbolized by an "overflowing scourge." This verse exposes the profound spiritual blindness and moral corruption of those who seek refuge in lies rather than in the truth of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 28 opens with a "Woe" oracle directed at the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), condemning their pride and spiritual drunkenness (e.g., [Isaiah 28:1-8](/isaiah/28-1 "Isaiah 28:1-8 - Woe to Ephraim")). However, the prophecy quickly shifts its focus to the southern kingdom of Judah and its leaders in Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah confronts their similar spiritual arrogance, their rejection of God's gentle instruction (likened to "line upon line, precept upon precept" in [Isaiah 28:9-10](/isaiah/28-9 "Isaiah 28:9-10 - God's Simple Teaching Rejected")), and their reliance on human wisdom and foreign alliances. Verse 15 specifically captures the defiant and deluded mindset of these leaders, setting the stage for God's response of judgment and the promise of a true cornerstone in [Isaiah 28:16](/isaiah/28-16 "Isaiah 28:16 - The Precious Cornerstone").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 28 is the tumultuous 8th century BCE, a period dominated by the relentless expansion of the Assyrian Empire. Both Israel and Judah faced immense pressure to form alliances or submit. While Israel eventually fell to Assyria in 722 BCE, Judah, under kings like Ahaz and Hezekiah, often vacillated between trusting God and seeking political security through treaties with powerful nations like Egypt. The "overflowing scourge" is a clear reference to the impending Assyrian invasion, which God would use as an instrument of judgment against His rebellious people. Culturally, covenants (Hebrew: _bᵉrîyth_) were sacred, binding agreements, often sealed with solemn oaths and rituals. To speak of a "covenant with death" was a grotesque perversion of this sacred concept, highlighting the depth of their spiritual depravity and their desperate, unholy attempts to control their destiny.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores the theme of **False Security**, demonstrating the futility of relying on human schemes and ungodly alliances instead of God's divine protection. The leaders' boast reveals profound **Spiritual Arrogance** and **Self-Deception**, as they believed themselves immune to God's judgment, a recurring motif throughout the prophets when addressing Israel's rebellion. The explicit mention of "lies" and "falsehood" highlights the theme of **Truth vs. Deceit**, contrasting the deceptive nature of human strategies with the steadfast truth of God. Ultimately, the verse sets the stage for the theme of **Divine Judgment**, which, despite their boasts, is inevitable and serves to expose the hollowness of their false refuge, leading to the subsequent revelation of God's true and **Reliable Foundation** in the promised cornerstone (cf. [Isaiah 28:16](/isaiah/28-16 "Isaiah 28:16 - The Cornerstone of Zion")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **covenant (Hebrew, _bᵉrîyth'_):** From a root meaning "to cut," signifying a solemn, binding agreement, often made by cutting (e.g., animals) and passing between the pieces. Here, it is perversely applied to an alliance with "death" and "hell," indicating a formal, intentional, and deeply misguided commitment to unholy powers or deceptive strategies, rather than to God.
* **death (Hebrew, _mâveth'_):** Refers to physical death, the state of the dead, or the realm of the dead (Hades). In this context, it personifies the destructive forces and ultimate end that the leaders believe they have circumvented through their illicit agreements, highlighting the spiritual deadness and ruin inherent in their chosen path.
* **lies (Hebrew, _kâzâb'_):** Denotes falsehood, untruth, or deceit. This word emphasizes the deliberate nature of their deception and the unreliable, illusory foundation upon which their perceived security was built. It contrasts sharply with the character of God, who is truth, and highlights the moral bankruptcy of their refuge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death,"**: This opening clause reveals the arrogant declaration of Jerusalem's leaders. They openly boast of having forged a formal, binding agreement, not with a human power or with God, but with "death" itself. This signifies a profound spiritual perversion, a belief that they have somehow mastered or appeased the forces of destruction, making themselves immune to their power. It implies a reliance on dark, unholy, or purely humanistic means to secure their future.
* **"and with hell are we at agreement;"**: This parallel clause reinforces the first, using "hell" (Sheol, the grave or underworld) to further personify the realm of ultimate destruction and demise. To be "at agreement" with it suggests a comfortable, settled understanding or pact. This emphasizes their deep-seated delusion that they are beyond the reach of divine judgment, having struck a deal with the very forces that typically signify ultimate defeat and separation from God.
* **"when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us:"**: This is the core of their boastful confidence. The "overflowing scourge" is a vivid metaphor for God's impending judgment, likely referring to the devastating Assyrian invasion. They are convinced that their "covenant with death and hell" will act as an impenetrable shield, diverting this destructive force and ensuring their safety, demonstrating a profound underestimation of God's sovereignty and justice.
* **"for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:"**: This concluding statement exposes the true nature of their perceived security. Their "refuge" (a place of safety or shelter) is not in God, but in "lies" and "falsehood." This reveals that their entire strategy is built on deceit, treachery, and a denial of reality. They have actively chosen to conceal themselves under the cloak of untruth, believing that deception can provide ultimate protection, a stark contrast to the true refuge found in God.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 28:15 is rich with impactful literary devices. **Personification** is evident in the leaders' declaration of a "covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement." Death and hell, abstract concepts representing the grave and ultimate destruction, are treated as sentient entities with whom a treaty can be forged, highlighting the grotesque nature of their spiritual perversion. The phrase "overflowing scourge" functions as a powerful **Metaphor**, vividly portraying the impending divine judgment as an overwhelming, destructive force, much like a flood or a relentless whip. There is profound **Irony** in their boast: they believe their lies and false agreements will protect them, yet these very actions are what invite and ensure the "scourge" of God's judgment. Their confidence, "it shall not come unto us," is a classic example of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader knows their schemes are futile and their destruction is imminent, making their boast all the more tragic.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 28:15 serves as a profound theological warning against the human tendency to seek security and salvation through self-devised means rather than through divine trust. The leaders' "covenant with death and hell" represents humanity's fallen inclination to control its own destiny, to negotiate with spiritual darkness, and to rely on deceptive strategies when faced with overwhelming threats. This perversion of the covenant concept underscores the deep-seated rebellion against God's sovereignty and His exclusive right to offer true refuge. Their reliance on "lies" and "falsehood" highlights the inherent instability and ultimate futility of any foundation not built on God's truth. The passage implicitly contrasts this false refuge with the true, divine refuge that God Himself provides, a theme echoed throughout Scripture where God is portrayed as the ultimate shelter and deliverer.

* [Psalm 91:1-2](/psalm/91-1 "Psalm 91:1-2 - The Shelter of the Most High")
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - A Way That Seems Right")
* [Jeremiah 17:5-6](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5:6 - Cursed is the Man Who Trusts in Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 28:15 offers a timeless and piercing indictment of spiritual self-reliance and the deceptive allure of false security. In our contemporary world, the "overflowing scourge" may not always manifest as a literal invading army, but it can appear as economic collapse, social upheaval, personal crises, or the inevitable reality of death itself. This verse compels us to honestly examine where we place our ultimate trust. Do we, like the leaders of Jerusalem, attempt to make "covenants" with our own cunning, our financial portfolios, our social status, or even our intellectual prowess, believing these can shield us from life's storms or divine accountability? The "lies" and "falsehood" we hide under can be anything from self-deception about our spiritual state to embracing ideologies that deny absolute truth or moral consequences. True refuge is found not in human ingenuity or illicit agreements, but in humble submission to God and reliance on His unfailing truth. This passage challenges us to dismantle any false refuges we have constructed and to build our lives on the solid rock of Christ, the only true shelter against all scourges.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "covenants" or agreements, perhaps unspoken, do I tend to make with worldly systems or my own abilities when faced with fear or uncertainty?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be relying on "lies" or "falsehoods" (e.g., self-deception, denial, worldly wisdom) as a refuge instead of God's truth?**
* **How does my daily life demonstrate whether my ultimate trust is in God or in my own perceived control and cunning?**
* **Considering the "overflowing scourge" in my own life (e.g., challenges, anxieties, future uncertainties), where do I instinctively turn for shelter?**

### FAQ

**What is the "overflowing scourge" mentioned in Isaiah 28:15?**

Answer: The "overflowing scourge" (Hebrew: _shot shotef_) is a vivid prophetic metaphor representing God's impending judgment, typically understood in this context as the devastating invasion of the Assyrian army. For the northern kingdom of Israel, this judgment culminated in their fall in 722 BCE. For Judah, it manifested in the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem under Sennacherib, though God miraculously delivered the city in [Isaiah 37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - Sennacherib's Invasion and God's Deliverance"). More broadly, it symbolizes any overwhelming, destructive force that God permits or sends as a consequence of human rebellion and a refusal to trust in Him. It highlights the inevitability of divine justice for those who reject His covenant and seek refuge in lies.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of "covenant" in the Bible?**

Answer: The biblical concept of "covenant" (Hebrew: _bᵉrîyth_) is foundational, signifying a solemn, binding agreement initiated by God with His people (e.g., the [Noahic Covenant](/genesis/9 "Genesis 9 - The Noahic Covenant"), the [Abrahamic Covenant](/genesis/15 "Genesis 15 - The Abrahamic Covenant"), the [Mosaic Covenant](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - The Mosaic Covenant"), the [Davidic Covenant](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"), and ultimately the [New Covenant](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant")). These covenants establish a relationship based on God's faithfulness and His people's obedience. In Isaiah 28:15, the leaders of Judah pervert this sacred concept by claiming to have made a "covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement." This is a profound act of spiritual rebellion, as they turn away from the life-giving covenant with God to forge a pact with the forces of destruction and deceit. It underscores the severity of their apostasy and their desperate attempt to find security outside of God's divine provision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 28:15, with its stark portrayal of a people seeking refuge in a "covenant with death" and "lies," finds its ultimate fulfillment and reversal in Jesus Christ. The "overflowing scourge" of divine judgment, which the leaders of Judah desperately tried to evade through their false agreements, ultimately fell upon Christ on the cross. He became the "scourge" for our sins, taking upon Himself the full weight of God's wrath, so that those who trust in Him might not perish but have eternal life (cf. [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")). While the leaders made a pact with death, Christ conquered death, rising victorious from the grave and disarming the power of Sheol (cf. [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Destroys the Power of Death"), [Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Christ Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). Their "lies" and "falsehood" as a refuge stand in stark contrast to Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). The very next verse in Isaiah, [Isaiah 28:16](/isaiah/28-16 "Isaiah 28:16 - The Precious Cornerstone"), speaks of a "precious cornerstone" laid in Zion, a sure foundation. This cornerstone is none other than Christ Himself, upon whom believers are built as living stones, finding in Him a true and eternal refuge from the "overflowing scourge" of sin and judgment ([1 Peter 2:6-8](/1_peter/2-6 "1 Peter 2:6-8 - Christ, the Living Stone")). Thus, what Judah sought in vain through their perverse covenant, humanity finds perfectly and eternally in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 8:7

Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

Isaiah 8:8

And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

Amos 2:4

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:

Daniel 11:22

And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

Hosea 2:18

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and [with] the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Ezekiel 13:22

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Isaiah 28:18

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.