Isaiah 30:22

Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Ye shall defile {H2930} also the covering {H6826} of thy graven images {H6456} of silver {H3701}, and the ornament {H642} of thy molten images {H4541} of gold {H2091}: thou shalt cast them away {H2219} as a menstruous cloth {H1739}; thou shalt say {H559} unto it, Get thee hence {H3318}.

You will treat as unclean your silver-covered idols and your cast metal images plated with gold; you will throw them away, like menstrual cloths; you will say to them, "Get out of here!"

So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”

And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Context of Isaiah 30:22

Isaiah 30 is a prophetic message from God through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Judah, who were seeking an alliance with Egypt against Assyria rather than trusting in the Lord. The chapter begins with a strong rebuke for their rebellious and faithless actions (Isaiah 30:1-7). God promises judgment for their disobedience but also offers a future hope of restoration and blessing for those who genuinely repent and turn back to Him. This specific verse, Isaiah 30:22, describes a pivotal act of that promised repentance: the decisive rejection of idols, which is a prerequisite for experiencing God's full blessings.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Radical Repentance and Rejection of Idolatry: The verse vividly portrays a complete and utter abandonment of false worship. The people will not merely neglect their idols but actively defile and cast them away with extreme contempt. This signifies a profound change of heart and a return to exclusive devotion to the one true God.
  • Spiritual Cleansing and Purity: The act of defiling and casting away idols as a "menstruous cloth" highlights the concept of spiritual purification. In ancient Israelite culture, a menstruous cloth was considered highly impure, and anything it touched became unclean (Leviticus 15:19-30). Applying this imagery to idols underscores their utter defilement and worthlessness in the eyes of a repentant people.
  • God's Demand for Exclusive Worship: This verse reinforces the core biblical principle that God tolerates no rivals. The future blessings promised in the surrounding verses (Isaiah 30:23-26) are contingent upon the people's complete separation from anything that detracts from their worship of Him.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Graven images of silver" (Hebrew: pesel kesef) and "molten images of gold" (Hebrew: massekah zahav): These terms refer to idols made by carving or casting, representing the various forms of false gods worshipped in the ancient Near East. The mention of precious metals emphasizes that even highly valued idols will be utterly despised.
  • "Menstruous cloth" (Hebrew: beged niddah): This is a powerful and intentionally repulsive image. It signifies something utterly unclean, to be discarded with extreme disgust and abhorrence. The comparison indicates that the people will view their former idols not just as wrong, but as detestable and defiling.
  • "Thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence" (Hebrew: tse'): This is a forceful command to depart, expressing a complete and final rejection. It's not a polite dismissal but an emphatic expulsion, signifying the end of any relationship or reverence for these idols.

Practical Application

While literal idol worship of carved or molten images may be less common today, the principle of Isaiah 30:22 remains profoundly relevant. Modern "idols" can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives or demands our ultimate devotion, such as money, career, possessions, relationships, power, self-image, or even technology. This verse calls believers to a radical spiritual inventory and purification:

  • Identify Modern Idols: What consumes our time, energy, and affections more than God? What do we rely on for security, identity, or happiness instead of Him?
  • Radical Rejection: Just as the Israelites were to cast away their idols with disgust, we are called to decisively and completely reject anything that hinders our relationship with God. This may involve difficult choices and sacrifices, but it leads to true freedom and blessing.
  • Commitment to Purity: Embracing God's will requires spiritual cleansing and a commitment to holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Turning from anything that defiles us, whether outwardly or inwardly, allows us to draw closer to Him.

This verse offers hope, showing that God's desire is not just for judgment but for a repentant heart that turns fully to Him, leading to restoration and abundant blessing.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Judges 17:3

    And when he had restored the eleven hundred [shekels] of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

  • Judges 17:4

    Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

  • Isaiah 31:7

    For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you [for] a sin.

  • Zechariah 13:2

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Isaiah 46:6

    They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

  • Isaiah 17:7

    At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 17:8

    And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect [that] which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

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