Isaiah 5:30

KJV

And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

And in that day {H3117} they shall roar {H5098} against them like the roaring {H5100} of the sea {H3220}: and if one look {H5027} unto the land {H776}, behold darkness {H2822} and sorrow {H6862}, and the light {H216} is darkened {H2821} in the heavens {H6183} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

On that day they will growl at them, like the sea when it growls - and when one looks toward land, one sees darkness closing in; the light is dissipated in the obscuring overcast.

Berean Standard Bible

In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

American Standard Version

And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened in the clouds thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 5:30 delivers a chilling and climactic portrayal of divine judgment descending upon Judah, depicting a land utterly consumed by an overwhelming darkness and despair. This verse serves as the dire culmination of Isaiah's "Song of the Vineyard" and the subsequent pronouncements of "woes," vividly illustrating the inevitable and severe consequences of the nation's persistent spiritual rebellion, moral corruption, and covenant infidelity. It paints an indelible picture of an unstoppable, roaring calamity that engulfs the land, extinguishing all light and hope, leaving behind only a pervasive sense of sorrow, desolation, and the profound absence of divine favor.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 5:30 functions as the terrifying crescendo to a chapter that meticulously details Judah's spiritual and moral degradation and the resultant divine retribution. The chapter opens with the poignant "Song of the Vineyard" in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard"), where God, portrayed as a diligent vineyard owner, expresses profound disappointment over Judah's failure to produce justice and righteousness, yielding instead only "wild grapes" of injustice and oppression. Following this foundational parable, Isaiah pronounces six escalating "woes" (e.g., [Isaiah 5:8](/isaiah/5-8 "Isaiah 5:8 - Woe to those who add house to house"), [Isaiah 5:11](/isaiah/5-11 "Isaiah 5:11 - Woe to those who rise early for strong drink")) targeting specific societal sins: insatiable greed, rampant drunkenness, audacious defiance of God, moral perversion, self-conceit, and the perversion of justice. Verse 30 climaxes these pronouncements by describing the ultimate, inescapable devastation that will befall the nation, driven by an external, overwhelming force, echoing the earlier prophecy of a distant, powerful nation summoned by God as His instrument of judgment in [Isaiah 5:26-29](/isaiah/5-26-29 "Isaiah 5:26-29 - God Summons a Distant Nation").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Isaiah ministered in Judah during the tumultuous reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (c. 740-681 BC), a period characterized by significant geopolitical shifts and profound moral decay within the nation. Judah, despite being God's covenant people, had increasingly adopted pagan practices, engaged in pervasive social injustice, and placed its trust in precarious political alliances rather than in divine faithfulness. The "day" referenced in the verse alludes to the impending "Day of the Lord," a recurring and potent prophetic motif signifying a time of God's decisive intervention in history, often bringing severe judgment upon the wicked and ultimate vindication for His righteous remnant. Historically, this prophecy pointed to the looming existential threats from the formidable Assyrian Empire, which devastated the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria falling in 722 BC) and severely threatened Judah, followed later by the ascendant Babylonian Empire, which ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile in 586 BC. These foreign powers were widely understood by the prophets as instruments of God's wrath, employed to chastise His disobedient people, a concept powerfully articulated elsewhere, such as in [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5-6 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - Assyria, the Rod of God's Anger").
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 5:30 profoundly contributes to several central themes prevalent throughout the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty**, demonstrating unequivocally that God is not only perfectly just but also absolutely sovereign over all nations and historical events, utilizing even pagan empires as instruments to execute His righteous decrees against sin. Secondly, it powerfully highlights the **Consequences of Persistent Disobedience**, illustrating that while God is infinitely patient, there is an inevitable and severe reckoning for those who obstinately reject His covenant and persist in moral corruption. The stark imagery of darkness and sorrow emphasizes the theme of **Spiritual and Physical Desolation**, portraying a complete collapse of societal order, divine favor, and hope, where even the heavens seem to withhold their light, symbolizing a profound absence of blessing and divine presence. This resonates deeply with other prophetic warnings of a "day of darkness and gloominess" found in passages like [Joel 2:2](/joel/2-2 "Joel 2:2 - The Day of the Lord is Near").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **roar (Hebrew, _nâham'_):** (H5098) A primitive root meaning "to growl," "to groan," or "to mourn." In this context, it vividly conveys the deep, guttural, and terrifying sound of an approaching, overwhelming force, akin to a lion's roar or the tumultuous crashing of violent, relentless waves. It emphasizes the ferocity, irresistible power, and sheer terror of the impending judgment or the invading armies, suggesting an unstoppable natural catastrophe.
* **darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek'_):** (H2822) Derived from the root `châshak` (H2821), meaning "to be dark," this term literally refers to the absence of light. However, it is frequently used figuratively in the Bible to denote misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, or wickedness. Its presence here signifies not merely physical obscurity but a profound spiritual and existential despair, a state utterly devoid of hope, divine presence, or blessing. It represents the complete withdrawal of God's favor.
* **light (Hebrew, _ʼôwr'_):** (H216) This word encompasses illumination in general or a concrete luminary, including lightning, happiness, or the sun. In stark contrast to "darkness," "light" often symbolizes divine presence, truth, blessing, salvation, and life throughout scripture. The declaration that "the light is darkened" signifies a catastrophic reversal, the withdrawal of all that is good, hopeful, and life-giving, indicating a complete and utter desolation that affects even the cosmic order.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea":** This clause dramatically introduces the terrifying nature of the impending judgment. "That day" refers to the eschatological "Day of the Lord," a time of decisive divine reckoning. The "they" likely refers to the invading armies (historically the Assyrians or Babylonians) summoned by God, whose advance is powerfully likened to the unstoppable, overwhelming, and terrifying roar of a tumultuous sea. This vivid simile emphasizes the immense power, vastness, and destructive force of the enemy, portraying them as an irresistible tide of calamity sweeping over the land.
* **"and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow":** This phrase shifts the focus from the external threat to the internal, desolate state of the land and its inhabitants. The act of "looking unto the land" reveals a scene of utter desolation. "Darkness" signifies not just physical obscurity but profound spiritual and existential despair, the complete absence of divine favor and hope. Paired with "sorrow" (Hebrew, _tsar_, meaning distress, anguish, or tribulation), it paints a grim picture of widespread suffering, a land consumed by misery and affliction, with no glimmer of relief or comfort to be found.
* **"and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof."** This final clause intensifies the imagery of desolation, elevating it to a cosmic scale. The darkening of "light" in the "heavens" suggests that even the natural order or divine blessing is withheld, implying a universal catastrophe. It symbolizes the complete withdrawal of God's favor and presence, leaving the land utterly devoid of hope, joy, or any source of comfort or guidance. It is a picture of total eclipse, where even the very source of light itself seems to be extinguished, signifying ultimate and inescapable despair.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 5:30 is profoundly rich in literary devices that powerfully amplify its message of impending doom and desolation. The most prominent is **Simile**, explicitly stated in "like the roaring of the sea," which vividly conveys the overwhelming, unstoppable, and terrifying nature of the invading force or divine judgment. This potent **Imagery** of a roaring, tumultuous sea evokes a visceral sense of uncontrollable chaos, immense power, and destructive inevitability. The verse also employs stark **Contrast** between "light" and "darkness," where the extinguishing of light, particularly in the heavens, underscores the profound despair and the complete absence of hope or divine favor. The use of **Hyperbole** in depicting the light being "darkened in the heavens" emphasizes the extreme nature of the calamity, suggesting a cosmic catastrophe rather than merely an earthly one, thus highlighting the severity of God's judgment. Furthermore, the repeated emphasis on "darkness" and "sorrow" throughout the latter half of the verse creates a pervasive **Atmosphere** of dread, hopelessness, and utter desolation, immersing the reader in the dire consequences of Judah's rebellion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 5:30 stands as a stark and uncompromising testament to God's unwavering justice, holiness, and moral rectitude, demonstrating that He will not tolerate persistent sin and rebellion indefinitely, even from His chosen people. It underscores the profound biblical truth that actions have inevitable consequences, and a nation that repeatedly rejects divine wisdom, embraces injustice, and spurns covenant faithfulness will ultimately face severe and inescapable judgment. The vivid imagery of overwhelming darkness and sorrow serves as a potent theological statement about the spiritual state of those alienated from God's light and truth. It highlights the fundamental principle that true flourishing, both for individuals and nations, is contingent upon humble obedience to God's covenant, and deviation from this path leads inevitably to chaos, despair, and divine chastisement. This verse also foreshadows the ultimate "Day of the Lord" when God's justice will be fully revealed, both in its consuming judgment and its redemptive salvation.

* [Jeremiah 4:23-26](/jeremiah/4-23-26 "Jeremiah 4:23-26 - Desolation of the Land")
* [Amos 5:18-20](/amos/5-18-20 "Amos 5:18-20 - The Day of the Lord")
* [Zephaniah 1:14-15](/zephaniah/1-14-15 "Zephaniah 1:14-15 - The Great Day of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 5:30 serves as a profound and sobering reminder for all generations that while God is infinitely patient and merciful, His justice is equally unwavering and certain. For individuals and societies today, this verse calls us to serious introspection regarding our moral and spiritual alignment with God's revealed will. Are we, like ancient Judah, producing "wild grapes" of injustice, greed, spiritual apathy, and moral compromise, or are we yielding the fruit of righteousness, justice, and faithfulness that God desires? The "darkness and sorrow" depicted here are not merely historical events but potent, enduring symbols of the spiritual and existential desolation that inevitably overtakes those who turn away from the true light of God. This passage compels us to critically examine the ultimate source of our hope and security, reminding us that true peace and flourishing are found only in His presence. In a world often grappling with its own forms of "darkness"—whether social injustice, moral decay, spiritual emptiness, or existential dread—this passage urges believers to be agents of God's light, living out the transformative power of the Gospel and actively pursuing righteousness. It also encourages a deep reverence for God's holiness and a renewed commitment to living in humble obedience, understanding that genuine peace and lasting flourishing are found only in His presence, not in the fleeting shadows of human rebellion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wild grapes" (sins or injustices) might God be identifying in my own life or in my society today that require repentance?**
* **How does the vivid imagery of "darkness and sorrow" challenge my understanding of God's justice and the severe consequences of persistent sin?**
* **In what practical ways can I, as a believer, actively bring God's "light" into areas of "darkness" in my community or sphere of influence?**
* **How does this passage encourage me to live with greater urgency, faithfulness, and a deeper reliance on God in light of His ultimate judgment and salvation?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the "roaring of the sea" imagery?**

Answer: The "roaring of the sea" in [Isaiah 5:30](/isaiah/5-30 "Isaiah 5:30 - The Roaring Sea of Judgment") is a powerful and multi-layered simile. Firstly, it emphasizes the overwhelming, unstoppable, and terrifying nature of the impending divine judgment or the invading armies. Just as the sea's waves crash with relentless, irresistible force, so too will this calamity sweep over the land. Secondly, it evokes a profound sense of terror, chaos, and disorientation, as the sound of a tumultuous sea is inherently frightening. Biblically, the sea often symbolizes chaotic forces or the nations in rebellion against God (e.g., [Psalm 65:7](/psalm/65-7 "Psalm 65:7 - God Stills the Roaring Seas")). Here, it suggests a divine unleashing of chaotic forces to bring about judgment, powerfully highlighting God's absolute sovereignty even over the instruments of destruction.

**What does the "darkened light in the heavens" symbolize?**

Answer: The "darkened light in the heavens" symbolizes a complete and utter desolation that extends beyond mere earthly suffering to encompass a cosmic dimension of judgment. Light, throughout scripture, is consistently associated with God's presence, blessing, truth, hope, and life (e.g., [Psalm 27:1](/psalm/27-1 "Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is My Light")). When the light in the heavens is darkened, it signifies the profound withdrawal of divine favor, the crushing absence of hope, and a pervasive sense of despair. It implies that even the natural order, which typically provides light and comfort, has turned against the land, reflecting God's profound displeasure and the overwhelming severity of His judgment. This imagery is a common and powerful trope in prophetic literature to describe the "Day of the Lord," as vividly seen in passages like [Joel 2:10](/joel/2-10 "Joel 2:10 - Sun and Moon Darkened").

**Who are "they" who shall roar against "them" in this verse?**

Answer: In [Isaiah 5:30](/isaiah/5-30 "Isaiah 5:30 - The Roaring Sea of Judgment"), "they" who roar are generally understood to be the foreign armies that God would sovereignly use as instruments of His judgment against Judah. Given the historical context of Isaiah's prophecy, this primarily refers to the formidable Assyrian Empire, which was a dominant and terrifying force in the region during his time, and later, the ascendant Babylonian Empire. These powerful nations were seen not merely as political adversaries but as God's "rod" (as in [Isaiah 10:5](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - Assyria as God's Rod")) to punish His disobedient people. The "them" against whom they roar refers to the people of Judah, who had persistently rebelled against God's covenant and engaged in widespread injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 5:30, with its chilling depiction of overwhelming darkness and profound sorrow as the inevitable consequence of sin, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the absence of judgment, but in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who uniquely addresses humanity's deepest spiritual darkness. While the verse foretells a "day" of earthly judgment, the New Testament reveals a far greater "Day of the Lord" where all humanity will ultimately face the divine Judge. Yet, Christ Himself courageously enters this very darkness. He is the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), who came specifically to dispel the spiritual gloom and moral obscurity that envelops humanity due to sin—a darkness infinitely deeper and more pervasive than any physical calamity. The "sorrow" and "darkness" of judgment, which humanity justly deserved, are fully absorbed and endured by Christ on the cross, where He experienced the ultimate separation from God, bearing the crushing weight of the world's sin and its dire consequences (e.g., [Matthew 27:45](/matthew/27-45 "Matthew 27:45 - Darkness Over the Land")). Through His atoning sacrifice, He offers not only escape from the roaring judgment prophesied by Isaiah but also the glorious promise of eternal life in His radiant light (e.g., [John 12:46](/john/12-46 "John 12:46 - I Have Come as Light")). Thus, what Isaiah prophesied as a terrifying end for the rebellious, Christ transforms into an invitation to salvation, offering true light, peace, and deliverance to all who turn from their own "darkness" and embrace Him as Lord and Savior (e.g., [Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness into Light")).

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 8:22

And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.

Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Jeremiah 4:23

I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light.

Jeremiah 4:28

For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken [it], I have purposed [it], and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

Revelation 16:10

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

Revelation 16:11

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Luke 21:25

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;