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Isaiah 57:9

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And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell.

And thou wentest {H7788} to the king {H4428} with ointment {H8081}, and didst increase {H7235} thy perfumes {H7547}, and didst send {H7971} thy messengers {H6735} far off {H7350}, and didst debase {H8213} thyself even unto hell {H7585}.

You went to the king with scented oil; you added to your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away, even down to Sh'ol.

You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 57:9 (KJV)

Isaiah 57:9 is a powerful verse from the prophet Isaiah's stern rebuke against the spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry of Judah, often personified as an unfaithful wife or harlot. This passage condemns the nation's reliance on foreign alliances and pagan practices instead of trusting in the Lord God.

Context

In Isaiah 57, the prophet confronts the moral and spiritual decay prevalent in Israel. He contrasts the peaceful end of the righteous with the restless and idolatrous pursuits of the wicked. The "thou" in this verse refers to the unfaithful people of Judah (or Jerusalem), who had abandoned their covenant relationship with God. They sought security and prosperity not from the Lord, but from powerful foreign nations, engaging in political treaties and adopting their pagan customs and gods. This was seen as spiritual adultery against God, their true King and Husband.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The imagery of "going to the king with ointment and perfumes" symbolizes Israel's desperate attempts to curry favor with foreign powers and engage in their idolatrous practices. This is a recurring theme in the prophets, where Israel's unfaithfulness to God is likened to a wife playing the harlot (Jeremiah 3:6).
  • Reliance on Foreign Alliances: "Sending messengers far off" highlights Israel's policy of seeking alliances with distant empires (like Egypt or Assyria) for protection, rather than relying on God's sovereign power and provision. This act demonstrated a profound lack of faith in the Lord, who had repeatedly proven Himself as their deliverer (Hosea 5:13).
  • Profound Debasement: The phrase "didst debase [thyself even] unto hell" speaks to the extreme degradation and humiliation Israel brought upon itself through its idolatry and unholy alliances. The Hebrew word for "hell" here is Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), which refers to the grave or the realm of the dead. It signifies a descent into the lowest possible state of moral and spiritual corruption, leading to utter ruin and spiritual death. It implies a willingness to sacrifice dignity, truth, and their relationship with God for perceived earthly gain.

Linguistic Insights

The term "debase [thyself even] unto hell" employs the Hebrew word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל). While often translated as "hell" in the KJV, Sheol primarily refers to the grave, the underworld, or the abode of the dead in the Old Testament. In this context, it powerfully conveys the utter degradation and humiliation to which Israel lowered itself through its spiritual infidelity. It suggests they were willing to go to the very depths of shame and destruction in their pursuit of worldly powers and false gods.

Practical Application

Isaiah 57:9 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and misplaced trust. For believers today, this verse challenges us to consider:

  • Where do we seek our security and solutions? Do we, like ancient Israel, rely on worldly systems, human institutions, or personal power and wealth ("ointment and perfumes") rather than on God's wisdom and provision?
  • Are we engaging in "spiritual adultery"? This can manifest as allowing anything—career, possessions, relationships, or even good causes—to take precedence over our devotion to God.
  • The Dangers of Compromise: The verse vividly illustrates how seeking worldly favor or adopting ungodly practices can lead to profound spiritual debasement and a loss of our true identity in Christ. Our pursuit of worldly solutions can lead us to "debase" ourselves, compromising our faith and integrity. Instead, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Ultimately, this verse calls us to unwavering faithfulness to God, reminding us that true security and exaltation come from Him alone, not from worldly alliances or spiritual compromise.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Ezekiel 23:16 (4 votes)

    And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

  • Colossians 2:18 (3 votes)

    Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

  • Isaiah 30:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

  • Isaiah 30:6 (3 votes)

    The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them].

  • Hosea 7:11 (2 votes)

    Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

  • Proverbs 7:17 (2 votes)

    I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

  • Ezekiel 16:33 (2 votes)

    They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.