Isaiah 2:12-13
For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The Hebrew word used here, which can be translated as "proud" or "lofty," also carries the sense of something being "excessively high" or "towering." This isn't just about human arrogance, but about anything—whether people or even nations—that rises up in self-sufficiency, forgetting their dependence on God. The prophecy emphasizes that everything set in opposition to the Lord, no matter how grand, will ultimately be humbled.
Isaiah has just spoken of a future day when the Lord will be exalted and people will flee to Him. Now, he immediately pivots to describe that same day as a time of judgment, not for everyone, but specifically against all pride and arrogance, whether it's found in individuals or in the very things they boast about. This judgment is described as universally humbling, bringing down everything that tries to lift itself up against God's authority.
Have you ever felt like a specific day was destined for something huge? The Bible talks about a particular 'day' that changes everything.
Isaiah uses the phrase "the day of the LORD of hosts" to describe a time when God will personally intervene to bring judgment. This isn't just any ordinary day; it's a period defined by God's direct action against sin and rebellion. It’s a day of reckoning, a time when His power and justice are unmistakably revealed.
Think of it like this: a regular day might be filled with many events, but the 'day of the Lord' is the event that overshadows all others. It's the climax of God's dealings with pride and injustice. This concept is echoed throughout the Old and New Testaments, signaling times of significant divine intervention, both in judgment and, ultimately, in redemption.
What gets 'lifted up' in our world today? Isaiah points to something specific that God targets.
The verse zeroes in on "all that is proud and lofty, and upon all that is lifted up." This isn't just about individual puffed-up personalities. It encompasses anything that elevates itself in defiance of God – systems, nations, achievements, wealth, or even religious pretenses that have become arrogant.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 2:12-13 is available in the Sola app.
Isaiah isn't just talking about outward arrogance; he's pointing to the root of the problem: self-exaltation and a refusal to acknowledge God's supreme authority. This can manifest as national pride, economic arrogance, or intellectual hubris. God’s “day” is set against all of it, ensuring that whatever is set against Him will ultimately be humbled.
What's the guaranteed outcome when God's 'day' arrives for the proud?
The verse concludes with a powerful, definitive statement: 'and it shall be brought low.' This isn't a maybe, or a possibility; it's a certainty. Whatever stands in opposition to God's authority and righteousness will inevitably be humbled.
This speaks to the ultimate sovereignty of God. Human endeavors, no matter how grand or seemingly invincible, that are built on pride and self-exaltation cannot stand against the Creator. God's judgment ensures that His own character and rule will be vindicated. This brings both a warning to the proud and a profound assurance of justice for the oppressed.
Understand the original words
YHWH Sabaoth · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty over the vast armies of heaven, including angels and the stars. It depicts God as the supreme Commander of the universe.
erez · Hebrew Noun
Trees known for their immense height and majesty, often used in Scripture as symbols of human power, stability, and glory that may eventually be broken by God's judgment.
allon · Hebrew Noun
Sturdy trees from a region known for fertile pastures and great natural beauty. Like the cedars, they serve as metaphors for worldly strength and self-reliance that will fail before the judgment of the Lord.
Isaiah's powerful warning against pride is delivered against a backdrop of looming imperial threats and the recent fall of the northern kingdom, emphasizing that even the highest human achievements and boasts are ultimately subject to God's sovereign judgment.
c. 800-750 BC
Amos Prophesies Judgment
Amos, a contemporary of Isaiah, prophesied about a coming "day of the LORD" of judgment against Israel's pride and injustice, a theme that Isaiah echoes.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and military pressure on the region, creating an atmosphere of fear and potential conquest.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah Receives His Vision
Isaiah receives his foundational vision of God's holiness and the impending judgment upon Judah and the nations, setting the stage for his ministry.
c. 733 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria allied against Judah, a conflict that highlighted Judah's vulnerability and the need for reliance on God alone.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of pride and idolatry.
This passage directly echoes the language of Isaiah, describing the 'great day of the LORD' as 'near and very urgent,' a day of wrath specifically targeting pride and arrogance, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment against haughtiness.
Luke 14:11Jesus quotes a similar principle, 'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,' directly connecting the divine principle of bringing down the proud with the outcome described in Isaiah.
1 Peter 5:5This New Testament passage explicitly states that God 'opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,' directly applying the consequence of divine opposition to pride mentioned in Isaiah to the lives of believers.
Proverbs 18:12This proverb states, 'Before destruction a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor,' providing a concise, wisdom-literature perspective on the same causal link between pride and downfall that Isaiah proclaims.
barnesIsaiah 2:12: "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:"
The day ... - This expression evidently denotes that the Lord would inflict severe punishment upon every one that was lofty. Such a severe infliction is called "the day of the Lord of hosts," because it would be a time when "he" would particularly manifest himself, and when "he" would be recognized as the inflicter of that punishment…
jfbIsaiah 2:12: "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:"
- Man has had many days: "the day of the Lord" shall come at last, beginning with judgment, a never-ending day in which God shall be "all in all" (1Co 15:28; 2Pe 3:10).every—not merely person, as English Version explains it, but every thing on which the nation prided itself.
The Hebrew word used here, which can be translated as "proud" or "lofty," also carries the sense of something being "excessively high" or "towering." This isn't just about human arrogance, but about anything—whether people or even nations—that rises up in self-sufficiency, forgetting their dependence on God. The prophecy emphasizes that everything set in opposition to the Lord, no matter how grand, will ultimately be humbled.
Isaiah has just spoken of a future day when the Lord will be exalted and people will flee to Him. Now, he immediately pivots to describe that same day as a time of judgment, not for everyone, but specifically against all pride and arrogance, whether it's found in individuals or in the very things they boast about. This judgment is described as universally humbling, bringing down everything that tries to lift itself up against God's authority.
Isaiah has just spoken of a future day when the Lord will be exalted and people will flee to Him. Now, he immediately pivots to describe that same day as a time of judgment, not for everyone, but specifically against all pride and arrogance, whether it's found in individuals or in the very things they boast about. This judgment is described as universally humbling, bringing down everything that tries to lift itself up against God's authority.
"For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oak…" — The Hebrew word used here, which can be translated as "proud" or "lofty," also carries the sense of something being "excessively high" or "towering." This isn't just about human arrogance, but about…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
