And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes not just the humbling of human pride, but the necessity of God’s exaltation, presenting it as the sole alternative. It’s a stark reminder that in God’s ultimate reckoning, human achievements and arrogance will vanish, leaving only the unshakeable truth of His supreme glory.
And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah has just described the Lord's coming judgment, warning people to hide from His majesty and that all human pride—from high mountains to lofty towers—will be brought low. This verse serves as a powerful, repeated emphasis on that core message: human arrogance is destined to crumble, making way for God's sole exaltation.
We all have things we're proud of – our accomplishments, our status, our possessions. But Isaiah warns that this pride has a destined end.
The prophet Isaiah uses strong, repeated language here: "haughtiness" and "lofty pride." This isn't just a casual mention; it's a declaration of a coming judgment. The "Day of the LORD" is a recurring theme in Isaiah, signifying a time when God will actively intervene to set things right.
On this day, everything that makes humans feel high and mighty will be brought low. This includes:
This humbling isn't arbitrary; it's a consequence of God's justice. When people fill themselves with pride, they are essentially saying they don't need God. This verse assures us that this self-exaltation is temporary and ultimately futile.
If all human pride is brought low, what fills that space? Isaiah gives us the ultimate answer: God alone.
The final phrase of the verse delivers the resounding truth: "and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." This isn't just the flip side of pride being humbled; it's the ultimate purpose of the Day of the LORD.
When human pride is stripped away, the true glory and sovereignty of God are revealed. All the things people relied on – their power, their wisdom, their possessions – will prove empty. In contrast, God's majesty, His power, and His righteousness stand firm and are universally acknowledged.
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This exalting of the LORD signifies:
This is the ultimate outcome: a universe where God receives the honor that is rightfully His.
Understand the original words
ga'avah · Hebrew Noun
An internal disposition of arrogance or superciliousness, often characterized by a self-exalting attitude that refuses to acknowledge God as the ultimate authority. It is the antithesis of the fear of the Lord.
shaphel · Hebrew Verb
The act of being made low or brought down from a position of perceived greatness. Biblically, this often refers to God’s judgment upon human pride to restore the recognition of His supreme sovereignty.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
A reference to YHWH, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It denotes the One who is self-existent, eternal, and the only true object of worship, uniquely deserving of supreme honor.
sagab · Hebrew Verb
To be lifted up, elevated, or magnified. In a theological sense, it refers to the public acknowledgement and manifestation of God's supreme glory and authority above all created things.
This prophecy by Isaiah comes during a time of immense geopolitical pressure from the mighty Assyrian Empire, directly impacting the people of Judah and Israel. The repeated emphasis on God's exaltation and the humbling of human pride reflects the stark reality of nations rising and falling, and the ultimate sovereignty of the LORD.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Threat and Encroachment
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, was a dominant superpower. Their military campaigns and political maneuvering exerted immense pressure on the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, leading to fear, tribute, and sometimes direct conquest.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah Receives His Vision
Isaiah the prophet receives his commissioning vision in the temple, seeing the glory of God and hearing His call to prophesy to a resistant people, setting the stage for his ministry and the pronouncements in this chapter.
c. 730s-720s BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, its people exiled, and its territory largely dismantled. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of sin and reliance on foreign powers.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem was not captured, the campaign was devastating and underscored the precariousness of Judah's situation.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's prophecy, stating that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess, emphasizing the ultimate exaltation of God alone through Christ.
1 Samuel 2:3Hannah's prayer beautifully mirrors this theme, proclaiming, 'Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' This highlights the divine judgment against human pride.
Psalm 18:27This Psalm speaks of God's justice in dealing with pride: 'You save a humble people, but bring down haughty eyes.' It reinforces the idea that God actively humbles the proud.
Proverbs 16:18This proverb offers a direct warning about pride: 'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' It clearly connects human arrogance with inevitable downfall.
Matthew 23:12Jesus Himself declared, 'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.' This is a direct New Testament parallel to Isaiah's teaching on the fate of human pride.
barnesIsaiah 2:17: "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."
And the loftiness ... - see the note at Isaiah 2:11 . The repetition of this makes it strongly emphatic.
pooleIsaiah 2:17: "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."
This he repeats again, partly to assure us of the certainty of it, and partly to fix it deeper in men’s minds, because they are very backward to believe and consider things of this nature.
The verse emphasizes not just the humbling of human pride, but the necessity of God’s exaltation, presenting it as the sole alternative. It’s a stark reminder that in God’s ultimate reckoning, human achievements and arrogance will vanish, leaving only the unshakeable truth of His supreme glory.
Isaiah has just described the Lord's coming judgment, warning people to hide from His majesty and that all human pride—from high mountains to lofty towers—will be brought low. This verse serves as a powerful, repeated emphasis on that core message: human arrogance is destined to crumble, making way for God's sole exaltation.
Isaiah has just described the Lord's coming judgment, warning people to hide from His majesty and that all human pride—from high mountains to lofty towers—will be brought low. This verse serves as a powerful, repeated emphasis on that core message: human arrogance is destined to crumble, making way for God's sole exaltation.
"And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." — The verse emphasizes not just the humbling of human pride, but the necessity of God’s exaltation, presenting it as the sole alternative. It’s a stark reminder that in God’s ultimate reckoning, huma…
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Last reviewed October 2026