Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse's direct instruction to "stop regarding man" isn't just about avoiding misplaced trust; it's a profound reminder of human fragility. By highlighting that a person's life is merely "breath in their nostrils," the text underscores that our very existence is temporary and entirely dependent on God, making any ultimate reliance on fellow humans futile and foolish.
Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a stark warning about the Lord's coming judgment that will humble all pride and bring down human arrogance, Isaiah pivots to a direct command. He urges his audience to stop placing their trust in mere mortals, emphasizing their utter frailty and insignificance in the face of God's unstoppable power. This call to cease relying on human strength and wisdom is a crucial reminder before the chapter shifts to describing the future glory of God's kingdom.
Ever feel like you're relying on something or someone that just can't deliver? This verse cuts straight to the heart of that feeling.
Isaiah uses a stark, physical image to remind us of humanity's fundamental limitation:
The Fleeting Nature of Life
The phrase 'whose breath is in his nostrils' is a powerful way to say that human life is temporary and dependent on the very air we breathe. It's a fragile thing, easily extinguished.
What Does This Mean for Us?
It means that no human being, no matter how powerful, wise, or well-intentioned, can ultimately save us or secure our future. Our trust should not be placed in their strength, their plans, or their promises, because they, like us, are bound by the limits of their own mortality.
We often look to people for validation, security, or solutions. But how much 'account' should we really give them?
The question 'for of what account is he?' isn't just rhetorical; it's a challenge to re-evaluate our human-centric perspectives.
A Plea for Divine Perspective
When contrasted with God's eternal power and sovereignty, human capabilities shrink significantly. The verse is calling us to view humanity not from our own biased perspective, but from God's eternal vantage point.
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Shifting Our Focus
This re-evaluation doesn't mean despising people or ignoring their value. Instead, it means recognizing their limitations and understanding that they cannot bear the weight of ultimate trust. Placing our ultimate hope and reliance on God alone frees us from the disappointment that comes from expecting too much from fragile human beings.
Understand the original words
adam · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word for 'man' or 'mankind,' emphasizing humanity's created nature, frailty, and mortality, especially when contrasted with the eternal and sovereign God.
neshamah · Hebrew Noun
The vital spirit or 'breath of life' given by God that animates physical creatures. It emphasizes the dependency of human life upon God’s ongoing provision and sustainment.
This verse comes at the end of a powerful indictment against human pride and reliance on worldly power, particularly relevant during times of political instability and military threat, such as the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Judah.
Late 8th century BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah during a time of relative peace but increasing moral and spiritual decay, warning against reliance on foreign alliances and idols.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Threat Looms
The powerful Assyrian Empire is a growing threat to the region, influencing Judah's foreign policy decisions and tempting them to seek alliances rather than trust in God.
c. 733-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
Judah is drawn into a conflict with the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria, a period where reliance on foreign powers (like Assyria) was a significant temptation.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem, a major crisis where trusting in human strength or alliances proved futile.
c. 609-597 BC
Babylonian Captivity Begins
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire rises to power, leading to the first deportations of Judeans, including the prophet Daniel, and further demonstrating the failure of human endeavors against divine judgment.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's sentiment by warning against trusting in princes or 'sons of man,' highlighting their inability to save because their breath departs and they return to the dust, paralleling the idea of human frailty.
Jeremiah 17:5This verse pronounces a curse on those who trust in humans and rely on 'flesh' for strength, strongly aligning with Isaiah's exhortation to cease from placing confidence in mere mortals.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29Paul emphasizes God's choice of the weak and lowly to shame the strong and wise, illustrating the principle that human strength, status, and intellect are of little account in God's redemptive plan, just as Isaiah points out the insignificance of man.
Ecclesiastes 9:10This verse reminds us that life is fleeting and that whatever our hand finds to do, we should do it with all our might, because 'there is no work or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.' This underscores the transient nature of human endeavors and capabilities, aligning with Isaiah's caution against overvaluing human effort.
henryIsaiah 2:10-22: "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty."
2:10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affect…
ellicottIsaiah 2:22: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?"
(22) Cease ye from man . . .—The verse is wanting in some MSS. of the LXX. version, and is rejected by some critics, as of the nature of a marginal comment, and as not in harmony with the context. The first fact is the most weighty argument against it, but is not decisive. The other objection does not count for much. To “cease from man” as well as from “idols” is surely the natural close of…
The verse's direct instruction to "stop regarding man" isn't just about avoiding misplaced trust; it's a profound reminder of human fragility. By highlighting that a person's life is merely "breath in their nostrils," the text underscores that our very existence is temporary and entirely dependent on God, making any ultimate reliance on fellow humans futile and foolish.
After a stark warning about the Lord's coming judgment that will humble all pride and bring down human arrogance, Isaiah pivots to a direct command. He urges his audience to stop placing their trust in mere mortals, emphasizing their utter frailty and insignificance in the face of God's unstoppable power. This call to cease relying on human strength and wisdom is a crucial reminder before the chapter shifts to describing the future glory of God's kingdom.
After a stark warning about the Lord's coming judgment that will humble all pride and bring down human arrogance, Isaiah pivots to a direct command. He urges his audience to stop placing their trust in mere mortals, emphasizing their utter frailty and insignificance in the face of God's unstoppable power. This call to cease relying on human strength and wisdom is a crucial reminder before the chapter shifts to describing the future glory of God's kingdom.
"Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?" — The verse's direct instruction to "stop regarding man" isn't just about avoiding misplaced trust; it's a profound reminder of human fragility. By highlighting that a person's life is merely "breath i…
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Last reviewed October 2026