Isaiah 28:18
Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The prophet uses the word "disannulled" to describe the broken covenant, which literally means to be "covered over" or "smeared out." This imagery suggests that their supposed protection was not just ineffective, but actively erased and obliterated by God's judgment. Their reliance on human schemes was not merely canceled, but wiped from existence, leaving them exposed to the overwhelming scourge.
This verse is part of Isaiah's "woe" to the proud drunkards of Ephraim and Judah, who felt secure in their political alliances and perceived wisdom. They believed they had made a deal with death and the underworld itself, ensuring they wouldn't be harmed by the coming Assyrian invasion. However, Isaiah reveals that this "covenant" is worthless and will be utterly broken when the inevitable divine judgment, described as an "overflowing scourge," arrives, leaving them utterly crushed.
Imagine making a deal with someone you know you can't beat, someone who will ultimately win. That's what these people did with death itself.
The people in Isaiah's day felt secure, even powerful. They had made 'covenants' and 'agreements' with death and the grave (Sheol). This wasn't a literal contract, but a deep-seated belief that their strategies, alliances, or perhaps even their religious rituals, would shield them from the coming judgment. They thought they could outsmart or outlast the inevitable.
But the prophet declares this 'covenant' is like writing on a wax tablet that will be smeared over, completely erased. Their agreements would prove utterly worthless. This highlights a crucial spiritual truth: no human plan, no worldly security, can ever truly make a binding 'deal' with death or the forces of destruction. True security comes only from God, not from attempts to manipulate or appease destructive forces.
Judgment isn't always a distant threat. Sometimes, it's a relentless flood that sweeps everything away.
The 'overflowing scourge' (sometimes translated as 'flood' or 'pestilence') represents the unstoppable judgment of God. It's described as something that 'passes through' and ultimately 'treads down' those who trust in false security.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 28:18 is available in the Sola app.
This imagery paints a vivid picture of overwhelming, inescapable calamity. It's not just a passing shower but a relentless downpour or a powerful invading force that crushes everything in its path. The people thought their 'covenants' would prevent this, but the prophecy makes it clear: when this divine judgment arrives, their defenses will crumble, and they will be utterly overwhelmed and defeated.
Understand the original words
beriyth · Hebrew Noun
A formal, binding agreement or promise between parties; in Scripture, it often refers to the sacred relationship between God and His people, or—as used here—an illegitimate alliance made in violation of God's will.
Sheol · Hebrew Noun
The abode of the dead or the grave; in the Old Testament, it represents the destination of all humanity after death, often associated with darkness, separation from the living, and final judgment.
This verse directly addresses the people of Judah during the Assyrian invasions, highlighting their misguided trust in alliances and their false sense of security against God's judgment.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Domination of Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls under increasing Assyrian pressure, leading to its eventual conquest and deportation.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
Aram and Israel attempt to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance, but Judah under King Ahaz seeks Assyrian help instead.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the deportation of many Israelites.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities but failing to take Jerusalem, which is miraculously spared.
This verse directly precedes the one in question, revealing the specific 'covenant with death' and 'agreement with Sheol' the people made through lies and falsehood, setting the stage for why it will be annulled.
Isaiah 8:15This passage describes how God's judgment will be a snare and a trap for His own people, paralleling the idea of the 'overwhelming scourge' that will 'beat them down'.
Jeremiah 33:21This verse speaks of God establishing an unbreakable covenant with David, contrasting with the annulled and failing 'covenant' and 'agreement' mentioned in Isaiah 28:18.
Proverbs 1:11-14This passage describes a similar deceptive 'agreement' that wicked people make to pursue gain and shun judgment, highlighting the foolishness of trusting in such schemes, much like the people in Isaiah's time.
Matthew 7:24-27Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders directly illustrates the consequence of building one's life on a false foundation (like a 'covenant with death') versus a solid one, showing how the former will inevitably be swept away by the storm.
bensonIsaiah 28:18: "And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."
Isaiah 28:18-19 . And your covenant with death shall be disannulled — Made void, or of none effect. Ye shall be trodden down — Namely, by the overflowing scourge, which you flattered yourselves should not come unto you. From the time that it goeth forth — Namely, from me into the land, it shall assu…
cambridgeIsaiah 28:18: "And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."
18 . See on Isaiah 28:15 . shall be disannulled ] lit. “smeared over” (cf. Genesis 6:14 ) i.e. “cancelled,” “obliterated.” The verb is the technical word for expiate (as e.g. Isaiah 22:14 ), and although it is nowhere else in the O.T. used exactly as here, the sense is supported by Syriac usage, and…
The prophet uses the word "disannulled" to describe the broken covenant, which literally means to be "covered over" or "smeared out." This imagery suggests that their supposed protection was not just ineffective, but actively erased and obliterated by God's judgment. Their reliance on human schemes was not merely canceled, but wiped from existence, leaving them exposed to the overwhelming scourge.
This verse is part of Isaiah's "woe" to the proud drunkards of Ephraim and Judah, who felt secure in their political alliances and perceived wisdom. They believed they had made a deal with death and the underworld itself, ensuring they wouldn't be harmed by the coming Assyrian invasion. However, Isaiah reveals that this "covenant" is worthless and will be utterly broken when the inevitable divine judgment, described as an "overflowing scourge," arrives, leaving them utterly crushed.
This verse is part of Isaiah's "woe" to the proud drunkards of Ephraim and Judah, who felt secure in their political alliances and perceived wisdom. They believed they had made a deal with death and the underworld itself, ensuring they wouldn't be harmed by the coming Assyrian invasion. However, Isaiah reveals that this "covenant" is worthless and will be utterly broken when the inevitable divine judgment, described as an "overflowing scourge," arrives, leaving them utterly crushed.
"Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it." — The prophet uses the word "disannulled" to describe the broken covenant, which literally means to be "covered over" or "smeared out." This imagery suggests that their supposed protection was not just…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
