therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a vivid picture of impending doom, but the crucial detail often missed is that the "iniquity" itself is the dangerous bulge in the wall, not just the reason for the collapse. This means their sin has become unstable and self-destructive, a visible crack that signals the inevitable, sudden ruin it guarantees.
therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Judah are in a precarious situation, having turned away from God's guidance and instead sought alliance with Egypt for military aid. Isaiah has been delivering God's message of warning, calling them to repentance and trust in the Lord, but they have stubbornly refused to listen. This verse follows directly after God declares his judgment on their iniquity for choosing human alliances over divine protection, leading into the explanation of the sudden and complete destruction that awaits them.
Imagine a towering wall, once strong and secure, now showing a dangerous bulge. This isn't just a crack; it's a sign of deep, internal rot.
Isaiah uses a powerful image here: 'a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse.' This 'iniquity' – the sin of trusting in Egypt instead of God – isn't just a mistake; it's like a fundamental flaw in the very structure of their security.
The Bulge:
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We often think disaster strikes out of the blue. But sometimes, what appears sudden is the culmination of a long, unseen decay.
The verse emphasizes the suddenness of the destruction: 'whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.' This speaks volumes about how God's judgment can manifest.
Unexpected Ruin:
Understand the original words
avon · Hebrew Noun
A moral or legal fault, guilt, or the distortion of what is right. It refers to sin considered as a perversion of God's order, resulting in deserved judgment.
perets · Hebrew Noun
A breaking or rupture, often used metaphorically for the collapse of a structure, a nation, or a life due to sin and divine judgment.
This prophecy speaks to Judah's dangerous reliance on Egypt for military aid during a period of intense geopolitical instability. Their "iniquity"—their distrust in God and their diplomatic intrigue—is like a structurally unsound wall, appearing strong but on the verge of sudden, catastrophic collapse under the weight of Babylonian conquest.
c. 750 BC
Assyrian Empire Rises to Power
The Neo-Assyrian Empire began its major expansion, becoming a dominant force in the Ancient Near East and a looming threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, its capital Samaria fell, and many of its inhabitants were exiled. This event deeply affected the Southern Kingdom of Judah, increasing their fear of Assyrian power.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event put immense pressure on Judah and its leadership.
c. 680-669 BC
Assyrian Hegemony
Assyria exerted significant political and military control over the region, influencing the foreign policy decisions of Judah, including its alliances.
c. 650 BC
Rise of Egyptian Influence
As the Assyrian Empire began to weaken, Egypt sought to reassert its influence in the Levant, offering alliances and aid to states like Judah.
c. 620 BC
Assyrian Decline and Babylonian Ascendancy
The Neo-Assyrian Empire faced internal strife and external pressures, leading to its decline, while the Neo-Babylonian Empire rose as the new dominant power.
c. 612-586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Conquests and Exile
The Babylonians conquered the Assyrian heartland and then turned their attention to Judah, leading to multiple deportations and the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
This passage also uses the imagery of a broken wall to describe a people's spiritual sickness and lack of true healing, mirroring Isaiah's description of impending collapse due to iniquity.
Ezekiel 13:10-16Ezekiel uses a very similar metaphor of a wall being plastered with 'untempered mortar' that is then breached by a flood, directly echoing Isaiah's image of a collapsing wall and emphasizing the futility of building on false security.
Psalm 62:3This Psalm describes people as 'a bowing wall, a tottering fence,' which parallels Isaiah's image of a wall about to fall, highlighting the instability and impending destruction that comes from relying on anything other than God.
Proverbs 26:27This proverb speaks of those who dig a pit falling into it themselves, and rolling a stone that rolls back on them, illustrating the self-destructive nature of sin and how one's iniquity can lead to their own sudden downfall, much like the bulging wall.
barnesIsaiah 30:13: "Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant."
Therefore this iniquity - That is, this refusing to trust in Yahweh, and this intention to seek the alliance of Egypt. The general sense of the figure here is, that their depending on Egypt would involve them ultimately in complete and awful ruin - ruin that should come upon them as suddenly as when a wall that had been long swelling out g…
clarkeIsaiah 30:13: "Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant."
Swelling out to a high wall "A swelling in a high wall" - It has been observed before, that the buildings of Asia generally consist of little better than what we call mud walls. "All the houses at Ispahan, "says Thevenot, Vol. II., p. 159, "are built of bricks made of clay and straw, and dried in the sun; and covered with a plaster made of…
The verse paints a vivid picture of impending doom, but the crucial detail often missed is that the "iniquity" itself is the dangerous bulge in the wall, not just the reason for the collapse. This means their sin has become unstable and self-destructive, a visible crack that signals the inevitable, sudden ruin it guarantees.
The people of Judah are in a precarious situation, having turned away from God's guidance and instead sought alliance with Egypt for military aid. Isaiah has been delivering God's message of warning, calling them to repentance and trust in the Lord, but they have stubbornly refused to listen. This verse follows directly after God declares his judgment on their iniquity for choosing human alliances over divine protection, leading into the explanation of the sudden and complete destruction that awaits them.
The people of Judah are in a precarious situation, having turned away from God's guidance and instead sought alliance with Egypt for military aid. Isaiah has been delivering God's message of warning, calling them to repentance and trust in the Lord, but they have stubbornly refused to listen. This verse follows directly after God declares his judgment on their iniquity for choosing human alliances over divine protection, leading into the explanation of the sudden and complete destruction that awaits them.
"therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;" — The verse paints a vivid picture of impending doom, but the crucial detail often missed is that the "iniquity" itself is the dangerous bulge in the wall, not just the reason for the collapse. This me…
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Last reviewed October 2026