Isaiah 5:18-19
Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The imagery of drawing iniquity with "cords of vanity" and then "cart ropes" reveals a subtle progression: sin often begins with deceptive, flimsy excuses or minor enticements, but as we engage with it, these flimsy ties become thick, heavy ropes, dragging us into deeper, more entrenched patterns of sin. This highlights how sin grows stronger and more binding the more we allow it to influence us, often starting with subtle falsehoods.
Isaiah is delivering a series of "woe" pronouncements against the people of Judah for their various sins. This verse comes after pronouncements against land-grabbing, drunken revelry, and the rejection of God's law. It describes the people actively seeking out and deepening their entanglement in sin, not as accidents, but as a deliberate and increasingly strong commitment to wrongdoing, akin to yoking themselves to a heavy cart.
We often think of sin as a sudden plunge, but what if it's more like a slow, deliberate tightening of ropes?
This verse paints a vivid picture of how sin can escalate. It starts small, like a 'cord of vanity' – perhaps a flimsy excuse, a rationalization, or a deceptive thought.
But as we willingly engage with it, these slender cords become 'cart ropes.' This signifies a massive increase in the weight and power of sin in our lives. What was once manageable becomes a heavy burden, dragging us further into destructive patterns.
Think of it as an evil habit: it begins with a small indulgence, a 'slender string,' but if left unchecked, it can grow into an unbreakable 'cart rope,' controlling our actions and leading us toward ruin.
What are these 'cords of vanity' that ensnare us? They're the subtle lies we tell ourselves and others.
The 'cords of vanity' are the flimsy, deceptive justifications we use to draw sin into our lives. These aren't grand schemes; they are often small, seemingly harmless rationalizations, half-truths, or outright lies.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 5:18-19 is available in the Sola app.
Think about:
These 'vanity cords' don't just tie us to a single sin; they can lead us to draw more iniquity, weaving a complex web that becomes incredibly difficult to escape, eventually feeling as heavy and controlling as cart ropes.
The verse says 'draw iniquity,' not just 'fall into sin.' This implies an active choice and effort.
The imagery of 'drawing' sin is powerful. It suggests that we are not merely passive victims of temptation, but active participants in bringing sin upon ourselves.
We 'draw iniquity' when we actively seek out sinful opportunities, exert effort to commit sin, or use all our strength and cunning to pursue it. The 'cart rope' implies immense effort and struggle – not a struggle against sin, but a struggle to commit it.
This highlights a chilling aspect of sin: it can become something we labor for, something we invest our energy into, willingly binding ourselves to its consequences. It's a stark reminder that our choices have weight and direction.
Understand the original words
hoy · Hebrew Interjection
An expression of intense grief, sorrow, or a prophetic pronouncement of impending judgment and divine condemnation upon those persisting in rebellion.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Moral perversity, twistedness, or guilt; it refers to the act of departing from the right path or the distortion of God’s standard.
shav · Hebrew Noun
Deception, fraud, or intentional untruthfulness; it signifies that which is contrary to the reality and integrity of God.
chattah · Hebrew Noun
Missing the mark of God’s standard; a failure to fulfill the purpose for which God created man, resulting in a state of separation from Him.
qadosh Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun phrase
A covenant title for God that reflects His unique relationship with His people and His role as their Redeemer and Ruler.
Isaiah's prophecy unfolds during a period of intense geopolitical pressure and internal moral decay, with the looming threat of Assyrian conquest and exile serving as a stark backdrop to his warnings against corrupted worship and unjust practices.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian influence grows
The Neo-Assyrian Empire is a dominant world power, expanding its territory and influence, putting pressure on surrounding kingdoms like Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) is conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its population and the loss of the ten tribes.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event deeply impacted Judah's sense of security and divine protection.
Mid-7th century BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah initiates a religious and social reform movement, emphasizing adherence to the Law and centralizing worship in Jerusalem. This may have been a response to the spiritual decay Isaiah addresses.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar II, defeats the Assyrians and Egyptians, beginning its rise to power and initiating the first wave of exiles from Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population. This marks the end of the Davidic monarchy and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes how wicked people are enticed into sin by their peers, drawing them in with deceptive promises and enticements, much like Isaiah's imagery of drawing iniquity with 'cords of vanity'.
Jeremiah 2:13This verse speaks of Israel's deep sinfulness in forsaking God, comparing it to digging broken cisterns that hold no water, which parallels the idea in Isaiah of willingly drawing sin to oneself, as if it were a deliberate, ongoing action.
Romans 6:12-16Paul warns believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, likening the act of yielding to sin to presenting oneself as a tool for unrighteousness, which echoes Isaiah's strong imagery of actively 'drawing iniquity' and sin.
Ephesians 4:19This verse describes those who have become 'past feeling' and given themselves over to sensuality, reflecting the reckless and determined pursuit of sin that Isaiah portrays with the 'cart rope'.
barnesIsaiah 5:18: "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:"
Wo unto them ... - This is a new denunciation. It introduces another form of sin, and threatens its appropriate punishment. That draw iniquity with cords of vanity - The general idea in this verse and the next, is, doubtless, that of plunging deeper and deeper into sin. The word "sin" here, has been sometimes supposed to mean "the punishment" for sin. The word has that meaning sometimes, b…
gillIsaiah 5:18: "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:"
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity,.... The prophet returns to the wicked again, and goes on with the account of their sin and punishment; and here describes such, not that are drawn into sin unawares, through the prevalence of their own hearts' lusts and corruptions, through the temptations of Satan, the snares of the world, or the persuasions of others; but such who dr…
The imagery of drawing iniquity with "cords of vanity" and then "cart ropes" reveals a subtle progression: sin often begins with deceptive, flimsy excuses or minor enticements, but as we engage with it, these flimsy ties become thick, heavy ropes, dragging us into deeper, more entrenched patterns of sin. This highlights how sin grows stronger and more binding the more we allow it to influence us, often starting with subtle falsehoods.
Isaiah is delivering a series of "woe" pronouncements against the people of Judah for their various sins. This verse comes after pronouncements against land-grabbing, drunken revelry, and the rejection of God's law. It describes the people actively seeking out and deepening their entanglement in sin, not as accidents, but as a deliberate and increasingly strong commitment to wrongdoing, akin to yoking themselves to a heavy cart.
Isaiah is delivering a series of "woe" pronouncements against the people of Judah for their various sins. This verse comes after pronouncements against land-grabbing, drunken revelry, and the rejection of God's law. It describes the people actively seeking out and deepening their entanglement in sin, not as accidents, but as a deliberate and increasingly strong commitment to wrongdoing, akin to yoking themselves to a heavy cart.
"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near…" — The imagery of drawing iniquity with "cords of vanity" and then "cart ropes" reveals a subtle progression: sin often begins with deceptive, flimsy excuses or minor enticements, but as we engage with…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
