But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The common reading is that the wicked are like a sea tossed by storms, but the original wording emphasizes that the sea cannot be at rest, highlighting their inherent, perpetual inner turmoil. This isn't just about occasional chaos; it's about a fundamental inability to find peace, with their inner unrest constantly bringing forth the "mire and dirt" of their sinful nature.
But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears at the end of a section where God laments the moral decay of His people and contrasts their actions with true faithfulness. Following God's compassionate promises of healing and peace to the repentant, this verse starkly illustrates the perpetual unrest and internal turmoil of those who remain wicked, setting them apart from the peace God offers.
Have you ever felt like a ship tossed in a storm, with no calm in sight? The prophet Isaiah uses a powerful image to describe the inner state of the wicked.
Isaiah 57:20 paints a vivid picture: 'But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.' This isn't just about external circumstances; it's about a fundamental lack of inner peace.
Perpetual Agitation
Unlike a sea that might have moments of calm, the Hebrew here emphasizes that this sea 'can never be at rest.' This suggests a constant, inherent restlessness. The wicked are not simply experiencing occasional trouble; their very nature is one of perpetual motion, driven by inner forces.
The Byproducts of Unrest
What happens when the sea is constantly tossed? It brings up the filth from its depths. Similarly, the inner turmoil of the wicked causes them to 'toss up mire and dirt.' This can manifest as:
Ask a follow-up
If the wicked are like a restless sea, what's churning beneath the surface, preventing any true peace?
The imagery of the sea casting up 'mire and dirt' points to the internal corruption and unaddressed issues within the wicked. It's not just external storms, but internal pollution that causes the upheaval.
Internal Pollution
Commentaries suggest this 'mire and dirt' represents the sinful thoughts, desires, and guilt that reside in the hearts of the unrighteous. These aren't merely occasional problems but are the very substance of their inner being when separated from God's cleansing power.
The Role of Conscience and Sin
This internal filth causes the soul to be agitated.:
Understand the original words
rasha · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are ethically corrupt, characterized by their rejection of God’s law. They are defined not just by specific acts, but by a nature that is fundamentally opposed to God’s holiness.
This passage describes the city of Damascus as troubled and restless, like the sea that cannot be quiet, mirroring the internal turmoil of the wicked described in Isaiah.
Job 15:20This verse speaks of the wicked who are restless and filled with dread, 'tormented all his days,' which directly parallels the unending agitation of the wicked in Isaiah 57:20.
Proverbs 4:16-17These verses contrast the restless sleep of the wicked, who cannot rest unless they have done mischief, with the peace of the righteous, highlighting the perpetual disturbance of those who do evil.
Matthew 12:43-45Jesus uses the metaphor of an unclean spirit finding no rest, returning to a swept house only to bring more demons, illustrating a restless and defiled state that echoes the imagery of the wicked's inner turmoil.
cambridgeIsaiah 57:20: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
20, 21 . Their peace is contrasted with the eternal unrest of the wicked. For the image cf. Judges 13. when ( for ) it cannot rest ] as Jeremiah 49:23 .
barnesIsaiah 57:20: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
But the wicked - All who are transgressors of the law and who remain unpardoned. The design of this is to contrast their condition with that of those who should enjoy peace. The proposition is, therefore, of the most general character. All the wicked are like the troubled sea. Whether prosperous or otherwise; rich or poor; bond or free; old or young; whether in Christian, in civili…
The common reading is that the wicked are like a sea tossed by storms, but the original wording emphasizes that the sea cannot be at rest, highlighting their inherent, perpetual inner turmoil. This isn't just about occasional chaos; it's about a fundamental inability to find peace, with their inner unrest constantly bringing forth the "mire and dirt" of their sinful nature.
This verse appears at the end of a section where God laments the moral decay of His people and contrasts their actions with true faithfulness. Following God's compassionate promises of healing and peace to the repentant, this verse starkly illustrates the perpetual unrest and internal turmoil of those who remain wicked, setting them apart from the peace God offers.
This verse appears at the end of a section where God laments the moral decay of His people and contrasts their actions with true faithfulness. Following God's compassionate promises of healing and peace to the repentant, this verse starkly illustrates the perpetual unrest and internal turmoil of those who remain wicked, setting them apart from the peace God offers.
"But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt." — The common reading is that the wicked are like a sea tossed by storms, but the original wording emphasizes that the sea cannot be at rest, highlighting their inherent, perpetual inner turmoil. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026