Isaiah 28:20

Verse

Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you.

American Standard Version (1901)

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

Bible in Basic English

For the bed is not long enough for a man to be stretched out on: and the cover is not wide enough for him to be covered with.

Free Bible Version

The bed is too short so you can't stretch out; the blanket is too narrow so you can't cover yourself.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the bed is streight that it can not suffice, and the couering narowe that one can not wrappe himselfe.

King James (Authorized) Version

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

One Unity Resource Bible

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

Translation for Translators

You have heard people say, “Your bed is very short, you will not be able to sleep in it; your blankets are very narrow; they will not cover you!” That means for you that your agreement with Egypt is not going to save you.

Unlocked Literal Bible

For the bed is too short for a man to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow for him to wrap himself in.”

Noah Webster Bible

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it : and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it .

World English Bible

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

Young's Literal Translation

For shorter hath been the bed Than to stretch one's self out in, And the covering hath been narrower Than to wrap one's self up in.

Context

A Cornerstone in Zion

¹⁹As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror. ²⁰Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you. ²¹For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

Sermons

The Bed and Its Covering

C.H. Spurgeon

1.7K

Isaiah 28:20

Chuck Smith

Summary

This verse in Isaiah warns of the impending judgment and destruction that will come upon the people who mock God's warnings and refuse to listen to His teachings. It emphasizes the futility of relying on deceptive strategies or false securities to escape divine judgment. The imagery of a bed too short to stretch out on and a blanket too narrow to wrap in conveys the idea that their attempts to find comfort and safety apart from God will ultimately fail. Ultimately, this verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's wisdom and guidance.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

For the bed is shorter - A mashal or proverbial saying, the meaning of which is, that they will find all means of defense and protection insufficient to secure them, and cover them from the evils coming upon them. מסך massek, Isa 22:8, the covering, is used for the outworks of defense, the barrier of the country; and here, in the allegorical sense, it means much the same thing. Their beds were only mattresses laid on the floor; and the coverlet a sheet, or in the winter a carpet, laid over it, in which the person wrapped himself. For כהתכנס kehithcannes, it ought probably to be מהתכנס mehithcannes. Houbigant, Secker.

John Gill Bible Commentary

For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim,.... Where the Lord broke forth on David's enemies the Philistines, as the breach of waters; see Isa 28:17 and destroyed them, from whence the place had the name of Baalperazim, Sa2 5:20. The Targum is, "for as the mountain which moved when the glory of the Lord was revealed in the days of Uzziah the king;'' referring to the earthquake in his time, Amo 1:1, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; Josephus Ben Gorion (b) makes mention of the valley of Gibeon, where a battle was fought between Cestius the Roman general and the Jews, in which the latter got the victory, and says it was about six miles from Jerusalem: here the Philistines were smitten, returning again after they had been vanquished before, Ch1 14:16 though it is more generally thought that this refers to the discomfiture of the Canaanites in the times of Joshua, when also hailstones fell upon them, and destroyed many; see Isa 28:17 and when the sun and moon stood still till Israel were avenged on their enemies, and which showed the power and presence of God with them, Jos 10:10 and so the Targum, which adds, "and in the miracles which he (the Lord) did for Joshua, in the valley of Gibeon;'' and these instances are mentioned as proofs of the divine power and vengeance, and to assure the Jews that the Lord would rise up in the same wrath and indignation against them, and consume them: that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act; which may be called so, because in the above mentioned instances he fought for his people Israel, but in this he would fight against them; and because this was a work and act of strict justice and awful severity, and not so agreeable to him as acts of mercy, grace, and goodness, in which he delights; or rather, because it was an unusual one, marvellous and surprising, and would be so to the Jews themselves, and even to their enemies, and to all the world, as the destruction of Jerusalem was, especially as by the Romans; see Hab 1:5. Vitringa, besides this, adds the calling of the Gentiles, the seizing of the inheritance of the world, and the destruction of the kingdom of Satan in the Roman empire. The Targum interprets this in a very contrary sense, of such as do strange works, idolatry, for which they are consumed. (b) L. 6. c. 5. p. 559. Vid. Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 1.

Isaiah 28:20

A Cornerstone in Zion

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you.

American Standard Version (1901)

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

Bible in Basic English

For the bed is not long enough for a man to be stretched out on: and the cover is not wide enough for him to be covered with.

Free Bible Version

The bed is too short so you can't stretch out; the blanket is too narrow so you can't cover yourself.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the bed is streight that it can not suffice, and the couering narowe that one can not wrappe himselfe.

King James (Authorized) Version

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

One Unity Resource Bible

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

For the bed is too short for a man to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow for him to wrap himself in.”

Noah Webster Bible

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it : and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it .

World English Bible

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

Young's Literal Translation

For shorter hath been the bed Than to stretch one's self out in, And the covering hath been narrower Than to wrap one's self up in.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Isaiah 28:20

Verse

Context

A Cornerstone in Zion

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Isaiah 28:20

A Cornerstone in Zion

The Bed and Its Covering

Isaiah 28:20

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes