Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Therefore Death expands its jaws, opening wide its mouth; into it will descend their nobles and masses with all their brawlers and revelers. New Living Translation The grave is licking its lips in anticipation, opening its mouth wide. The great and the lowly and all the drunken mob will be swallowed up. English Standard Version Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down, her revelers and he who exults in her. Berean Standard Bible Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers! Berean Literal Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged her soul and has opened her mouth beyond measure; her nobles will go down—and her crowd and her revelers and exulting—into her. King James Bible Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. New King James Version Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it. New American Standard Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth beyond measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her noise of revelry, and the jubilant within her, descend into it. NASB 1995 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry and the jubilant within her, descend into it. NASB 1977 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry, and the jubilant within her, descend into it. Legacy Standard Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without limit; And Jerusalem’s majesty, her multitude, her rumbling, and the exultant within her, descend into it. Amplified Bible Therefore Sheol (the realm of the dead) has increased its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her [boisterous] uproar and her [drunken] revelers descend into it. Berean Annotated Bible Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers! Christian Standard Bible Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s dignitaries, her masses, her crowds, and those who celebrate in her! Holman Christian Standard Bible Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s dignitaries, her masses, her crowds, and those who carouse in her! American Standard Version Therefore Sheol hath enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend into it. Contemporary English Version The world of the dead has opened its mouth wide and is eagerly waiting for the leaders of Jerusalem and for its noisy crowds, especially for those who take pride in that city. English Revised Version Therefore hell hath enlarged her desire, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend into it. GOD'S WORD® Translation That is why the grave's appetite increases. It opens its mouth very wide so that honored people and common people will go down into it. Those who are noisy and joyous will go down into it. Good News Translation The world of the dead is hungry for them, and it opens its mouth wide. It gulps down the nobles of Jerusalem along with the noisy crowd of common people. International Standard Version Therefore Sheol's appetite has grown; it has opened its mouth beyond limit. Jerusalem's nobility and her multitudes will go there, along with her brawlers and whoever is reveling within her. NET Bible So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion's dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her. New Heart English Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. Webster's Bible Translation Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTherefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers! World English Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTherefore Sheol has enlarged herself, "" And has opened her mouth without limit. And its honor has gone down, and its multitude, "" And its noise, and its exulting one—into her. Berean Literal Bible Therefore Sheol has enlarged her soul and has opened her mouth beyond measure; her nobles will go down—and her crowd and her revelers and exulting—into her. Young's Literal Translation Therefore hath Sheol enlarged herself, And hath opened her mouth without limit. And gone down hath its honour, and its multitude, And its noise, and its exulting one -- into her. Smith's Literal Translation For this, hades enlarged her soul, and opened wide her mouth without bound: and her honor shall go down, and her multitude, and her tumult, and he rejoicing, into her. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTherefore hath hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their high and glorious ones shall go down into it. Catholic Public Domain Version For this reason, Hell has expanded its soul, and has opened its mouth without any limits. And their strong ones, and their people, and their exalted and glorious ones will descend into it. New American Bible Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens its mouth beyond measure; Down into it go nobility and masses, tumult and revelry. New Revised Standard Version Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and all who exult in her. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore Sheol has enlarged itself, and opened its mouth without measure: and the glorious men, the honorable men, and the mighty men shall descend into it. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because of this, Sheol has enlarged herself and opened her mouth wide without limit; the glorious and the honored and the mighty shall go down to her OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Therefore the nether-world hath enlarged her desire, And opened her mouth without measure; And down goeth their glory, and their tumult, and their uproar, And he that rejoiceth among them. Brenton Septuagint Translation Therefore hell has enlarged its desire and opened its mouth without ceasing: and her glorious and great, and her rich and her pestilent men shall go down into it. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Woes to the Wicked…13Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst. 14Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers! 15So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes.… Cross References Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat Habakkuk 2:5 and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own. Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. Job 24:19-20 As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. / The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is broken like a tree. and opens wide its enormous jaws Proverbs 1:12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. Numbers 16:30-33 But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.” / As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, / and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. … Psalm 124:3 when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses Lamentations 2:2 Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes. 2 Kings 24:14-16 He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained. / Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle. Isaiah 3:1-5 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, / the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, / the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter. … her revelers and carousers! Amos 6:4-7 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. / You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments. / You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph. … Joel 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. Isaiah 24:7-9 The new wine dries up, the vine withers. All the merrymakers now groan. / The joyful tambourines have ceased; the noise of revelers has stopped; the joyful harp is silent. / They no longer sing and drink wine; strong drink is bitter to those who consume it. Ezekiel 32:18-32 “Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit: / Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be placed with the uncircumcised! / They will fall among those slain by the sword. The sword is appointed! Let them drag her away along with all her multitudes. … Revelation 20:13-14 The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. / Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. Psalm 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God. Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Treasury of Scripture Therefore hell has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall descend into it. hell Isaiah 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. Psalm 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. opened Numbers 16:30-34 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD… Proverbs 1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: he that rejoiceth Isaiah 21:4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. 1 Samuel 25:36-38 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light… 2 Samuel 13:28,29 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant… Jump to Previous Appetite Brawlers Cause Descend Desire Din Enlarge Enlarged Enlarges Exults Feasters Glory Grave Hell Herself Jerusalem Jerusalem's Jubilant Limit Masses Measure Mouth Multitude Nether-World Nobility Nobles Noise Open Opened Opening Opens Pomp Rejoices Rejoiceth Revelers Revelry Sheol Splendor Throat Throng Tumult Underworld Uproar Wide WithinJump to Next Appetite Brawlers Cause Descend Desire Din Enlarge Enlarged Enlarges Exults Feasters Glory Grave Hell Herself Jerusalem Jerusalem's Jubilant Limit Masses Measure Mouth Multitude Nether-World Nobility Nobles Noise Open Opened Opening Opens Pomp Rejoices Rejoiceth Revelers Revelry Sheol Splendor Throat Throng Tumult Underworld Uproar Wide WithinIsaiah 5 1. Under the parable of a vineyard, God excuses his severe judgment8. His judgments upon covetousness 11. Upon lasciviousness 13. Upon impiety 20. And upon injustice 26. The executioners of God's judgments Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat The term "Sheol" in Hebrew refers to the realm of the dead, often depicted as a place of darkness and silence. In the context of Isaiah, Sheol's "enlarging" suggests an increase in the number of those who will face judgment and death due to their sins. This imagery emphasizes the consequences of Israel's disobedience and moral decay. The concept of Sheol is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 9:17 and Proverbs 27:20, where it is portrayed as insatiable. and opens wide its enormous jaws and down go Zion’s nobles and masses her revelers and carousers! Persons / Places / Events 1. SheolIn Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and silence. It is often depicted as a place that eagerly consumes those who have turned away from God. 2. Zion A term often used to refer to Jerusalem or the people of Israel. In this context, it represents the community that has fallen into sin and is facing judgment. 3. Nobles and Masses These are the leaders and the general population of Zion, indicating that both the influential and the common people are subject to judgment. 4. Revelers and Carousers These terms describe those who indulge in excessive partying and moral decay, highlighting the sinful behavior that leads to judgment. 5. Isaiah The prophet who delivers God's message of warning and judgment to the people of Israel, calling them to repentance. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinIsaiah 5:14 serves as a stark reminder that sin leads to spiritual death and separation from God. It is crucial to recognize the seriousness of sin and its consequences. The Call to Repentance The imagery of Sheol's open jaws is a call to repentance. God desires that we turn away from sin and seek His forgiveness and grace. Leadership and Accountability The mention of Zion's nobles highlights the responsibility of leaders to guide their people in righteousness. Leaders are accountable for their influence and must lead by example. The Dangers of Excess The revelers and carousers represent a lifestyle of excess and moral decay. Christians are called to live lives of moderation and holiness, avoiding the pitfalls of indulgence. Hope in Redemption While Isaiah 5:14 speaks of judgment, it also points to the hope of redemption through Christ, who conquers death and offers eternal life to those who believe. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 5:14?2. How does Isaiah 5:14 illustrate consequences of rejecting God's righteousness today? 3. What does "Sheol has enlarged its throat" teach about sin's destructive nature? 4. How can Isaiah 5:14 warn us against complacency in our spiritual lives? 5. Connect Isaiah 5:14 with Romans 6:23 on sin's consequences and God's gift. 6. How can we apply Isaiah 5:14 to encourage repentance in our communities? 7. What does Isaiah 5:14 reveal about God's judgment and the consequences of sin? 8. How does Isaiah 5:14 reflect the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel? 9. What is the significance of Sheol enlarging its throat in Isaiah 5:14? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 5? 11. What does the Bible say about Death and Hades? 12. How do Rastafarians perceive Jesus? 13. What does the Bible say about Death and Hades? 14. Why does Ecclesiastes say the dead are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5), contradicting Jesus' teaching about Hell? What Does Isaiah 5:14 Mean Therefore“Therefore” links this verse to the warnings that fill Isaiah 5:8-13. Because the people pursued greed (v. 8), pursued pleasure without God (v. 11-12), and ignored His mighty deeds (v. 12), judgment must come. Just as the flood followed the corruption of Noah’s day (Genesis 6:11-13) and fire fell on Sodom after persistent wickedness (Genesis 19:24-25), consequence follows unrepentant sin. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 notes the same pattern: God sends repeated warnings, but when they are despised “there was no remedy.” Sheol enlarges its throat “Sheol” pictures the realm of the dead making room for unprecedented numbers. This is no metaphor for mere hardship; it is literal death awaiting a nation that exchanged holiness for rebellion. Numbers 16:32-33 shows a comparable scene when the earth “opened its mouth” to swallow Korah’s rebels, underscoring that divine judgment is tangible, not symbolic. Opens wide its enormous jaws The image intensifies: judgment is unstoppable and unrestrained. Proverbs 27:20 says, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,” reminding us that sin’s wages (Romans 6:23) always demand payment. The “enormous jaws” portray how rebellion creates a vacuum that only destruction can fill, much like the floodgates of wrath in Revelation 14:19-20. Down go Zion’s nobles and masses Judgment is impartial. Leaders, who should have championed justice (Isaiah 1:23), and common people alike descend together. Ezekiel 9:6 records a similar indiscriminate judgment beginning at the sanctuary. Social status offers no shelter when God repays unrighteousness (James 2:1-4; 1 Peter 1:17). Her revelers and carousers! Those celebrated for their parties and excess are singled out. Earlier verses describe them “pursuing strong drink” (Isaiah 5:11-12), blind to the Lord’s work. Amos 6:1-7 parallels this complacent indulgence that ends in captivity. Luke 16:19-23 echoes the fate of the rich man who lived in luxury yet lifted his eyes in torment. Pleasure divorced from godliness leads to ruin. summary Isaiah 5:14 warns that persistent, unrepentant sin forces open the mouth of Sheol. God’s justice falls on every social layer—leaders and followers, party-goers and common folk—because all have spurned His gracious calls to repentance. The verse reminds us that death and judgment are real, literal outcomes for a nation and an individual who turn from the Lord, but its sober tone also urges us to seek refuge in the only Deliverer who conquers Sheol: the Messiah foretold in Isaiah and revealed in Christ Jesus. (14) Therefore hell hath enlarged herself.--The Hebrew Sheol, or Hades, like "hell" itself in its original meaning, expressed not a place of torment, but the vast shadow ? world of death, thought of as being below the earth (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 49:14). Here, as elsewhere (Jonah 2:2; Proverbs 1:12; Proverbs 30:16), it is half-personified, as Hades and Death are in Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13-14. In that unseen world there were, in the later belief of Judaism, the two regions of Gehenna and of Eden or Paradise. What the prophet says is that all the pomp and glory of the rich oppressors are on their way to that inevitable doom. The word for "glory" (as in 1Samuel 4:22) is the same as that for "honourable men" in Isaiah 5:13, so that the original has all the emphasis of repetition. . . . Verse 14. - Therefore hell hath enlarged herself; rather, hath enlarged her desire (comp. Habakkuk 2:5). "Hell" here represents the underworld, into which souls descended at death, not yet perhaps recognized as comprehending two divisions, but regarded much as the Greeks regarded their Hades - as a general receptacle of the dead, dark and silent. Hades (Sheol), not viewed as a person, but personified by poetical license, "enlarges her desire" and "opens her mouth" to receive the crowd that is approaching the crowd of those who in captivity succumb to the hardships of their lot. Their glory; literally, her glory - the glory, i.e., of Jerusalem, which is especially in the prophet's thoughts. "Her glory, and her crowd, and her pomp, and he that is joyful in her, shall go down" into the sheol that gapes for them.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Thereforeלָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus Sheol שְּׁאוֹל֙ (šə·’ō·wl) Noun - common singular Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death) enlarges הִרְחִ֤יבָה (hir·ḥî·ḇāh) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7337: To be or grow wide or large its throat נַפְשָׁ֔הּ (nap̄·šāh) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion and opens וּפָעֲרָ֥ה (ū·p̄ā·‘ă·rāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 6473: To open wide (the mouth) wide its enormous לִבְלִי־ (liḇ·lî-) Preposition-l | Adverb Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as jaws, פִ֖יהָ (p̄î·hā) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to and down go וְיָרַ֨ד (wə·yā·raḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend [Zion’s] nobles הֲדָרָ֧הּ (hă·ḏā·rāh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1926: Magnificence, ornament, splendor [and] masses, וַהֲמוֹנָ֛הּ (wa·hă·mō·w·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1995: A noise, tumult, crowd, disquietude, wealth her jubilant וּשְׁאוֹנָ֖הּ (ū·šə·’ō·w·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 7588: A roar (of waters, etcetera), din, crash, uproar and carousers! וְעָלֵ֥ז (wə·‘ā·lêz) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 5938: Exultant, jubilant Links Isaiah 5:14 NIVIsaiah 5:14 NLT Isaiah 5:14 ESV Isaiah 5:14 NASB Isaiah 5:14 KJV Isaiah 5:14 BibleApps.com Isaiah 5:14 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 5:14 Chinese Bible Isaiah 5:14 French Bible Isaiah 5:14 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 5:14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire (Isa Isi Is) |
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