Verse MeaningIsaiahSome background helps
Isaiah 22:16: Meaning Explained
What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him...
Isaiah 22:16
“'What are you doing here, and who gave you the right to cut out a tomb for yourself here — chiseling your burial place high up, carving out a resting place for yourself in the rock?'”
What Does This Verse Mean?
Isaiah questions why Shebna has carved out a fancy tomb for himself in the rock. Who does he think he is?
What’s Happening Here
Shebna was building an impressive burial place for himself, showing pride and greed. Isaiah condemns this vanity.
Key Words
tomba place where dead people are buried
Why It Matters
Building fancy tombs for yourself shows arrogance and misplaced priorities. We should trust in God, not earthly monuments.
Did You Know?
Shebna's tomb was a sign of his pride and wealth while people around him suffered.
Word Study
H6311
hereפֹּ֖ה
H2672
What hast thou here and whom hast thou here that thou hast hewed thee outחֹצְבִ֤י
H6913
a sepulchreקִבְר֔וֹ
H4791
on highמָרוֹם֙
H2710
and that gravethחֹקְקִ֥י
H5553
for himself in a rockבַסֶּ֖לַע
H4908
an habitationמִשְׁכָּ֥ן
Cross References
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Read Isaiah 22:16 in the Bible reader, or explore the full chapter summary.