What Does Isaiah 2:14 Mean in the King James?
And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for the hills being “lifted up” also belongs to a root meaning “to carry” or “bear,” so height is no refuge from the LORD’s reach.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s day reaches every high place: mountains and raised hills are both named, leaving no height outside its scope. What stands above the landscape remains visible before God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that prominence or power places something beyond exposure and judgment.
THE ROOT
הַנִּשָּׂאוֹת
hannissa’ot
GROWS FROM
נשא
To lift, carry, or bear.
“lifted up” in this verse is hannissa’ot. The same root describes hills raised high, a leader raised to prominence, and a burden borne. English separates height from bearing; Hebrew keeps them in one word-family, showing that what is lifted is not beyond what can be carried or brought under judgment.
ALSO GROWS
nasi: A prince or leader; one raised to a position of prominence.
נָשִׂיא
The raised hills echo the language of people elevated to prominence, putting both kinds of height within the verse’s scope.
massa: A burden, or an oracle, something borne or carried.
מַשָּׂא
This branch joins elevation to bearing: the root used for what is lifted high also names what is carried as a burden.
THE PATTERN
Elevation never puts anything beyond God’s reach: what is high can be lowered, and what is low can be raised.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:THE THREAD
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.Isaiah 53:4 uses נָשָׂא (nasa, “bear” or “carry”) for “borne our griefs,” the same root behind these hills being “lifted up.” The root holds raising and bearing together, joining what stands high with what can be carried.
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