What Does Isaiah 5:15 Mean in the King James?

And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

Isaiah 5:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The same Hebrew word lowers both the powerful person and the lofty eyes, bringing status and the gaze of superiority down together.

THE MEANING

The verse places the ordinary person, the powerful person, and the elevated gaze under the same lowering. Human rank and the way a person looks down from above are both exposed to being brought low now.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that power or a sense of superiority makes someone untouchable is undone.

THE ROOT

וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִישׁ

vayyishpal ish tishpalnah

GROWS FROM

שפל

sh-p-l

To be low or brought down.

The same root describes the mighty man being humbled and the lofty eyes being brought low. English can make these sound like separate outcomes, while Hebrew ties a person’s stature to the gaze that expresses it.

ALSO GROWS

shaphal: Low, humble.

שָׁפָל

The adjective names the low position that the verse’s verbs bring about.

shephelah: Lowland.

שְׁפֵלָה

This related word makes lowliness a place one can be brought down to, as well as a condition.

shiflut: Lowliness, humility.

שִׁפְלוּת

It names the state that results when claimed height is lowered.

עֵינֵי

ʿênê

GROWS FROM

עין

ʿ-y-n

Eye; the same Hebrew noun also means a spring or fountain.

The verse singles out the eyes of the lofty, so the lowering reaches their gaze as well as their standing. The Hebrew word for eye also names a spring or fountain, giving the word a sense of source alongside sight.

ALSO GROWS

ʿayin: Eye, organ of sight.

עַיִן

This is the singular noun behind the verse’s phrase “eyes of the lofty.”

ʿayin: Spring, fountain.

עַיִן

The same Hebrew word can name a source of water, a sense that English “eyes” does not carry.

THE PATTERN

Human elevation is brought low, while those of low degree can be raised.

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:7 · KJVThe verse sets lowering and lifting side by side as movements that cross human rank.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:52 · KJVThe mighty are lowered from their seats while people of low degree are raised.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6 · KJVThe proud and the humble occupy opposite positions in the same pattern of lowering and favor.

THE THREAD

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:11 · KJV

This verse repeats the same root ⁨שפל⁩ (sh-p-l), “to be brought low,” for lofty human looks. Isaiah 5:15 makes the connection especially clear: the lowering reaches both the person and the gaze that claims height.

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