Isaiah 30 — Dead Sea Scrolls
33 verses • 10 variants • Columns XXIV–XXV of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 30 denounces Judah's alliance with Egypt and promises eventual restoration. The 33 verses contain a mix of orthographic and moderate variants. The 'tablet and scroll' passage (vv. 8-9) and the 'teacher' passage (v. 20) are notable.
Notable Variants
Verse 8 has the command to write on a tablet and scroll — one of the few references to Isaiah's own literary activity. Verse 15 has the famous 'in returning and rest you shall be saved.' Verse 26 has dramatic cosmic imagery. Verse 33 has the Topheth passage.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
Woe to the rebellious children, declares the LORD, who carry out plans, but not mine, who forge alliances, but not by my Spirit, piling sin upon sin.
Masoretic (WLC)
סוֹרְרִים
rebellious
Dead Sea Scroll
סוררים
rebellious
Identical consonantal text. The 'rebellious children' who make plans not from God's spirit are described identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 21
They set out to go down to Egypt without consulting me, to take refuge in Pharaoh's protection and shelter in Egypt's shadow.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 22
But Pharaoh's protection will become your shame, and shelter in Egypt's shadow your humiliation.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 23
Though their officials have reached Zoan and their envoys have arrived at Hanes,
Masoretic (WLC)
חָנֵס
Hanes
Dead Sea Scroll
חנס
Hanes
Identical consonantal text. The Egyptian city Hanes (near modern Beni Hasan) is named identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 24
everyone will be put to shame by a people who cannot help them — no aid, no benefit, only shame and disgrace.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 25
An oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and roaring lion, of viper and darting serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels to a people who cannot help them.
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּהֵמוֹת
beasts of
Dead Sea Scroll
בהמות
beasts of
Identical consonantal text. The 'beasts of the Negev' passage — donkeys and camels carrying treasures through dangerous desert to Egypt — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 26
Egypt's help is worthless and empty. Therefore I call her 'Rahab who sits still.'
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 27
Now go, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll, that it may serve for the days to come as a witness forever.
Masoretic (WLC)
לוּחַ
tablet
Dead Sea Scroll
לוח
tablet
1QIsaiah-a reads לוח identically. The command to 'write it on a tablet and inscribe it in a book' — preserving the prophecy for a future witness — is one of the few explicit references to Isaiah's literary activity. This self-referential moment confirms the scroll's awareness of its own textual transmission. Both traditions preserve the same command.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 28
For this is a rebellious people, deceitful children, children who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIV, line 29
They say to the seers, 'Do not see!' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy what is right to us. Speak smooth things to us; prophesy illusions!'
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 1
'Leave the way! Get off the path! Stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 2
Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: Because you have rejected this word and trusted in oppression and deceit, leaning on them for support,
Masoretic (WLC)
קְדוֹשׁ
Holy One
Dead Sea Scroll
קדוש
Holy One
1QIsaiah-a writes קדוש with plene spelling. The 'Holy One of Israel' title — Isaiah's signature designation for God — is preserved identically in content. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 3
this guilt will become for you like a crack in a high wall, bulging outward, ready to collapse — whose shattering comes suddenly, in an instant.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 4
He will shatter it like a potter's jar, crushed without mercy — so thoroughly broken that among its fragments not a shard will be found large enough to scoop a coal from a hearth or dip water from a cistern.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 5
For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.' But you would not.
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת תִּוָּשֵׁעוּן
in returning and rest you shall be saved
Dead Sea Scroll
בשובה ונחת תושעון
in returning and rest you shall be saved
1QIsaiah-a reads בשובה ונחת תושעון with a plene spelling of the verb. The famous formulation — 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength' — is preserved identically in meaning. This verse became a programmatic text for contemplative spirituality. The tragic conclusion — 'but you were unwilling' — is also identical in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 6
But you said, 'No! We will flee on horses' — therefore you will flee indeed! 'We will ride on swift steeds' — therefore your pursuers will be swifter!
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 7
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, like a signal banner on a hill.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 8
Yet the LORD waits to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice — blessed are all who wait for Him.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 9
O people in Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 10
Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your Teacher will no longer be hidden. Your own eyes will see your Teacher.
Masoretic (WLC)
מוֹרֶיךָ
your teacher(s)
Dead Sea Scroll
מוריכה
your teacher(s)
1QIsaiah-a writes מוריכה with a fuller suffix spelling. The passage — 'your eyes shall see your Teacher' — uses a participle that could be singular or plural. The MT points it as plural but the DSS spelling does not disambiguate. The promise of direct divine instruction is preserved in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 11
And your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way — walk in it,' whether you turn to the right or to the left.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַדֶּרֶךְ
the way
Dead Sea Scroll
הדרך
the way
Identical consonantal text. 'This is the way — walk in it' — heard whenever one turns to the right or left. The divine guidance imagery is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 12
Then you will defile the silver plating of your carved idols and the gold overlay of your cast images. You will scatter them like filthy rags, saying to them, 'Get out!'
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 13
He will give rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your livestock will graze in broad pastures.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 14
The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat seasoned fodder winnowed with shovel and fork.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 15
On every high mountain and every lofty hill there will be streams and channels of water, on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 16
The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold — like the light of seven days combined — on the day the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wound He inflicted.
Masoretic (WLC)
שִׁבְעָתַיִם
sevenfold
Dead Sea Scroll
שבעתים
sevenfold
1QIsaiah-a writes שבעתים identically. The cosmic imagery — moonlight like sunlight, sunlight sevenfold brighter — describes the eschatological restoration. This intensification of light echoes the creation narrative and anticipates Revelation 21:23. Both traditions preserve the same dramatic imagery.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 17
Look — the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with anger, heavy with fury. His lips are full of wrath, and His tongue is like a devouring fire.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 18
His breath is like an overflowing torrent rising to the neck, to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads them astray.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 19
You will have a song as on the night when a holy festival begins, and gladness of heart like one who walks with a flute to come to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 20
The LORD will make His majestic voice heard and reveal the descent of His arm in furious anger — a flame of devouring fire, with cloudbursts, torrents, and hailstones.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 21
For at the voice of the LORD, Assyria will be shattered — he who struck with a rod.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 22
Every stroke of the appointed rod that the LORD lays on Assyria will be accompanied by tambourines and lyres, as He fights against them with the sweep of His arm.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 23
For Topheth has long been prepared; it is made ready even for the king. Its fire pit is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
Masoretic (WLC)
תָּפְתֶּה
Topheth
Dead Sea Scroll
תופתה
Topheth
1QIsaiah-a writes תופתה with plene spelling. Topheth — the place of burning in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) — is prepared for 'the king' (likely the king of Assyria). The fire-and-brimstone imagery is preserved identically. Topheth became the basis for Gehenna/hell imagery in later Judaism and in Jesus' teaching.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 24