Isaiah 32 — Dead Sea Scrolls
20 verses • 6 variants • Column XXVI of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 32 envisions a righteous king (vv. 1-8), warns complacent women (vv. 9-14), and concludes with Spirit-outpouring (vv. 15-20). The 20 verses contain mostly orthographic variants.
Notable Variants
Verse 1 has the messianic king passage. Verse 15 has the Spirit-outpouring 'from on high' that transforms the wilderness — an important pneumatological text. Both are preserved identically in content.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
Behold — a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall govern in justice.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 4
And each one shall be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shadow of a massive rock in a weary land.
Masoretic (WLC)
כְּמַחֲבֵא
like a hiding place
Dead Sea Scroll
כמחבא
like a hiding place
Identical consonantal text. The king as 'a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm' — the ideal ruler provides protection. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 5
And the eyes of those who see shall not be shut, and the ears of those who hear shall be attentive.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 6
The heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammering shall speak clearly and fluently.
Masoretic (WLC)
נָבָל
fool
Dead Sea Scroll
נבל
fool
Identical consonantal text. The fool (naval) will no longer be called noble — a reversal of social inversion. The same root appears in Nabal's story (1 Samuel 25). No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 7
The fool shall no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be said to be generous.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 8
For the fool speaks folly, and his heart devises wickedness — to practice godlessness and to speak error against the LORD, to leave the soul of the hungry empty and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 9
As for the scoundrel — his schemes are evil; he devises wicked plans to ruin the afflicted with lying words, even when the cause of the needy is just.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 10
But the noble one plans noble things, and by noble things he shall stand.
Masoretic (WLC)
כְּלֵי
weapons/tools of
Dead Sea Scroll
כלי
weapons/tools of
Identical consonantal text. The 'tools of the villain are evil' — the contrast between the fool's weapons and the noble's plans. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 11
Rise up, you women who are at ease; hear my voice, you complacent daughters; give ear to my speech.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 12
In little more than a year you shall tremble, you complacent ones, for the grape harvest shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 13
Tremble, you women at ease; shudder, you complacent ones. Strip yourselves bare and wrap sackcloth around your waists.
Masoretic (WLC)
שַׁאֲנַנּוֹת
complacent ones
Dead Sea Scroll
שאננות
complacent ones
Identical consonantal text. The rebuke of complacent women echoes the earlier rebuke in 3:16-4:1. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 14
Beat your breasts in mourning for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 15
Upon the soil of my people thorns and briers shall grow up — yes, upon all the houses of joy in the jubilant city.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 16
For the palace shall be abandoned, the bustling city forsaken; hill and watchtower shall become dens forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks —
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 17
Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
Masoretic (WLC)
רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם
Spirit from on high
Dead Sea Scroll
רוח ממרום
Spirit from on high
1QIsaiah-a reads רוח ממרום identically. The outpouring of the Spirit 'from on high' (mi-marom) transforms the wilderness into a fruitful field — a key pneumatological passage connecting to Joel 2:28-29 and the Pentecost narrative. Both traditions preserve this Spirit-transformation theology identically.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 18
Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 19
And the work of righteousness shall be shalom, and the fruit of righteousness shall be quietness and trust forever.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 20
And my people shall dwell in a habitation of shalom, in secure dwellings, and in undisturbed resting places.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַשָּׁלוֹם
peace
Dead Sea Scroll
השלום
peace
Identical consonantal text. The product of righteousness is shalom — peace, wholeness, flourishing. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 21
Though hail shall fell the forest, and the city be utterly laid low,
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 22
Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who let the ox and the donkey range free.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 23