Isaiah – Chapter 22

Old Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

"The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops?" — so begins Isaiah 22. David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and worship and praise. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops?

2Full of clamour, a populous city, a joyous city: thy slain are not slain by the sword, nor dead in battle.

3All the princes are fled together, and are bound hard: all that were found, are bound together, they are fled far off.

4Therefore have I said: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, for the devastation of the daughter of my people.

5For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the wall, and magnificent upon the mountain.

6And Elam took the quiver, the chariot of the horseman, and the shield was taken down from the wall.

7And thy choice valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall place themselves in the gate.

8And the covering of Juda shall be discovered, and thou shalt see in that day the armoury of the house of the forest.

9And you shall see the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and you have gathered together the waters of the lower pool,

10And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and broken down houses to fortify the wall.

11And you made a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: and you have not looked up to the maker thereof, nor regarded him even at a distance, that wrought it long ago.

12And the Lord, the God of hosts, in that day shall call to weeping, and to mourning, to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

13And behold joy and gladness, killing calves, and slaying rams, eating flesh, and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

14And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

15Thus saith the Lord God of hosts: Go, get thee in to him that dwelleth in the tabernacle, to Sobna who is over the temple: and thou shalt say to him:

16What dost thou here, or as if thou wert somebody here? for thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, thou hast hewed out a monument carefully in a high place, a dwelling for thyself in a rock.

17Behold the Lord will cause thee to be carried away, as a cock is carried away, and he will lift thee up as a garment.

18He will crown thee with a crown of tribulation, he will toss thee like a ball into a large and spacious country: there shalt thou die, and there shall the chariot of thy glory be, the shame of the house of thy Lord.

19And I will drive thee out from thy station, and depose thee from thy ministry.

20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliacim the son of Helcias,

21And I will clothe him with thy robe, and will strengthen him with thy girdle, and will give thy power into his hand: and he shall be as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Juda.

22And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.

23And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father.

24And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, divers kinds of vessels, every little vessel, from the vessels of cups even to every instrument of music.

25In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be broken and shall fall: and that which hung thereon, shall perish, because the Lord hath spoken it.

Important Verses in Isaiah 22

For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the wall, and magnificent upon the mountain.

Isaiah 22:5

And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

Isaiah 22:14

He will crown thee with a crown of tribulation, he will toss thee like a ball into a large and spacious country: there shalt thou die, and there shall the chariot of thy glory be, the shame of the house of thy Lord.

Isaiah 22:18

In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be broken and shall fall: and that which hung thereon, shall perish, because the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 22:25

Historical Context

Isaiah addresses judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 22 of 66 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops?" The chapter ends with: "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be…" Read against its original backdrop, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 5: "For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the wall, and magnificent…" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Isaiah 22 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). St. Cyril of Alexandria and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1324).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Isaiah 22 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.

People in This Chapter

David2 mentions

Reflection for Today

In Isaiah Chapter 22, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of judgment, comfort, and messianic hope.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). Isaiah Chapter 22 supports that call by drawing attention to redemptive suffering united to the Cross within the wider message that God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of redemptive suffering united to the Cross bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 22 about?

Isaiah 22 contains 25 verses. It opens with "The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops?" and closes with "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 22?

One of the most significant verses is verse 5: "For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the wall, and magnificent upon the mountain." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Isaiah Chapter 22?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

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