Isaiah 5:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Death (the grave) opens wide its mouth to receive all—the glory, multitude, pomp, and prideful leaders.
The Context of Isaiah 5:14
Death awaits all without distinction or exception.
What Does Isaiah 5:14 Mean?
'Hell' here translates Sheol, the grave or the place of the dead, understood as insatiable in hunger. The metaphor is of a gaping mouth, enlarged to consume all who descend into it. This descent is literal (death through famine and war) and figurative (loss of glory and status).
The four items descending—glory, multitude, pomp, and the rejoicing (the prideful joy of leaders)—are stripped of meaning in Sheol. The grave does not honor rank or number or self-congratulation. All are leveled in death.
Isaiah 5:14 in the Original Language
Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), 'hell' or 'grave' — the Old Testament word for the abode of the dead, here personified as insatiably hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:14
What does Isaiah 5:14 mean?
Death (the grave) opens wide its mouth to receive all—the glory, multitude, pomp, and prideful leaders.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:14?
Death awaits all without distinction or exception.