Isaiah 57:20 Meaning and Explanation
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked remain restless and unclean, like a turbulent sea unable to find peace.
The Context of Isaiah 57:20
A harsh contrast: while the repentant find peace, the wicked remain forever restless.
What Does Isaiah 57:20 Mean?
The image of a troubled sea unable to rest vividly portrays the wicked's spiritual state. A sea at peace lies calm; a troubled sea churns with agitation, finding no stillness. The wicked are constitutionally unable to rest because their rebellion isolates them from the only source of genuine peace. Their unrest is not circumstantial but rooted in their condition.
Waters casting up mire and dirt depict the sea's turbulence producing filth—a picture of spiritual and moral corruption. As the sea stirs, it reveals and broadcasts the detritus beneath. So too the wicked's restlessness exposes the inner corruption of their hearts. There is no cleansing in their turmoil, only the repeated churning up of waste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 57:20
What does Isaiah 57:20 mean?
The wicked remain restless and unclean, like a turbulent sea unable to find peace.
What is the context of Isaiah 57:20?
A harsh contrast: while the repentant find peace, the wicked remain forever restless.