Isaiah 59:5 Meaning and Explanation
“They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who engage in evil are like those who tend serpents' eggs and spin fragile webs; what seems clever is actually deadly.
The Context of Isaiah 59:5
Isaiah employs vivid animal imagery to describe the futility and danger of the wicked plans of Judah. The cockatrice was thought to be a serpent whose look was fatal; the image suggests plans that are poisonous at their core.
What Does Isaiah 59:5 Mean?
The cockatrice (basilisk) was a creature of legend, famed for killing with its gaze. To hatch such eggs is madness. Yet Isaiah says this is what the people of Judah do. They nurture plans and schemes that are inherently poisonous. And they weave spiders' webs, which are intricate but fragile, a poor shelter and a poor defense. The person who eats of the eggs dies. Even those closest to the scheme are harmed by it. And what is crushed from the egg does not remain inert; it becomes a living viper, ready to strike.
This is Isaiah's way of showing that evil contains its own judgment. The wicked do not create something stable or life-giving; they create only instruments of death. Their plans, however carefully woven, cannot protect them. They may seem clever in the moment, but they are tending serpents in their own homes.
Isaiah 59:5 in the Original Language
tzefi (צפע), 'cockatrice' -- in Hebrew tradition, a legendary serpent whose venom or gaze was thought to be instantly fatal; a symbol of what is inherently poisonous
How to Apply Isaiah 59:5 Today
We deceive ourselves when we think we can nurture schemes of harm without consequence. Evil may seem clever, but it contains the seeds of its own undoing and brings death to those who tend it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 59:5
What does Isaiah 59:5 mean?
Those who engage in evil are like those who tend serpents' eggs and spin fragile webs; what seems clever is actually deadly.
What is the context of Isaiah 59:5?
Isaiah employs vivid animal imagery to describe the futility and danger of the wicked plans of Judah. The cockatrice was thought to be a serpent whose look was fatal; the image suggests plans that are poisonous at their core.
How can I apply Isaiah 59:5 today?
We deceive ourselves when we think we can nurture schemes of harm without consequence. Evil may seem clever, but it contains the seeds of its own undoing and brings death to those who tend it.