There is no peace, said the LORD, to the wicked.
Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Job 15:20-24 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor…
Luke 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
says the LORD,
The authority of this statement comes directly from God, emphasizing its importance and truth. Throughout Isaiah, the phrase "says the LORD" is used to assert divine authority and to remind the audience that these are not merely human words but divine pronouncements. This underscores the seriousness of the message and the certainty of its fulfillment.
for the wicked.
The term "wicked" refers to those who live in rebellion against God, often characterized by injustice, idolatry, and immorality. In the historical context of Isaiah, the wicked included both the Israelites who turned away from God and the surrounding nations that opposed His people. This warning is consistent with other scriptures, such as Psalm 1:4-6, which contrasts the fate of the righteous and the wicked. The ultimate fulfillment of this warning is seen in the final judgment, where eternal separation from God is the destiny of the wicked (Matthew 25:41).
- God’s statement is absolute. Peace—shalom—means wholeness, rest, security, and well-being. By declaring its absence, the Lord strips away every illusion of safety apart from Him.
- Isaiah makes the same point again in Isaiah 57:21, “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” The repetition within the same prophetic book shows how central the warning is.
- Jeremiah exposed false prophets who cried, “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). Superficial comfort cannot quiet a conscience under guilt.
- Romans 3:17 echoes Isaiah: “the way of peace they have not known.” The New Testament confirms that unrest continues wherever sin reigns.
- Personal application: any sense of calm that ignores God’s righteousness is temporary and deceptive. Lasting peace begins only when sin is forgiven and fellowship with God is restored (John 16:33).
- The authority behind the declaration is the covenant-keeping God Himself, the One who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). His words are final and unchanging (Numbers 23:19).
- Because the Lord speaks, the warning is not mere religious opinion; it is reality. To doubt it is to argue with the Creator whose counsel stands forever (Psalm 33:11).
- The phrase underscores His personal involvement. The Lord is not distant; He addresses His people directly, holding them accountable while offering mercy to the repentant (Isaiah 55:6-7).
- Believers can trust that every promise of peace in Christ is just as sure, for the same Lord who warns also invites (Matthew 11:28-29).
- “Wicked” describes those who persist in rebellion, rejecting God’s ways. Psalm 1:4–6 contrasts them with the righteous, noting that they are like chaff and will not stand in the judgment.
- Proverbs 13:15 observes, “The way of the treacherous is hard,” illustrating that the lack of peace is experienced both now—in restless hearts, broken relationships, fear of death—and eternally, in separation from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
- Yet the term does not leave anyone without hope. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 reminds us that many who were once “wicked” have been washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus’ name.
- The verse therefore calls every hearer to examine his or her standing before God. Peace is withheld only as long as one remains in wickedness; it is granted the moment a person turns to the Savior (Acts 3:19).
Isaiah 48:22 delivers a sobering but graciously clear message. Real peace is absent wherever sin rules, because the Lord—whose word is final—has decreed it so. The unrest promised to the wicked is both a present consequence and a future judgment, yet it doubles as an invitation: forsake wickedness, come to Christ, and receive the true peace that God freely gives to all who believe.
(22) There is no peace.--The warning was needed even for the liberated exiles. There was an implied condition as to all God's gifts. Even the highest blessings, freedom and home, were no real blessings to those who were unworthy of them.Verse 22. - There is no peace, etc. This warning phrase occurs again, "in the manner of a refrain" (Cheyne), at the close of what most commentators regard as the second section of this portion of Isaiah's work (Isaiah 57:21). The third section closes with a still more solemn warning (Isaiah 66:24).
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle
peace,”
שָׁל֔וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace
says
אָמַ֥ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say
the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
“for the wicked.”
לָרְשָׁעִֽים׃ (lā·rə·šā·‘îm)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace says Yahweh (Isa Isi Is)