King James Version

What Does Isaiah 30:11 Mean?

Isaiah 30:11 in the King James Version says “Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

Isaiah 30:11 · KJV

Context

9

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

10

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

11

Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

12

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: oppression: or, fraud

13

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Read Isaiah 30 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path (סוּרוּ מִנֵּי־דֶרֶךְ הַטּוּ מִנֵּי־אֹרַח/suru minnei-derekh hattu minnei-orach)—Double command to prophets: depart (sur) from the way (derekh), turn aside (natah) from the path (orach). They want God's messengers to get out of their way, stop blocking their chosen course. The imagery is vivid: prophets standing in their path to Egypt, and they're shouting "Move! Get out of our way!" They're determined to pursue their plan regardless of prophetic warnings.

Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us (הַשְׁבִּיתוּ מִפָּנֵינוּ אֶת־קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל/hashbitu mippanenu et-qedosh yisra'el)—Ultimate rebellion: make the Holy One (Qedosh Yisra'el, Isaiah's favorite title for God, appearing 25 times in his prophecy) cease (shavat, to stop, desist) from before them. They don't want to hear about God anymore. Stop mentioning Him. Stop invoking His authority. Stop confronting us with His holiness. This is practical atheism: we don't necessarily deny God's existence, but we don't want Him interfering with our plans. Silence God's voice; banish His presence; proceed without His meddling. This reveals sin's deepest desire: autonomy from God, freedom from His lordship, life without His "interference."

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This demand to silence prophets and ignore God reached its apex in Jeremiah's day, when prophets were imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:15), threatened with death (Jeremiah 26:8), and ultimately killed (Jeremiah 26:23). Israel's history shows escalating rejection: ignoring prophets, mocking them, persecuting them, murdering them. Jesus summarized this pattern: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee" (Matthew 23:37). Demanding that the Holy One of Israel "cease from before us" anticipates the ultimate rejection: "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). Every attempt to silence God's messengers expresses the same desire: autonomy from divine authority, freedom to pursue our own way without accountability to the Holy One.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you tell God to 'get out of the way' when His will conflicts with your plans?
  2. What does it reveal about our hearts when we want 'the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us'—to stop confronting us with His holiness?
  3. How does silencing God's voice through avoiding Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel lead to spiritual disaster?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
ס֚וּרוּ1 of 11

“Get you out”

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

מִנֵּי2 of 11
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

דֶ֔רֶךְ3 of 11

“of the way”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

הַטּ֖וּ4 of 11

“turn aside”

H5186

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

מִנֵּי5 of 11
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

אֹ֑רַח6 of 11

“out of the path”

H734

a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan

הַשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ7 of 11

“to cease”

H7673

to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)

מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ8 of 11

“from before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֶת9 of 11
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

קְד֥וֹשׁ10 of 11

“cause the Holy One”

H6918

sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃11 of 11

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 30:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 30:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Romans 8:7Amos 7:13John 15:23-24Romans 1:30Job 21:14Isaiah 29:21

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 30 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Isaiah 30 with CommentaryAll Isaiah ChaptersComplete Isaiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes