Reference

Isaiah 28:18

Destruction / Perishing LanguageAnnihilation / DestructionHell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)Sheol / The Grave
“And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”
16

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

17

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

18

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

19

From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

20

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Destruction / Perishing Language
Semantic Discovery
80% relevance

This verse was identified through meaning similarity — its content is mathematically close to known verses in this theme, even without sharing the same vocabulary.

Annihilation / Destruction
Semantic Discovery
50% relevance

This verse was identified through meaning similarity — its content is mathematically close to known verses in this theme, even without sharing the same vocabulary.

Hell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)
Multi-Signal Classification
50% relevance

This verse was identified by multiple independent signals: structural patterns, prophetic context, and vocabulary — then validated by a probability model (Snorkel).

Sheol / The Grave
Keyword Match
60% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Destruction / Perishing Language

The verse primarily describes the annulment of a covenant and agreement, which could be interpreted as a change in status or relationship rather than an explicit statement of destruction or perishing. The "overflowing scourge" and being "trodden down" describe an event or experience, but not necessarily the ultimate destruction of the individuals themselves.

Annihilation / Destruction

The verse describes a reversal of a covenant and an agreement, suggesting a change in status or relationship rather than the complete cessation of existence for those involved. The phrase "trodden down by it" implies subjugation or suffering, not necessarily annihilation.

Hell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)

The verse uses the term "hell" (sheol in Hebrew) in parallel with "death," which in many biblical contexts refers to the grave or the realm of the dead generally, rather than a specific place or state of conscious punishment. The phrasing "covenant with death" and "agreement with hell" suggests a metaphorical or figurative use of these terms to describe a doomed alliance, not necessarily a literal place of eternal torment.

Sheol / The Grave

The verse speaks of a "covenant with death" and an "agreement with hell," which could be interpreted metaphorically as a pact with destructive forces or a state of spiritual rebellion, rather than a literal destination for the deceased.

Destruction / Perishing Language
Destruction / Perishing Language

Cross-References

Isaiah 7:7Thematic

“Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.”

Isaiah 8:10Thematic

“Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.”

Isaiah 28:15Thematic

“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”

Isaiah 5:5Thematic

“And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:”

Revelation 12:15Thematic

“And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.”

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Thematic Connections

Destruction / Perishing LanguageAnnihilation / DestructionHell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)Sheol / The Grave

Private Study Note