Isaiah 57:20But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
The setting
Babylon, ~540 BC. Isaiah contrasts God's peace with the inner torment of those who reject Him. The Mediterranean Sea churns endlessly, casting debris on shore. Modern Israel/Palestine coastline.
The emotion here: grieved watching people choose turmoil over God's rest
The original word
garash (גרש) — to cast up violently, like vomiting or convulsing
Why it matters
Ancient sailors feared the Mediterranean's sudden storms that could wreck ships on rocky shores
Read with care
What most readers miss in Isaiah 57:20
This isn't about being evil - it's about the internal restlessness that comes from living without God's peace
Common misconceptionPeople think this only applies to 'bad people,' but it describes anyone living without God's peace - the successful, religious, and moral can be just as internally restless.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Isaiah 57:20
Bible Genome reading
Isaiah 57:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Isaiah 57:20 comes from the book of Isaiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Isaiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wickedness, restlessness. Notable phrases: troubled sea; cast up mire. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Isaiah 57:20 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.