Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
Study Note
Study Note
The recurring refrain of Isaiah 2 — 'the haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day' — frames the Day of the LORD as an event of cosmic leveling. The structural repetition (verses 11 and 17) creates a literary frame for the catalogue of proud human achievements (cedars, oaks, towers, ships) that will be struck down. The theological core is the incompatibility between creaturely pride and divine glory: the exaltation of God requires and effects the humbling of everything that rivals it. The verse resonates with the Magnificat's reversal language (Luke 1:52) and grounds the biblical theology of humility in eschatological reality rather than mere virtue ethics.
Other Translations
The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
The haughty eyes of man have been humbled, And bowed down hath been the loftiness of men, And set on high hath Jehovah alone been in that day.
The high looks of man will be put to shame, and the pride of men will be made low, and only the Lord will be lifted up in that day.
Cross References
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the …
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and …
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the …
But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; …
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time …
And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine …