This verse reminds us that no one can find lasting peace apart from God.
“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD. (v.22) This statement is a direct and decisive pronouncement that highlights the seriousness of living in opposition to God’s righteous ways. Spoken by the prophet Isaiah around the late 8th century B.C., these words were addressed to the people of Judah who were persistently disobedient to the covenant that bound them to the LORD. God’s people had been called to trust Him alone instead of looking to idols or political alliances for security (Isaiah 31:1). Despite repeated warnings and compassionate pleas, those who harden their hearts experience a spiritual restlessness that flows from separation from God’s peace.
In the larger context of Isaiah 48, the prophet contrasts the blessings of following God with the turmoil awaiting those who reject Him. The verse “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD (v.22) reminds us that genuine peace cannot be manufactured by human efforts. Instead, peace is a divine gift that springs from a surrendered heart aligned with God’s purposes. In the New Testament, Jesus embodies this divine peace, offering rest to all who come to Him in faith (Matthew 11:28). Yet those who remain stubborn in sin find themselves outside that place of rest, echoing Isaiah’s words here.
God’s statement underscores His holiness and the unchanging truth that sin carries painful consequences. Those who persistently turn away from the LORD distance themselves from the only source of true and lasting peace. The peace that God offers is more than just tranquility—it is wholeness, freedom from guilt, and unity with His will. Wandering away from Him disrupts that wholeness, leading to spiritual turmoil and ultimately to judgment (Romans 6:23).
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Isaiah 48:22 meaning
“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD. (v.22) This statement is a direct and decisive pronouncement that highlights the seriousness of living in opposition to God’s righteous ways. Spoken by the prophet Isaiah around the late 8th century B.C., these words were addressed to the people of Judah who were persistently disobedient to the covenant that bound them to the LORD. God’s people had been called to trust Him alone instead of looking to idols or political alliances for security (Isaiah 31:1). Despite repeated warnings and compassionate pleas, those who harden their hearts experience a spiritual restlessness that flows from separation from God’s peace.
In the larger context of Isaiah 48, the prophet contrasts the blessings of following God with the turmoil awaiting those who reject Him. The verse “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD (v.22) reminds us that genuine peace cannot be manufactured by human efforts. Instead, peace is a divine gift that springs from a surrendered heart aligned with God’s purposes. In the New Testament, Jesus embodies this divine peace, offering rest to all who come to Him in faith (Matthew 11:28). Yet those who remain stubborn in sin find themselves outside that place of rest, echoing Isaiah’s words here.
God’s statement underscores His holiness and the unchanging truth that sin carries painful consequences. Those who persistently turn away from the LORD distance themselves from the only source of true and lasting peace. The peace that God offers is more than just tranquility—it is wholeness, freedom from guilt, and unity with His will. Wandering away from Him disrupts that wholeness, leading to spiritual turmoil and ultimately to judgment (Romans 6:23).