Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock? New Living Translation “Who do you think you are, and what are you doing here, building a beautiful tomb for yourself— a monument high up in the rock? English Standard Version What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? Berean Standard Bible What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? Berean Literal Bible What is unto you here, and who is unto you here, that have hewn out for yourself here a tomb, hewing out his tomb on high, carving a resting place in the rock for himself? King James Bible What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? New King James Version ‘What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock? New American Standard Bible ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have cut out a tomb for yourself here, You who cut out a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? NASB 1995 ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? NASB 1977 ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? Legacy Standard Bible ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a dwelling place for yourself in the cliff? Amplified Bible ‘What business do you have here? And whom do you have here, That you have hewn out a tomb here for yourself, You who hew a sepulcher on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? Berean Annotated Bible What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? Christian Standard Bible What are you doing here? Who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here, carving your tomb on the height and cutting a resting place for yourself out of rock? Holman Christian Standard Bible What are you doing here? Who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here, carving your tomb on the height and cutting a crypt for yourself out of rock? American Standard Version What doest thou here? and whom has thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre? hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graving a habitation for himself in the rock! Contemporary English Version Shebna, what gives you the right to have a tomb carved out of rock in this burial place of royalty? None of your relatives are buried here. English Revised Version What doest thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre? hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graving an habitation for himself in the rock! GOD'S WORD® Translation "What are you doing here? What right do you have to dig a tomb for yourself? What right do you have to cut it out in a prominent place? What right do you have to carve out a resting place for yourself in the rock? Good News Translation "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to carve a tomb for yourself out of the rocky hillside? International Standard Version What are you doing here, and who are your relatives here that you could carve out a grave for yourself here—cutting out a tomb at the choicest location, chiseling out a resting place for yourself out of solid rock? NET Bible What right do you have to be here? What relatives do you have buried here? Why do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here? He chisels out his burial site in an elevated place, he carves out his tomb on a cliff. New Heart English Bible What are you doing here, and whom have you here, that you have dug out a tomb here?' Cutting himself out a tomb on high, chiseling a habitation for himself in the rock." Webster's Bible Translation What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulcher here, as he that heweth him out a sepulcher on high, and that graveth a habitation for himself in a rock? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhat are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? World English Bible ‘What are you doing here? Who has you here, that you have dug out a tomb here?’ Cutting himself out a tomb on high, chiseling a habitation for himself in the rock!” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhat are you [doing] here? And who has [allowed] you here? That you have hewn out a tomb for yourself here? Hewing his tomb on high, "" Carving a dwelling for himself in a rock. Berean Literal Bible What is unto you here, and who is unto you here, that have hewn out for yourself here a tomb, hewing out his tomb on high, carving a resting place in the rock for himself? Young's Literal Translation What -- to thee here? And who -- to thee here? That thou hast hewn out to thee here -- a sepulchre? Hewing on high his sepulchre, Graving in a rock a dwelling for himself. Smith's Literal Translation What to thee here, and who to thee here, that thou hewedst to thee here a tomb, he hewing from on high his tomb and cutting in a dwelling in a rock to himself? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhat dost thou here, or as if thou wert somebody here? for thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, thou hast hewed out a monument carefully in a high place, a dwelling for thyself in a rock. Catholic Public Domain Version “What are you here, or who are you claiming to be here? For you have hewn a sepulcher for yourself here. You have diligently hewn a memorial in a rock, as a tabernacle to yourself. New American Bible “What have you here? Whom have you here, that you have hewn for yourself a tomb here, Hewing a tomb on high, carving a resting place in the rock?” New Revised Standard Version What right do you have here? Who are your relatives here, that you have cut out a tomb here for yourself, cutting a tomb on the height, and carving a habitation for yourself in the rock? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhat do you here? And what have you here, that you have hewn a tomb for yourself, as he who hews for himself a tomb on high and carves a habitation for himself in a rock? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated ‘What are you doing here, and what do you have here, that you have cut out a tomb for yourself here? He cuts out his grave in a high place, also he fashions his dwelling in stone OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917What hast thou here, and whom hast thou here, That thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre, Thou that hewest thee out a sepulchre on high, And gravest a habitation for thyself in the rock? Brenton Septuagint Translation and what hast thou to do here, that thou hast here hewn thyself a sepulchre, and madest thyself a sepulchre on high, and hast graven for thyself a dwelling in the rock? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Message for Shebna15This is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: “Go, say to Shebna, the steward in charge of the palace: 16What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here— to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? 17Look, O mighty man! The LORD is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you,… Cross References What are you doing here, 1 Kings 19:9 There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Genesis 16:8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” and who authorized you Matthew 21:23-27 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” / “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. / What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ … Luke 20:1-8 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. / “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” / “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: … Hebrews 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. to carve out a tomb for yourself here— Matthew 27:57-60 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. / He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. / So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, … Matthew 23:29-31 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. Genesis 23:9-20 to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.” / Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, / “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” … to chisel your tomb in the height Obadiah 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Jeremiah 49:16 The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. and cut your resting place in the rock? Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. John 19:41-42 Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. / And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there. Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Treasury of Scripture What have you here? and whom have you here, that you have hewed you out a sepulcher here, as he that hews him out a sepulcher on high, and that engraves an habitation for himself in a rock? what hast Isaiah 52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Micah 2:10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. hewed. Isaiah 14:18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. 2 Chronicles 16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him. as he. Jump to Previous Cut Cutting Dug Dwelling Graving Habitation Height Hew Hewed Heweth Hewn High Permission Resting Resting-Place Right Rock Sepulcher Sepulchre Thee Thou Thyself TombJump to Next Cut Cutting Dug Dwelling Graving Habitation Height Hew Hewed Heweth Hewn High Permission Resting Resting-Place Right Rock Sepulcher Sepulchre Thee Thou Thyself TombIsaiah 22 1. The prophet laments the invasion of Jerusalem8. He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy 15. He prophesies Shebna's deprivation 20. And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ. What are you doing here, This phrase is a direct challenge to Shebna, the steward of the palace, questioning his actions and motives. In the context of Isaiah 22, Shebna is being rebuked for his pride and self-serving behavior. The question implies that Shebna's actions are inappropriate or unauthorized, suggesting a misuse of his position. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God questions individuals to reveal their hearts, similar to God's questioning of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:9. and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here— to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock? Persons / Places / Events 1. ShebnaThe steward or treasurer of the palace in Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. He is the subject of Isaiah's rebuke in this passage. 2. Jerusalem The capital city of Judah, where Shebna served. It is the setting for Isaiah's prophecy and rebuke. 3. Isaiah The prophet who delivers God's message to Shebna, calling out his pride and self-serving actions. 4. Tomb The carved tomb represents Shebna's attempt to secure his legacy and status, reflecting his pride and misplaced priorities. 5. Rock Symbolizes permanence and strength, but in this context, it highlights Shebna's arrogance in seeking a lasting monument for himself. Teaching Points Pride and HumilityShebna's actions serve as a warning against pride and self-exaltation. True greatness is found in humility and service to God and others. Legacy and Eternal Perspective Our focus should be on eternal treasures rather than earthly monuments. Consider how your actions today impact your eternal legacy. Authority and Accountability Shebna acted without proper authority, reminding us to seek God's guidance and approval in our decisions. God's Sovereignty Despite human attempts to control and secure their future, God's plans and purposes prevail. Trust in His sovereignty over your life. Self-Examination Regularly assess your motivations and actions to ensure they align with God's will and not personal ambition. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 22:16?2. How does Isaiah 22:16 challenge our understanding of pride and self-reliance? 3. What does "cut a tomb for yourself" reveal about human ambition? 4. How can Isaiah 22:16 guide us in seeking God's will over personal plans? 5. Compare Isaiah 22:16 with Proverbs 16:18 on pride's consequences. 6. How can we apply the lesson of Isaiah 22:16 in daily humility? 7. What is the significance of the tomb in Isaiah 22:16 for understanding ancient burial practices? 8. How does Isaiah 22:16 reflect the themes of pride and judgment in the Bible? 9. What historical context surrounds Isaiah 22:16, and how does it affect its interpretation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 22? 11. Is Eliakim a typological argument for the papacy? 12. What is the significance of the Rock of Salvation? 13. In Isaiah 22:15-19, what evidence supports the existence of Shebna and his downfall, given the lack of external records? 14. What events transpired during the crucifixion of Jesus? What Does Isaiah 22:16 Mean What are you doing here?Isaiah confronts Shebna, the palace steward, for acting out of place. • God asks the same searching question He once posed to Elijah in a cave (1 Kings 19:9), pressing for honest self-examination. • Shebna’s focus has slipped from serving the kingdom to securing his own legacy—an all-too-easy drift warned against in Proverbs 4:25-27 and Philippians 2:4. • The Lord’s question implies accountability: stewardship is never self-directed (Luke 12:42-48). Who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here— Authority matters. As steward, Shebna holds responsibility but not ultimate ownership (Genesis 39:4-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2). • By presuming the right to establish an extravagant monument, he usurps a prerogative that belongs to the king—and ultimately to God (Romans 13:1). • The prophet exposes prideful self-promotion, echoing Korah’s rebellion—“Why then do you exalt yourselves?” (Numbers 16:3). • Jesus warned of the same heart in the Pharisees who “love the places of honor” (Matthew 23:6). To chisel your tomb in the height Elevated tombs signified prestige; the higher the tomb, the loftier the claim. • Shebna’s choice mirrors Lucifer’s boast, “I will ascend… I will set my throne on high” (Isaiah 14:13-15). • Obadiah 1:3 and Jeremiah 49:16 both indict nations that build “nests among the stars,” trusting elevation to guarantee security. • God sees and resists such pride (James 4:6); elevation without His approval invites a fall (Proverbs 16:18). And cut your resting place in the rock? Rock-hewn tombs aimed at permanence, but only the Lord grants lasting rest (Psalm 62:1; Hebrews 4:9-10). • Shebna seeks an immutable monument, yet his position is about to be shattered (Isaiah 22:17-19). • Contrast his effort with Joseph of Arimathea’s rock tomb—borrowed, open to surrender when Christ rose (Matthew 27:60; 28:6). • Human attempts at self-made security crumble; God alone is the Rock that endures (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Peter 2:6). summary Isaiah 22:16 exposes a steward’s arrogant bid for self-glorification. God asks pointedly where Shebna’s heart is, who granted him such rights, and why he trusts in lofty, rock-hewn permanence. The verse warns against prideful self-promotion, reminds us that all authority and honor come from the Lord, and calls believers to humble, faithful stewardship—resting not in monuments of stone but in the eternal Rock of our salvation. (16) What hast thou here? . . .--The prophet's indignation is roused by Shebna's last act of arrogance. He had no "sepulchre of his fathers" to deck with fresh stateliness, and, like the kings and great ones of the earth (the kings of Sidon, the Pharaohs of Egypt, the kings of Assyria), had built one for himself, hollowed out of the wells (probably on one of the hills of Jerusalem), to be his own everlasting "habitation," his domus ?terna. So in Ecclesiastes 12:5, the grave is the "long home" of man. Rock-hewn sepulchres of this type are found on the slopes of all the hills in the neighbourhood of the holy city.Verse 16. - What hast thou here? i.e. what business, or what right? It seems, certainly, to be implied that Shebna was wholly unconnected with Jerusalem. Whom hast thou here? i.e. what relations? what family? To be justified in hewing out a large tomb, Shebna should have had a numerous family for whom graves would be needed. Otherwise, his excavation of a grand sepulcher was merely selfish and ostentatious. As he that heweth him out a sepulcher on high. Jewish tombs of any pretension were generally excavations in the solid rock, on the side of some hill or mountain, and had often a very elevated position. Tombs exist on the slopes of all the hills about Jerusalem, but are most numerous on the eastern side of the temple mount, which slopes steeply to the Kedron valley. A square-topped doorway leads into a chamber, generally square, from which recesses, six or seven feet long, two broad, and three high, are carried into the rock horizontally, either on a level with the floor, or with a platform, or shelf, halfway up one of the walls. These recesses have been called loculi. After a body had been placed in one, it was commonly closed by a stone, which fitted into the end, and thus shut off the body from the chamber. Chambers had sometimes twelve such loculi. An habitation (comp. Ecclesiastes 12:5). We must not suppose, however, that the Jews, like the Egyptians and Etruscans, regarded the soul as inhabiting the tomb. The soul descended into sheol; the grave was the "habitation" of the body only.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whatמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what are you doing here, פֹה֙ (p̄ōh) Adverb Strong's 6311: This place, here and who וּמִ֣י (ū·mî) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix authorized you לְךָ֣ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew to carve out חָצַ֧בְתָּ (ḥā·ṣaḇ·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 2672: To cut, carve, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave a tomb קָ֑בֶר (qā·ḇer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher for yourself פֹ֔ה (p̄ōh) Adverb Strong's 6311: This place, here here, פֹּ֖ה (pōh) Adverb Strong's 6311: This place, here to chisel חֹצְבִ֤י (ḥō·ṣə·ḇî) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 2672: To cut, carve, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave your tomb קִבְר֔וֹ (qiḇ·rōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher in the height מָרוֹם֙ (mā·rō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4791: Altitude and cut חֹקְקִ֥י (ḥō·qə·qî) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 2710: To hack, engrave, to enact, prescribe your resting place מִשְׁכָּ֥ן (miš·kān) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle in the rock? בַסֶּ֖לַע (ḇas·se·la‘) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5553: A craggy rock Links Isaiah 22:16 NIVIsaiah 22:16 NLT Isaiah 22:16 ESV Isaiah 22:16 NASB Isaiah 22:16 KJV Isaiah 22:16 BibleApps.com Isaiah 22:16 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 22:16 Chinese Bible Isaiah 22:16 French Bible Isaiah 22:16 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 22:16 What are you doing here? 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