But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the miry places of it, and its marshes, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt.
- BSB But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
- NKJV But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.
- NASB But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
- NLT But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The swamps and marshes are left salty and unhealed. Even amid sweeping restoration, some places remain reserved for judgment or necessary salt.
Overview
Notably, certain marshy areas are not healed but 'given up to salt.' Many take this practically (salt was a needed commodity); others see a sober reminder that not all is included in blessing, that judgment and grace coexist. Faithful interpreters differ on the emphasis, but the verse cautions against presuming on grace while leaving room for God's varied purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Deut 29:23And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
- Rev 22:11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
- Rev 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- Jer 17:6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
- Ps 107:34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
- Mark 9:48–49Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
- Judg 9:45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
- 2 Pet 2:19–22While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
- Heb 10:26–31For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
- Heb 6:4–8For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
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Original language
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