King James Version

Isaiah 28:20

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

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Hebrew

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כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…קָצַ֥רqatsarmuch discouragedקָצַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “much discouraged”, a completed actionH7114to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)[idiom] at all, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax) short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex.הַמַּצָּ֖עhamatsathe bedמַצָּעdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the bed”, the ordinary formH4702a couchbed.מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַmehistareafrom stretch out selfשָׂרַעpreposition, verb, hithpael, infinitive construct — “from stretch out self”, the to-form of the verbH8311to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of membersstretch out self, (have any) superfluous thing.וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥הvehamasekhahand the coveringמַסֵּכָהconjunction, definite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and the covering”, the ordinary formH4541properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e. league; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out)covering, molten (image), vail.צָ֖רָהtsarahadversaryצָרַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “adversary”, a completed actionH6887to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitiveadversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽסkehitkanesas gatherכָּנַסpreposition, verb, hithpael, infinitive construct — “as gather”, the to-form of the verbH3664to collect; hence, to enfoldgather (together), heap up, wrap self.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For the bed is too short for a man to stretch himself; and the covering too narrow when he gathereth himself up.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

Young’s Literal Translation

For shorter hath been the bed Than to stretch one's self out in, And the covering hath been narrower Than to wrap one's self up in.

World English Bible

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

Darby Translation

For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on, and the covering too narrow when he would wrap himself in it.

Douay-Rheims

For the bed is straitened, so that one must fall out, and a short covering cannot cover both.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For the bed is too short for a man to stretch himself; and the covering too narrow when he gathereth himself up.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

ye that are distressed; we cannot fight, but we are ourselves too weak for you to be gathered.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Μάθετε ἀκούειν στενοχωρούμενοι· Οὐ δυνάμεθα μάχεσθαι, αὐτοὶ δὲ ἀσθενοῦμεν τοῦ ὑμᾶς συναχθῆναι.