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The Blessed Death of the Righteous
Isaiah 57:1–2 speaks about the death of righteous people and how others respond to it. The passage stresses that people may fail to notice what it means, while the righteous are described as entering peace and rest.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these two verses, Isaiah first points out that righteous and merciful people are taken away, yet people do not take this to heart or consider it. Then the passage gives its own description of the righteous person’s end: peace, rest, and uprightness.
Isaiah 57:1–2Main takeaway
This passage says that people may fail to consider the death of the righteous, while the righteous are described as entering peace and resting in uprightness.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01No one takes it to heartIsaiah opens with a serious observation: “The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart.”
Explanation
Isaiah opens with a serious observation: “The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart.” He repeats the point with “merciful men are taken away, and no one considers”. The emphasis is on human failure to notice and think carefully about what is happening.
02Taken away from evilVerse 1 gives the thought people are missing: “the righteous is taken away from the evil.”
Explanation
Verse 1 gives the thought people are missing: “the righteous is taken away from the evil.” The passage does not explain the evil further here, but it clearly says this is something people have not considered. Isaiah draws attention to the meaning of the righteous being taken away.
03He enters into peaceVerse 2 turns to the condition of the righteous person: “He enters into peace.” This is the passage’s own description of what follows.
Explanation
Verse 2 turns to the condition of the righteous person: “He enters into peace.” This is the passage’s own description of what follows. The one entering peace is the same person already called righteous in verse 1, so the focus stays on that person’s end.
04Rest for those who walk uprightlyThe verse continues, “They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.” Rest matches the earlier word peace.
Explanation
The verse continues, “They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.” Rest matches the earlier word peace. The passage also links this description with a life marked by uprightness. It ends with a settled picture of rest for the upright.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two responses are missing when the righteous perish?
Verse 1 says no one “lays it to heart” and no one “considers”, so notice both ways people fail to respond.
02What does Isaiah say people are failing to consider about the righteous being taken away?
Look at the final words of verse 1 to find the reason the passage gives.
03How does verse 2 describe the end of the one who walks in uprightness?
Use the exact words in verse 2 that speak of the person’s condition: peace and rest.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 57:1–2
1The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil.
2He enters into peace. They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.