Woe, rebellious children — who carry out plans, but not mine; who pour out libations, but not from my spirit — adding sin to sin. They set out to go down to Egypt, and did not ask my mouth.
— Isaiah 30:1–2, as applied at Qumran
The Commentary on Isaiah C (4Q163) is a Qumran pesher on Isaiah — a running sectarian interpretation that reads the prophet's words as encrypted announcement of the community's own age. The scroll survives in approximately twenty-five fragments from Cave 4, covering passages from Isaiah 8, 10, 14, 29, 30, and 31. Its central preoccupation is foreign alliance: going down to Egypt, trusting in chariots and horses, seeking help from Pharaoh rather than from the Holy One of Israel.
The Kittim — Rome, or the Macedonian Greeks, in the pesher vocabulary — appear as the flood of Isaiah 8. The Seekers of Smooth Things, the community's standing epithet for their opponents (almost certainly the Pharisees), are condemned for walking in the way of the nations rather than the way of the LORD. The mood is darker and more expansive than the closely focused Isaiah B; it sees the community surrounded by enemies who bow to foreign powers and foreign rulers alike.
The text is written in a Herodian formal script and belongs to the same scribal school as the Commentary on Nahum and the Commentary on Habakkuk.
Fragments 4–7, Column II
(Isaiah 8:7–8)
Therefore, behold — the Lord is bringing up against them
the waters of the River, mighty and vast:
the king of Assyria and all his glory.
It will rise over all its channels
and overflow all its banks,
and sweep on through Judah, a flood —
passing through, reaching up to the neck.
Its interpretation concerns the Kittim, [who will come against the land and overflow it...] and they will not [...]
(Isaiah 8:11)
For thus the LORD spoke to me, with his hand strong upon me —
and he warned me not to walk in the way of this people.
Its interpretation concerns the Seekers of Smooth Things, who [have turned from the way of the LORD and walked in the way of the nations...] and they led [many] astray.
Fragments 6–7, Column III
(Isaiah 10:12, fragmentary)
[When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
he will punish the proud boasting of the king of Assyria
and the glory of his haughty eyes.]
Its interpretation [...] the congregation [...] the Interpreter of the [Law...] at the end of days [...]
(Isaiah 10:19–20, fragmentary)
[The remaining trees of his forest will be so few
that a child could write them down.
On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob
will no longer lean on him who struck them,
but will lean truly on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.]
Its interpretation [...] they will return [...] [...]
Fragment 21
(Isaiah 29:10–11)
For the LORD has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep,
and has closed your eyes — the prophets —
and covered your heads — the seers.
The vision of all this has become to you
like the words of a sealed scroll.
Its interpretation concerns [the congregation of the Seekers of Smooth Things,] whose [eyes] the LORD [has closed, so that they cannot see...] the Torah [...]
Fragments 23–24, Column III
(Isaiah 30:1–2)
Woe, rebellious children — declares the LORD —
who carry out plans, but not mine,
who pour out libations, but not from my spirit,
adding sin to sin.
They set out to go down to Egypt
and did not ask my mouth —
to take refuge in Pharaoh's protection
and to shelter in Egypt's shadow.
Its interpretation concerns all those who [seek the help of the nations and do not trust in the LORD their God...] They went down to Egypt [and did not ask the mouth of the LORD...]
(Isaiah 30:15–16)
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength —
but you would not.
You said: No! We will flee on horses —
therefore you shall flee.
We will ride on swift steeds —
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
Its interpretation [...] the men of [... who did not trust in the LORD] but fled to [... Egypt ...] at the end of days [...]
Fragment 25
(Isaiah 31:1)
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses —
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong —
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel
and do not consult the LORD.
Its interpretation concerns [all who forsook the LORD and sought help from the nations... They] did not [look to the Holy One of Israel and did not seek the LORD...]
Colophon
Text: 4Q163 (Pesher Isaiah C), preserved in approximately twenty-five fragments from Qumran Cave 4. Published in Discoveries in the Judaean Desert V (Allegro, 1968). Lacunae marked [...]. Bracketed text indicates restorations or contextual supplements where the manuscript is damaged.
Translation: New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated directly from the Hebrew as preserved in García Martínez & Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997–98), cross-referenced with DJD V. The Seekers of Smooth Things (דורשי החלקות) and the Kittim (כִּתִּיאִים) are consistent Qumran epithets appearing across multiple pesharim; their identification here follows the established pattern of the Qumran library.
Scribal credit: DSS Tulku lineage, 2026.
🌲
Source Text: פשר ישעיהו ג (4Q163)
Hebrew transcription from García Martínez & Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997–98); DJD V (Allegro, 1968). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
Fragments 4–7, Column II
(Citing Isaiah 8:7–8)
לָכֵן הִנֵּה אֲדֹנָי מַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת מֵי הַנָּהָר הָעֲצוּמִים וְהָרַבִּים
אֶת מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וְאֶת כָּל כְּבוֹדוֹ
וְעָלָה עַל כָּל אֲפִיקָיו וְהָלַךְ עַל כָּל גְּדוֹתָיו
וְחָלַף בִּיהוּדָה שָׁטַף וְעָבַר עַד צַוָּאר יַגִּיעַ
פִּשְׁרוֹ עַל הַכִּתִּיאִים [אֲשֶׁר יָבֹאוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ וְשָׁטְפוּ ...]
וְלֹא [...]
(Citing Isaiah 8:11)
כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה אֵלַי בְּחֶזְקַת הַיָּד
וְיִסְּרֵנִי מִלֶּכֶת בְּדֶרֶךְ הָעָם הַזֶּה
פִּשְׁרוֹ עַל דּוֹרְשֵׁי הַחֲלָקוֹת אֲשֶׁר [סָרוּ מִדֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה וְהָלְכוּ בְּדֶרֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם ...]
וְהִתְעוּ [רַבִּים]
Fragments 6–7, Column III
(Citing Isaiah 10:12)
[וְהָיָה כִּי יְבַצַּע אֲדֹנָי אֶת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂהוּ בְּהַר צִיּוֹן וּבִירוּשָׁלַיִם
אֶפְקֹד עַל פְּרִי גֹדֶל לְבַב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר
וְעַל תִּפְאֶרֶת רוּם עֵינָיו]
פִּשְׁרוֹ [...] הָעֵדָה [...] דּוֹרֵשׁ הַ[תּוֹרָה ...] אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים [...]
(Citing Isaiah 10:19–20)
[וּשְׁאָר עֵץ יַעְרוֹ מִסְפָּר יִהְיוּ
וְנַעַר יִכְתְּבֵם
וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֹא יוֹסִיף עוֹד שְׁאָר יִשְׂרָאֵל
וּפְלֵיטַת בֵּית יַעֲקֹב לְהִשָּׁעֵן עַל מַכֵּהוּ
וְנִשְׁעַן עַל יְהוָה קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּאֱמֶת]
פִּשְׁרוֹ [...] יָשׁוּבוּ [...] [...]
Fragment 21
(Citing Isaiah 29:10–11)
כִּי נָסַךְ עֲלֵיכֶם יְהוָה רוּחַ תַּרְדֵּמָה
וַיְעַצֵּם אֶת עֵינֵיכֶם אֶת הַנְּבִיאִים
וְאֶת רָאשֵׁיכֶם הַחֹזִים כִּסָּה
וַתְּהִי לָכֶם חֲזוּת הַכֹּל
כְּדִבְרֵי הַסֵּפֶר הֶחָתוּם
פִּשְׁרוֹ עַל [עֲדַת דּוֹרְשֵׁי הַחֲלָקוֹת] אֲשֶׁר [עִצַּם יְהוָה אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם לְבִלְתִּי רְאוֹת ...]
הַתּוֹרָה [...]
Fragments 23–24, Column III
(Citing Isaiah 30:1–2)
הוֹי בָּנִים סוֹרְרִים נְאֻם יְהוָה
לַעֲשׂוֹת עֵצָה וְלֹא מִנִּי
וְלִנְסֹךְ מַסֵּכָה וְלֹא רוּחִי
לְמַעַן סְפוֹת חַטָּאת עַל חַטָּאת
הַהֹלְכִים לָרֶדֶת מִצְרַיִם
וּפִי לֹא שָׁאָלוּ
לָעוֹז בְּמָעוֹז פַּרְעֹה
וְלַחְסוֹת בְּצֵל מִצְרַיִם
פִּשְׁרוֹ עַל כֹּל אֲשֶׁר [יְבַקְּשׁוּ עֶזְרַת הַגּוֹיִם וְלֹא יִבְטְחוּ בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם ...]
יָרְדוּ מִצְרַיְמָה [וּפִי יְהוָה לֹא שָׁאָלוּ ...]
(Citing Isaiah 30:15–16)
כִּי כֹה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל
בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת תִּוָּשֵׁעוּן
בְּהַשְׁקֵט וּבְבִטְחָה תִּהְיֶה גְבוּרַתְכֶם
וְלֹא אֲבִיתֶם
וַתֹּאמְרוּ לֹא כִּי עַל סוּס נָנוּס
עַל כֵּן תְּנוּסוּן
וְעַל קַל נִרְכַּב
עַל כֵּן יִקַּלּוּ רֹדְפֵיכֶם
פִּשְׁרוֹ [...] אַנְשֵׁי [...] אֲשֶׁר לֹא בָטְחוּ בַּיהוָה]
כִּי נָסוּ [... מִצְרַיִם ...] אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים [...]
Fragment 25
(Citing Isaiah 31:1)
הוֹי הַיֹּרְדִים מִצְרַיִם לְעֶזְרָה
עַל סוּסִים יִשָּׁעֵנוּ
וַיִּבְטְחוּ עַל רֶכֶב כִּי רָב
וְעַל פָּרָשִׁים כִּי עָצְמוּ מְאֹד
וְלֹא שָׁעוּ עַל קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל
וְאֶת יְהוָה לֹא דָרָשׁוּ
פִּשְׁרוֹ עַל [כֹּל אֲשֶׁר עָזְבוּ אֶת יְהוָה וְבִקְּשׁוּ עֶזְרָה מִן הַגּוֹיִם ... לֹא]
שָׁעוּ [עַל קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת יְהוָה לֹא דָרָשׁוּ ...]
Source Colophon
Hebrew text: 4Q163 (Pesher Isaiah C). García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997–98); J. M. Allegro, Discoveries in the Judaean Desert V (Oxford, 1968). Lacunae marked [...]. Restored readings in brackets follow scholarly consensus.
🌲