Isaiah 42 24

Isaiah 42:24 kjv

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

Isaiah 42:24 nkjv

Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.

Isaiah 42:24 niv

Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.

Isaiah 42:24 esv

Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?

Isaiah 42:24 nlt

Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt?
It was the LORD, against whom we sinned,
for the people would not walk in his path,
nor would they obey his law.

Isaiah 42 verses

Isaiah 42 24 Meaning

Isaiah 42:24 affirms that the Lord God, Yahweh, was the one who permitted and orchestrated the scattering and oppression of His people, Jacob/Israel. Their suffering at the hands of plunderers and robbers was not a random occurrence nor due to the power of other nations' gods, but a direct consequence and divine judgment for their pervasive sin, their deliberate refusal to follow God's instructions ("His ways"), and their failure to obey His covenant Law. This rhetorical question highlights God's sovereign control over historical events, even concerning the tribulations of His chosen nation.

Isaiah 42 24 Context

Isaiah 42:24 falls within the second major section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66), known as the "Book of Comfort" or "Consolation of Israel." However, before offering comfort, this verse provides a crucial explanation for the present predicament of God's people. Chapter 42 begins with the first of the "Servant Songs," introducing the ideal Servant who will bring justice and light to the Gentiles (vv. 1-7). Directly preceding verse 24, the passage in 42:18-23 highlights Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness, lamenting their failure to learn from God's works and to embrace righteousness, even when God sent them prophets and messengers. It questions who has brought about this suffering and why they are plundered and robbed. Verse 24 is a rhetorical question that answers these laments, affirming that Israel's dire state is not arbitrary, but a direct result of Yahweh's righteous judgment against their covenant unfaithfulness. This immediately sets the stage for the subsequent messages of comfort and restoration in later chapters, as God's people needed to understand the root cause of their exile (likely Babylon) before they could genuinely receive the hope of redemption.

Isaiah 42 24 Word analysis

• Who gave (מִי נָתַן - mî nāṯan): This is a rhetorical question designed to elicit an obvious answer. It implies that the one responsible is singular, ultimate, and should be known to the audience. It stresses an active, deliberate handing over, not passive permission or accidental misfortune.
• Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - yaʿăqōḇ): Represents the entire nation of Israel, descendants of the patriarch. It evokes their covenantal identity and the promises made to them, highlighting the profound irony and tragedy that God's chosen people faced such a fate.
• to the plunderer (לַמְשִׁסָּה - laməšissâ): "Plunderer" (mishsâ) refers to a person or people who despoil, ravage, or carry off goods, specifically spoils of war. It signifies the violent and oppressive actions of foreign invaders. The "the" indicates a specific, though unnamed, agent (e.g., Assyria, Babylon).
• and Israel (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל - wəyiśrāʾēl): A poetic parallel to "Jacob," reinforcing that the entire covenant community is in view. It emphasizes the continuity and unity of the nation.
• to the robbers (לְבוֹזְזִים - ləḇôzəzîm): "Robbers" (bozezîm) also refers to those who seize, loot, or strip of possessions, often violently. This term is synonymous with "plunderer," intensifying the image of utter loss and vulnerability.
• Was it not the Lord (הֲלֹא־יְהוָ֖ה - hălōʾ YHWH): This emphatic rhetorical question provides the unequivocal answer to the initial "who." The "hălōʾ" ("is it not?") demands an affirmative "yes." YHWH (Yahweh) is the personal, covenant name of God, indicating that the sovereign Creator of Israel, their very covenant partner, was the one active in their judgment. This counters any notion of weaker foreign gods triumphing.
• He against whom we have sinned (ז֣וּ חָטָ֬אנוּ ל֗וֹ - zû ḥāṭāʾnû lô): This is a critical self-incrimination. The speaker, often taken as Isaiah himself or the prophet identifying with the people, acknowledges collective guilt. "Sinned" (ḥāṭāʾ) means to miss the mark, err, or transgress, implying a violation of a relationship or standard. It makes clear the moral and covenantal basis for God's action.
• in whose ways they would not walk (וְלֹא־אָב֧וּ בִדְרָכָ֛יו לָלֶ֖כֶת - wəlōʾ-ʾāḇû ḇidərāk̠āw lāleḵeṯ): "His ways" (dərāk̠āw) refers to God's prescribed path of living, His commandments, moral principles, and divinely revealed instructions. "Would not walk" (lōʾ-ʾāḇû lāleḵeṯ) translates "they were not willing to walk" or "they refused to walk." This indicates a willful, stubborn rejection of God's guidance, not mere ignorance or weakness.
• nor did they obey His law (וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֥וּ בְתוֹרָתֽוֹ - wəlōʾ-šāmaʿû bəṯôrāṯô): "Obey" (šāmaʿ) implies listening attentively and responding with action, hence "obeying." "His law" (tôrāṯô - torah) refers to divine instruction, particularly the Mosaic Law given at Sinai, which defined their covenant relationship and communal life. Their refusal to listen and act according to this foundational law signifies a complete break with covenant obligations.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Who gave Jacob to the plunderer, and Israel to the robbers?": This foundational question emphasizes God's ultimate authority and role in the historical misfortunes of His people. It directly challenges the idea of fate or the power of pagan deities, redirecting the audience's gaze solely to YHWH as the orchestrator of events, however painful. The parallelism ("Jacob" / "Israel" and "plunderer" / "robbers") magnifies the severity and comprehensiveness of the divine judgment and the nation's devastation.
• "Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned": The powerful rhetorical answer points to God Himself. This phrase creates an undeniable link between the identity of the Judge and the actions of the judged. The corporate "we have sinned" signals a moment of profound introspection and confession, underscoring that the people themselves bear the responsibility for their fate, having violated their relationship with their divine Protector.
• "in whose ways they would not walk, nor did they obey His law?": These two clauses articulate the specific nature of Israel's sin. They elaborate on "sinned," explaining that it was not merely accidental transgression but a deliberate, continuous refusal to align their lives with God's revealed will (His "ways") and His explicit covenant demands (His "law"). This profound spiritual and moral disobedience directly justified the covenant curses of judgment.

Isaiah 42 24 Bonus section

The profound honesty of this verse—attributing the calamity squarely to God's just hand due to Israel's sin—was crucial for the exiles' mental and spiritual well-being. Without this understanding, they might have concluded that their God was weak, that other gods were stronger, or that their suffering was meaningless and random. Instead, the prophet reassures them, albeit painfully, that YHWH is fully in control, sovereign over history and all nations, and is consistent in His character, which demands both justice and faithfulness. This sets the stage for God to ultimately redeem His people not because they deserve it, but because of His steadfast love and sovereign plan, a theme explored extensively in the subsequent chapters of Isaiah. This also provides an important contrast between the disobedient Israel (the "blind" and "deaf" servant) and the perfect Servant of the Lord introduced at the beginning of this very chapter (Isa 42:1-7), who perfectly obeys God's will.

Isaiah 42 24 Commentary

Isaiah 42:24 is a pivotal verse within Isaiah's prophecy, powerfully establishing the divine cause for Israel's suffering and impending exile. It serves as an immediate, unequivocal answer to the preceding lament over Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness (vv. 18-23). Through a series of rhetorical questions and answers, the prophet definitively attributes Israel's humiliation at the hands of foreign invaders not to a failure on God's part or the triumph of other gods, but to Yahweh's sovereign hand executing righteous judgment. This judgment stems directly from Israel's chronic and willful covenant unfaithfulness. They actively "refused to walk" in God's prescribed "ways"—the path of justice, righteousness, and truth—and overtly "disobeyed His law," the sacred Torah given at Sinai. The inclusion of "we have sinned" indicates a collective, contrite acknowledgement of guilt, suggesting a point where the people (or at least the prophetic voice) begin to grasp their culpability. This painful clarity is essential; understanding that their plight is a consequence of their own choices and God's just character sets the theological foundation for the message of future comfort and restoration. God's act of giving them over demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His covenant standards, even if it means using external forces to chastise His beloved people for their rebellion.