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

The verse declares that God’s chastisement has been inflicted, yet the people were not suitably affected; they did not receive instruction, nor did they turn to the Lord. This signifies a persistent refusal to learn from consequences and a hardening of heart towards divine correction.

Isaiah 42 24 Context

This verse appears in the latter part of Isaiah chapter 42, which begins with God presenting His Servant. While the immediate preceding verses describe the Servant's mission, this verse shifts to the people's hardened hearts and rebellion against God. The historical context is the unfaithfulness of Israel, leading to their suffering under foreign oppression. They have been given over to enemies and pillaged, but have failed to learn the lesson and turn back to God, despite experiencing His righteous anger and corrective judgments. The prophet laments their persistent disobedience and spiritual blindness.

Isaiah 42 24 Word Analysis

• Who (מי — mi): A simple interrogative pronoun. It introduces a question of attribution, seeking to know the perpetrator of Jacob’s desolation and Israel’s ruin.
• gave (נתן — natan): Means to give, deliver, or put into the possession of. Here it signifies God's allowance or permitting of the enemy’s actions as a consequence of Israel’s sin.
• Jacob (יַעֲקֹב — ya·‘ă·qōḇ): Refers to the nation of Israel, personified by their patriarch Jacob.
• to (ל — lə): A preposition with many meanings, here indicating the state or result, that Jacob was given "to spoliation."
• a spoliation (שֶׂס — sés): This rare word can mean booty, spoil, or a ruinous plunder. It highlights the complete devastation and loss of possessions experienced by the people.
• and (ו — wə): A conjunction linking two parallel clauses.
• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל — yis·rā·’êl): Also refers to the covenant people of God.
• to (ל — lə): Similar to the previous "to," indicating the state of being delivered "to robbers."
• robbers (לְשָׁסִּים — lə·šās·sîm): The plural of שַׁס — šās, meaning plunderers, those who strip and spoil. It emphasizes the active, predatory nature of their enemies.
• Was there not (הֲלֹא — hălō): An emphatic question, equivalent to "Did not...?" or "Is it not true that...?"
• we (אנחנו — ’an·ḥă·nû): A plural first-person pronoun. In this context, it represents the voice of the people or the prophet speaking on their behalf, acknowledging their sin.
• sinned (חָטָאנוּ — ḥā·ṭā·nû): The perfect tense of חָטָא — ḥāṭā, meaning to miss the mark, to sin. It signifies a past, completed action of transgression.
• and (ו — wə): Conjunction.
• not (לֹא — lō): Negation.
• according to (עַל — ‘al): Here, it means "in accordance with" or "by."
• thy (מִצְוָתֶךָ — miṣ·wā·ṯe·ḵā): Thy commandment. The Law of God.
• did we (וְלֹא — wə·lō): And not.
• according to (כֵּן — kên): So, thus, in this manner.
• thy (מַעֲשֶׂיךָ — ma·‘ă·śe·ḵā): Thy deeds or actions. God's appointed way or will.
• Nay (לֹא — lō): A strong negation, asserting the contrary. It introduces a statement that rejects the premise of turning or learning.
• we did not regard (בָּז — baz): Implies contempt, disregard, or looking down upon. It conveys a deliberate refusal to acknowledge or pay heed to something important. In the context of "bazeḥu," it suggests they treated God’s words or presence with contempt.
• for (כִּי — kî): Because, for. This word introduces the reason for the previous negative statement.
• he (הוּא — hû): Refers back to God or the force that delivered them over.
• was delivered (נָתַן — nâ·tan): Similar to "gave," but here it refers to the people being delivered up.
• over (כְּאִס — kə’îṣ): Possibly indicating being crushed or shattered, or in a state of ruin, which reinforces the "spoliation" idea.
• unto (ל — lə): To.
• a prey (טֶרֶף — ṭe·rep̄): Prey, spoil, prey given to animals. Denotes something to be devoured or consumed.
• And (ו — wə): Conjunction.
• there was none (וְאֵין — wə·’ên): And there is not. Expresses a complete absence.
• to help (מוֹשִׁיעַ — mō·šî·a‘): A savior, a rescuer. The absence of a helper emphasizes their total vulnerability.
• Chastisement: The process of punishment or suffering intended to correct or improve.
• Received instruction/teaching: Not learning from the consequences of actions, failing to benefit from divine correction or prophetic warnings.
• Turn to the Lord: A cessation of rebellion and a return to obedience, faith, and repentance towards God.

Word Group Analysis:The first part of the verse ("Who gave Jacob to a spoliation, and Israel to robbers?") acts as a rhetorical question highlighting Israel's dire situation, placing the responsibility on God's judgment for allowing their enemies to oppress them. The second part ("Did not we sin, and not do according to thy commandment? Nay, we did not regard thee.") represents a confession of guilt by the people or prophet, acknowledging their sin and disobedience, but then immediately negating any positive response to God's discipline ("Nay, we did not regard thee."). This second negative "nay" is crucial, showing that the consequence (spoliation and being given to robbers) has not led to the intended outcome of repentance and turning back to God. The final clause, often translated as "he gave him," likely refers to God giving the nation over, as reinforced by subsequent verses detailing continued judgment. The Hebrew is compact, with “bazeḥu” suggesting contemptuous disregard.

Isaiah 42 24 Bonus Section

This verse starkly illustrates the concept of the "sinner’s unrepentant heart," a recurring theme in biblical prophecy and New Testament teaching. The failure to learn from consequences is seen as a form of spiritual rebellion that grieves God and prolongs His disciplinary action. The concept of God "giving over" people or nations to their sins or to the consequences thereof is a serious theological point, often interpreted as God ceasing to strive against persistent rebellion and allowing them to reap the full fruit of their choices, a severe form of judgment. The phrase "we did not regard thee" carries a profound weight of willful ignorance and disrespect towards God's presence, authority, and providential dealings in their lives. This lack of "regard" implies a turning away from His word, His law, and His Spirit's leading.

Isaiah 42 24 Commentary

Isaiah 42:24 is a poignant indictment of a people who, despite suffering God's judgments—being plundered and delivered into the hands of enemies—failed to learn any lesson. They confess their sin but then explicitly reject any movement toward God ("Nay, we did not regard thee"). This highlights a critical spiritual state: the hardening of heart that prevents even affliction from leading to repentance. The consequence of not regarding God, even when discipline is severe, is a continuing cycle of judgment and rebellion. This verse underscores the importance of recognizing God's hand in both blessings and chastisements, and responding to His correction with humility and a turned heart. The absence of a "helper" points to their self-inflicted isolation from God's saving grace due to their obstinate sin.