Isaiah 48:10 kjv
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 nkjv
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 niv
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 esv
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 nlt
I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
Isaiah 48 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 48:10 | "Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction." | Original Verse |
| Deuteronomy 4:20 | "But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of His inheritance, as you are this day." | God's choosing and bringing out of affliction |
| Psalm 105:18 | "They hurt his feet with fetters; he went into irons..." | Joseph's suffering in Egypt |
| Proverbs 17:3 | "The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth hearts." | God tests hearts |
| Jeremiah 6:29 | "The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not drawn out." | Vain refining without removal of dross |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | "But the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail." | God's presence during trials |
| Zechariah 13:9 | "And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested." | God's refining of His people |
| Malachi 3:2-3 | "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap." | Christ as a Refiner |
| Romans 5:3-5 | "...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." | Suffering producing character |
| 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 | "If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it..." | Trials revealing works |
| Ephesians 5:27 | "...that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." | Christ refining the church |
| Philippians 1:29 | "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake..." | Suffering for Christ |
| Hebrews 12:5-7 | "...my son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” | God's fatherly discipline |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you must be troubled by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith..." | Faith tested by trials |
| 1 Peter 4:12 | "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something struck you as a stranger." | Fiery trials |
| Revelation 3:18 | "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich..." | Refined gold from Christ |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 10 Meaning
This verse speaks of God refining His people, not by destruction but through the crucible of suffering. The outcome of this refining is not annihilation but purification, making them "speak the name of the LORD" and "declare what has happened" with greater faith and understanding. God allows affliction to test and prove the character of His people, ensuring their dependence remains solely on Him and that they will bear witness to His truth.
Isaiah 48 10 Context
Isaiah chapter 48 is a rebuke and warning to the unfaithful people of Israel, specifically the house of Jacob. They are called out for their persistent idolatry, disobedience, and reliance on themselves and their political alliances rather than on God. The chapter contrasts God's consistent faithfulness and power with their fickle nature and their tendency to fall back into sin. In this context, verse 10 serves as God's explanation for why they are enduring hardships. It is not a punitive measure in the sense of complete abandonment, but a process of refinement to purge their sin and purify their faith, ultimately for their good and His glory.
Isaiah 48 10 Word analysis
Behold (H: hinneh) - Used to call attention, to draw the listener into what follows. It signals an important revelation.
I (H: ʼănî) - Emphatic and personal, underscoring that this action is solely God's.
have refined (H: ṣārȧp̱ṯîḵā) - From the root ṣāraph, meaning to smelt, refine metals by fire, to test, purify. Implies a deliberate process of purification through intense heat.
you (H: ḵā) - Refers to the people of Israel addressed in the chapter.
but not (H: wəlōʼ) - A conjunction introducing a contrast.
with silver (H: ḵēsep̱) - Literal silver, a common metal to be refined. The point is that God's refining process is more intense and critical than merely refining precious metals.
I (H: ʼănî) - Again, emphasis on God's personal involvement.
have chosen (H: bȧḥȧr in Niphal stem with suffix tiḵā) - The Niphal stem here suggests being chosen by someone or to a certain state. The full meaning is God has selected them or designated them for this purifying experience.
you (H: ḵā) - The same people.
in (H: bə) - Preposition indicating location or sphere of action.
the furnace (H: ḵûr) - A furnace, an oven, a place of intense heat, specifically designed for smelting and refining.
of affliction (H: ʻă
immuah) - Affliction, distress, tribulation. It is a trial or a burden.words-group by words-group analysis:
- "refined you, but not with silver" - This highlights a severe but benevolent testing. The refining is deeper than just material wealth; it is about their inner core.
- "chosen you in the furnace of affliction" - God actively placed them within the trial. It's a selective process within hardship, meaning the affliction itself is an instrument of God's election.
Isaiah 48 10 Bonus section
The contrast with refining "with silver" suggests that while God might use lesser means, His people's current trial is more fundamental. It's not just about economic cleansing but a radical transformation of their core identity and devotion. The Hebrew word bȧḥȧr (chosen) is significant because it implies God's active selection of them for this painful but purposeful process, indicating that affliction, though harsh, is a mark of God's specific interest and redemptive plan for His people.
Isaiah 48 10 Commentary
God addresses His people, stating He has indeed purified them. However, this refining process was not a gentle process like melting silver to remove dross. Instead, it was a severe test endured within the "furnace of affliction." This is God's chosen method for them. The implication is that the intense hardships they faced were divinely ordained and utilized to cleanse them from their impurities, strengthen their faith, and ultimately prove them to be His elect, fit to declare His name and His deeds. It’s a difficult but purposeful intervention to bring them closer to Him.