Isaiah 48 2

Isaiah 48:2 kjv

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.

Isaiah 48:2 nkjv

For they call themselves after the holy city, And lean on the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is His name:

Isaiah 48:2 niv

you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to rely on the God of Israel? the LORD Almighty is his name:

Isaiah 48:2 esv

For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Isaiah 48:2 nlt

even though you call yourself the holy city
and talk about depending on the God of Israel,
whose name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 2 Meaning

The people of Israel are addressed as those who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or in righteousness. They claim allegiance and covenant with God but their actions do not reflect this commitment.

Isaiah 48 2 Context

Isaiah 48 speaks to the house of Jacob (Israel). The chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty, His ability to predict future events, and His unchanging nature. It highlights the people's persistent failure to live up to their covenant relationship with God. Despite God's deliverance and ongoing care, they have clung to idols and disobeyed His commands. This specific verse points out the disconnect between their spoken affirmations of loyalty to God and the reality of their actions, underscoring their hypocrisy. The immediate preceding verses speak of God's prior pronouncements and their predetermined outcome due to Israel's stubbornness.

Isaiah 48 2 Word Analysis

• "yet": ( Hebrew: וְאַךְ, ve'akh) This conjunction indicates a contrast or qualification. It signals that despite their claim, something is missing or wrong.
• "you": (Hebrew: אַתֶּם, atem) Refers to the house of Jacob, the people of Israel.
• "call": (Hebrew: קֹרְאִים, qore'im) From the root קרא (qara), meaning to call out, to summon, to name, or to read. Here it signifies claiming allegiance.
• "me": (Hebrew: לִי, li) The Lord, referring to God Himself.
• "name": (Hebrew: שֵׁם, shem) The appellation by which God is known and honored.
• "of": (Hebrew: בְּ, be) A preposition with broad meaning, often indicating "in," "with," or "by." Here it means "by" or "in."
• "the": (Hebrew: הַ, ha) The definite article.
• "Lord": (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yahweh) The personal covenantal name of God, often translated as LORD (all caps) in English Bibles.
• "and": (Hebrew: וְ, ve) Conjunction.
• "swear": (Hebrew: תִּשָּׁבְעוּ, tishbe'u) From the root שבע (shaba), meaning to swear an oath, to make a covenant.
• "by": (Hebrew: בְּ, be) See above.
• "the": (Hebrew: הַ, ha) The definite article.
• "God": (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי, elohey) Possessive form of אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), one of the Hebrew names for God, often plural in form but singular in reference. Here, it signifies "God of..."
• "of": (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrael) Israel, the covenant people. So, "God of Israel."
• "yet": (Hebrew: כִּי, ki) In this instance, "ki" acts more like "but" or "though."
• "not": (Hebrew: בֶּ, be) Prefix indicating negation.
• "in": (Hebrew: בְּ, be) See above.
• "truth": (Hebrew: אֱמֶת, emet) Faithfulness, truth, reality, stability, firmness.
• "nor": (Hebrew: וְלֹא, velo) And not.
• "in": (Hebrew: בְּ, be) See above.
• "righteousness": (Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) Justice, judgment, ordinance, doing what is right, God's standard of justice.

Word Group Analysis:

• "call me ... name of the Lord and swear by the God of Israel": This phrase encapsulates a public declaration of faith and allegiance. They use the proper covenantal name of God (Yahweh) and the descriptor "God of Israel," indicating knowledge of who God is and His relationship with their nation.
• "yet not in truth, nor in righteousness": This part is critical. It juxtaposes their verbal pronouncements with the manner of their observance. "Truth" (emet) here implies sincerity and faithfulness to the covenant, while "righteousness" (mishpat) refers to living according to God's standards of justice and obedience. The verse asserts that their profession of faith lacks genuine inner reality and is not demonstrated by outward righteous actions.

Isaiah 48 2 Bonus Section

The sentiment expressed in Isaiah 48:2 echoes a broader prophetic theme of religious hypocrisy in ancient Israel. Prophets frequently condemned superficial worship that failed to translate into social justice and personal integrity. The emphasis on "truth" (emet) and "righteousness" (mishpat) points to the holistic nature of faith. True devotion to God encompasses not only adoration but also faithfulness to His covenant and the implementation of His principles in all aspects of life, including how people treat one another. This verse serves as a perennial reminder that God desires an authentic relationship, marked by sincere devotion and righteous living, over mere ritualistic performance.

Isaiah 48 2 Commentary

This verse addresses the spiritual deficiency within Israel. They use the correct terms of endearment and devotion towards God, swearing by His name and acknowledging Him as the God of Israel. However, their confession is hollow. "Not in truth" means their commitment isn't sincere; there's no deep-seated faithfulness from the heart. "Nor in righteousness" means their lives do not exhibit the actions that align with God's commands or character. It highlights that religious observance is incomplete, even fraudulent, if it’s not grounded in inner sincerity and expressed through outward obedience. God looks for genuine heart allegiance and actions that reflect His nature.