Isaiah 48:4 kjv
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
Isaiah 48:4 nkjv
Because I knew that you were obstinate, And your neck was an iron sinew, And your brow bronze,
Isaiah 48:4 niv
For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.
Isaiah 48:4 esv
Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass,
Isaiah 48:4 nlt
For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are.
Your necks are as unbending as iron.
Your heads are as hard as bronze.
Isaiah 48 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 48:4 | "Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow of brass;" | Isaiah 48:4 |
| Deut 31:27 | "For I knew thy rebellion and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD..." | Deuteronomy 31:27 (similar charge) |
| Neh 9:16 | "...but they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not unto thy commandments," | Nehemiah 9:16 (hardened necks) |
| Jer 3:17 | "And I have seen it; behold, she hath played the whore with many lovers; yet return thou unto me, saith the LORD." | Jeremiah 3:17 (disobedience) |
| Ezek 2:3 | "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this day." | Ezekiel 2:3 (rebellious nation) |
| Acts 7:51 | "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." | Acts 7:51 (stiffnecked, resist) |
| Rom 1:29-30 | "...being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity..." | Romans 1:29-30 (obstinate rebellion) |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud..." | 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ungodly character) |
| Heb 12:5-6 | "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord..." | Hebrews 12:5-6 (chastisement) |
| Prov 3:11-12 | "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth..." | Proverbs 3:11-12 (discipline) |
| Psalm 50:21 | "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes." | Psalm 50:21 (God’s patient silence) |
| Isa 30:9 | "That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:" | Isaiah 30:9 (lying, disobedient) |
| Isa 42:23 | "Who is there among you that will give ear unto this? and hearken and hear for the time to come?" | Isaiah 42:23 (call to listen) |
| Jer 11:7-8 | "Yet I warned them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart." | Jeremiah 11:7-8 (disobedience) |
| Jer 25:3-7 | "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah even unto this day, that is twenty and three years, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened." | Jeremiah 25:3-7 (failure to hearken) |
| Hosea 11:7 | "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him." | Hosea 11:7 (backsliding) |
| Mal 1:6 | "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests that despise my name." | Malachi 1:6 (lack of honor) |
| John 5:44 | "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" | John 5:44 (seeking honor) |
| Rev 2:4 | "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." | Revelation 2:4 (loss of first love) |
| Rev 3:15-16 | "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." | Revelation 3:15-16 (lukewarmness) |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 4 Meaning
Isaiah 48:4 states that because Israel was stubborn and its neck was like an iron sinew, and its forehead was like brass, God knew of their obstinacy. This verse emphasizes God's foreknowledge and understanding of His people's persistent rebellion and hardened hearts, even before their actions manifested. It highlights their persistent resistance to His will, making them inflexible in their disobedience.
Isaiah 48 4 Context
Isaiah 48 occurs in a section where Isaiah is directly addressing Israel, particularly the house of Jacob. The chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty, His faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness, and His power as the creator. The preceding verses have spoken about God's prior knowledge and foreordination of events. This verse specifically serves as an explanation for why God will act, and why Israel, despite their persistent disobedience, will experience both judgment and eventual deliverance. The backdrop is God's plan for redemption, which He initiated despite His people's stubborn rebellion. This is within the broader context of the Babylonian exile, where God is explaining His actions to a people who have experienced judgment and are now being promised future restoration.
Isaiah 48 4 Word Analysis
- "Because": (Hebrew: כִּי - ki) - Indicates a causal or explanatory relationship. It signifies the reason for the following statement.
- "I knew": (Hebrew: יָדַעְתִּי - yadati) - "I knew" in Hebrew signifies a deep, intimate, and experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual. It implies foresight and a comprehensive understanding of their character. This knowledge predates their actions.
- "that": (Hebrew: כִּי - ki) - Another use of ki, here introducing a substantive clause, detailing what God knew.
- "thou art": (Hebrew: אַתָּה - attah) - "You" (singular masculine). Isaiah is addressing the nation collectively, personified as a single individual.
- "obstinate": (Hebrew: קָשֶׁה - qasheh) - Literally "hard" or "stubborn." It conveys a strong resistance and refusal to yield or change. It describes a hardened, unyielding character.
- "and": (Hebrew: וְ - ve) - Connects clauses.
- "thy neck": (Hebrew: גְּרוֹנְךָ - geronekha) - "Your neck" (singular masculine).
- "is": (Hebrew: הָיָה - hayah) - The verb "to be."
- "an iron sinew": (Hebrew: עַצַּמוֹת בַּרְזֶל - atzamot barzel) - Literally "bones of iron" or "sinews of iron." This is a strong metaphor. Iron is inflexible and unyielding. It implies an unnatural stiffness and resistance to bending, indicating a deliberate and persistent defiance. This imagery is found in other prophetic contexts to describe severe hardness of heart and stubbornness.
- "and": (Hebrew: וְ - ve) - Connects clauses.
- "thy forehead": (Hebrew: מִצְחֲךָ - mitsuḥakhekh) - "Your forehead" (singular masculine).
- "of brass": (Hebrew: נְחֹשֶׁת - neḥoshet) - Brass or bronze. Like iron, brass is a hard and unyielding metal. It signifies an insolent or brazen boldness in their sin and defiance, a hardness that cannot be shamed or penetrated by reproof. It’s a thick-skinned, unrepentant posture before God.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy forehead of brass": This entire phrase describes a unified character of stubborn rebellion. The imagery moves from the general description of "obstinate" to specific physical metaphors ("iron sinew," "forehead of brass") that powerfully convey the depth and persistence of Israel's defiance. It paints a picture of someone who refuses to yield to God's will, who is stiff-necked in their ways and brazen in their sin. This characteristic had been demonstrated repeatedly throughout Israel's history, and God, in His foreknowledge, knew this would be their enduring trait.
Isaiah 48 4 Bonus Section
The description of Israel's neck as "iron" and forehead as "brass" is a recurring motif in prophetic literature. This imagery serves to illustrate not just sinfulness, but a hardened religious disposition. It's not merely outward transgression but an inward posture of defiance against divine authority, making them resistant to correction and persuasion. This attribute was evident even before the Mosaic Covenant was fully established, as noted in Deuteronomy 31:27. God’s foreknowledge as stated in this verse underlines His omniscience. It’s crucial to note that while God foreknows Israel's obstinacy, this foreknowledge does not mean He caused it or that humans are not responsible for their choices. Rather, God, in His infinite wisdom, integrates this foreknowledge into His perfect plan of salvation and restoration. The specific metals chosen, iron and brass, were common materials in ancient Israel, familiar and illustrative of unyielding substances.
Isaiah 48 4 Commentary
This verse is a foundational statement about God's intimate and preemptive knowledge of human character, particularly Israel's consistent rebellion. God's awareness is not a cause for His people's judgment but rather the backdrop against which His redemptive actions unfold. He is not surprised by their stubbornness; it is foreseen. This understanding enables Him to judge justly and to save graciously. The stark metaphors of iron and brass highlight a deep-seated refusal to conform to God’s design, a spiritual inflexibility that characterized Israel’s historical walk with Him. It calls for self-reflection on any "iron sinew" or "brazen forehead" that resists the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Practical usage example: When facing a persistent struggle in one's life with overcoming a sin or negative habit, this verse can remind believers that God understands their wrestling. While the passage addresses Israel's national obstinacy, the principle of God's comprehensive knowledge of our inner disposition remains. It encourages honesty before God about our own tendencies toward stubbornness, trusting in His understanding as we seek His strength to become pliable to His will.