Isaiah 48 8

Isaiah 48:8 kjv

Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

Isaiah 48:8 nkjv

Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, And were called a transgressor from the womb.

Isaiah 48:8 niv

You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ears have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth.

Isaiah 48:8 esv

You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel.

Isaiah 48:8 nlt

"Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new,
things you never heard of before.
For I know so well what traitors you are.
You have been rebels from birth.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 8 meaning

Isaiah 48:8 reveals God's deep and unsparing assessment of the people of Israel. It declares that they have not truly listened or understood God's previous teachings, indicating a persistent spiritual deafness and unresponsiveness. The verse emphasizes that their unfaithful nature is not a recent development but an intrinsic part of their national identity from its very beginning, asserting that God's foreknowledge saw their inherent inclination to betrayal and rebellion from birth. It highlights God's sovereign insight into their deep-seated unfaithfulness, justifying His prophetic warnings and planned judgments.

Isaiah 48 8 Context

Isaiah chapter 48 serves as a strong summary of God's character and His relationship with Israel during the Babylonian exile. The preceding verses (48:1-7) emphasize God's absolute sovereignty and unique ability to declare "new things" before they happen, differentiating Him from lifeless idols. God calls upon Israel, the descendants of Jacob, who profess allegiance but whose actions are steeped in hypocrisy, swearing by the Lord but not in truth or righteousness (v.1). God states His purpose in revealing things beforehand: so they cannot attribute prophetic fulfillment to idols (v.3-5). He reiterates His long-standing plan and His power to bring it to pass.

Verse 8 then shifts focus from God's character to Israel's character, explaining why such foretelling was necessary. It’s because Israel, despite hearing God's laws and prophecies, repeatedly failed to internalize them, remained spiritually unreceptive, and consistently demonstrated a fundamental lack of faithfulness. Their tendency towards rebellion was not unforeseen by God, but rather was evident from the very outset of their existence as a nation. This context sets up God's subsequent promise of deliverance and redemption, not based on Israel's merit, but solely on His name's sake and unwavering purpose, despite their inherent rebellion. The chapter forms part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), where themes of exile, judgment, and restoration intermingle.

Isaiah 48 8 Word analysis

• "You have neither heard" (וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ - velo-shamá'tá):

  • שָׁמַע (shamá') means to hear, listen, but in Hebrew theological context, it often implies "to hear and obey," or "to give heed."
  • This phrase indicates a rejection of genuine heeding, going beyond merely not hearing a sound, to a profound unwillingness to accept or internalize God's word.
  • It points to their moral and spiritual dullness rather than a lack of information.

• "nor understood" (וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עְתָּ - velo-yadátá):

  • יָדַע (yadá') signifies knowledge, often an experiential or intimate knowing, a deep comprehension, not just intellectual awareness.
  • Their failure to "understand" suggests a lack of discernment and insight into the meaning and implications of God's will and actions, especially concerning His prophecies and covenant demands.
  • This deep-seated ignorance contributes to their spiritual blindness.

• "from of old your ear has not been opened" (מֵאָזְנֶ֤ךָ לֹֽא־נִפְתְּחָה֙ - mé’ozenká lo-niftəḥáh):

  • אָזֶן (ozen) refers to the ear, the organ of hearing.
  • נִפְתְּחָה (niftəḥáh) is from פָּתַח (pataḥ), meaning to open, indicating a passive action of opening. The phrase states that their ear had not been opened.
  • This suggests a congenital spiritual blockage or a deliberate closure to divine truth, rather than God having intentionally shut it prior to their choice. It highlights a continuous state of spiritual unreceptivity from the earliest times.
  • The polemic here is against Israel's perception of themselves as spiritually enlightened.

• "For I knew" (כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי - ki yada'ti):

  • יָדַע (yadá') here refers to God's omniscience and foreknowledge. It’s a sovereign, complete, and unchallengeable knowledge of their future actions.
  • God’s "knowing" precedes and predicts their actions, serving as the basis for His prophetic pronouncements and His judgment. It underscores His sovereignty over time and human nature.

• "that you would deal very treacherously" (בָּג֣וֹד תִּבְגּוֹד - bagôd tibgôd):

  • This is an intensive verbal construction using the infinitive absolute (בָּגוֹד - bagôd) followed by the finite verb (תִּבְגּוֹד - tibgôd) of the root בָּגַד (bagad), meaning to betray, be faithless, or deal treacherously.
  • The repetition emphasizes the absolute certainty and deep-seated nature of their treachery. It signifies a profound and consistent breach of trust or covenant relationship with God.
  • This "treachery" refers to idol worship, hypocrisy, and disobeying God's commands despite their covenant.

• "and were called a rebel from birth" (וּפֶ֤שַׁע מִבֶּ֨טֶן֙ קֹרָ֣א לָ֔ךְ - upeṣha' mibbæṭen qōrā' lākh):

  • פֶּשַׁע (peṣha') denotes rebellion, transgression, revolt, or an intentional breach of relationship. It's a strong term for sin against authority.
  • מִבֶּטֶן (mibbæṭen) literally means "from the womb," indicating from birth, from conception, or from the earliest beginnings of existence (nationally, from their formation as a people).
  • קֹרָא (qōrā') means "called," "named."
  • This powerful phrase highlights that their national identity was marked by rebellion from its inception. It's not a temporary deviation but a foundational characteristic, emphasizing humanity's inherited sinfulness at a national level. This doesn't mean they were literally named 'rebel' but describes their defining characteristic.

Words-group analysis

• "You have neither heard nor understood": This pairing indicates a comprehensive failure to respond to God. It suggests not only a refusal to listen but also an inability or unwillingness to process spiritual truths. This is a common biblical theme for those hardened against God.
• "from of old your ear has not been opened": This refers to a continuous state, spanning from the nation's early history, signifying an innate or deep-rooted resistance to God's revelation. It implies that spiritual receptivity has always been lacking.
• "For I knew that you would deal very treacherously": This connects God's perfect foreknowledge with Israel's actions, demonstrating divine sovereignty and removing any surprise at their behavior. God's knowledge here is not merely observation but also the basis for His plans and warnings. The double "treacherously" is key, signaling deep and sustained unfaithfulness.
• "and were called a rebel from birth": This summarizes the core of their historical and innate character. It underlines that their tendency to rebel against God's covenant was not accidental or occasional, but was fundamental to their very identity as a nation from its beginning.

Isaiah 48 8 Bonus section

The concept of being "a rebel from birth" in Isaiah 48:8 strongly resonates with the biblical doctrine of original sin and inherited fallenness, not just for an individual but as characteristic of a people (Israel). It’s not simply that they committed sins, but that their very identity was predisposed to breaking faith with God. This verse underscores a vital paradox in God's dealing with Israel: He chose them (Isa 48:10-11, Mal 3:6), despite knowing their inherent unfaithfulness, to reveal His glory and steadfast love. This tension sets the stage for God's ultimate solution to human rebellion in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly heard and obeyed the Father, offering a new covenant where hearts of stone are replaced with hearts of flesh, capable of hearing and obeying. This passage illustrates that outward forms of religion or ancestry do not suffice when the inner spirit is one of treachery and rebellion, paving the way for the prophetic call for internal spiritual transformation.

Isaiah 48 8 Commentary

Isaiah 48:8 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of Israel and, by extension, fallen humanity, in relation to a holy God. It asserts God's sovereign foreknowledge not only over events but over the deepest inclinations of the human heart. The passage counters any notion that Israel's unfaithfulness caught God by surprise or that their lack of hearing and understanding was due to a deficiency in divine communication. Instead, it places the blame squarely on Israel's inherent spiritual deafness and predilection for rebellion.

God's "I knew" serves as a divine justification for His persistent warnings and prophecies of judgment and restoration, highlighting that His plan operates in full awareness of His people's rebellious nature. This understanding is critical for grasping why the New Covenant promises (e.g., Jer 31, Eze 36) were essential, promising a new heart and a new spirit precisely because the old covenant, written on stone, could not overcome the inherent treachery and rebellion "from birth." The verse underlines that salvation and transformation ultimately stem from God's gracious intervention, not from human capacity to simply hear or understand, given humanity's profound fallenness. It’s a polemic against human self-righteousness, emphasizing the depth of sin that necessitates radical divine action for true redemption.