Isaiah 66:4 kjv
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Isaiah 66:4 nkjv
So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight."
Isaiah 66:4 niv
so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."
Isaiah 66:4 esv
I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."
Isaiah 66:4 nlt
I will send them great trouble ?
all the things they feared.
For when I called, they did not answer.
When I spoke, they did not listen.
They deliberately sinned before my very eyes
and chose to do what they know I despise."
Isaiah 66 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 66:4 | "I also will choose their punishment, and I will bring their fears upon them, because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, none paid attention." | Isaiah 66:4 (Base Verse) |
| Isaiah 5:12 | "but they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the operation of his hands." | Isaiah 5:12 (Lack of regard) |
| Isaiah 65:12 | "therefore I will count you out for the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before My eyes and chose that in which I do not delight.”" | Isaiah 65:12 (Called/spoke) |
| Jeremiah 7:13 | "And now, because you have done all these works,” declares the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer," | Jeremiah 7:13 (Spoke/called) |
| Proverbs 1:24 | "because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one gave heed," | Proverbs 1:24 (Called/refused) |
| Jeremiah 11:7 | "for I solemnly warned your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and do according to all that I command. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,' | Jeremiah 11:7 (Listen to voice) |
| John 10:27 | "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." | John 10:27 (Hear My voice) |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" | Matthew 23:37 (Willingness) |
| Luke 13:34 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood, and you were unwilling!" | Luke 13:34 (Unwillingness) |
| Hebrews 12:25 | "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who is from heaven." | Hebrews 12:25 (Refuse him speaking) |
| Romans 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." | Romans 1:18 (Wrath of God) |
| Romans 2:5 | "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." | Romans 2:5 (Storing wrath) |
| Galatians 3:10 | "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”" | Galatians 3:10 (Under a curse) |
| Psalm 36:11 | "Let not the foot of pride come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away." | Psalm 36:11 (Foot of pride) |
| Psalm 11:5 | "The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked, and him who loves violence, his soul hates." | Psalm 11:5 (Tests the righteous) |
| Proverbs 15:1 | "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." | Proverbs 15:1 (Soft answer) |
| Proverbs 19:29 | "Judgments are prepared for mockers, and backbitings for the back of fools." | Proverbs 19:29 (Judgments for mockers) |
| Zechariah 7:11-12 | "But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing." | Zechariah 7:11-12 (Refused to listen) |
| Acts 7:51 | "“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Acts 7:51 (Resist the Holy Spirit) |
| Revelation 6:16 | "and to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," | Revelation 6:16 (Wrath of the Lamb) |
Isaiah 66 verses
Isaiah 66 4 Meaning
The verse states that God will choose to punish the people, but He will select those who do His will. Their disobedience and failure to listen will result in His judgment being inflicted upon them.
Isaiah 66 4 Context
Isaiah chapter 66 is the concluding chapter of the book, bringing to a close the prophetic message delivered by Isaiah. This chapter speaks of the ultimate restoration of Zion and the final judgment upon the wicked. Verse 4 serves as a pivotal statement of God's judicial action against those who have persistently ignored His divine counsel and warnings. It contrasts God's desire to gather and bless with the people's refusal, leading to their deserved judgment. The preceding verses discuss God's rejection of superficial worship and the hypocrisy of His people, setting the stage for this declaration of His chosen punishment.
Isaiah 66 4 Word Analysis
- "I": Refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel, asserting His sovereignty and authority.
- "also": Indicates this is an additional, decisive act of judgment in response to previous provocations.
- "will choose": Signifies deliberate selection and appointment. God is not acting in a haphazard manner, but with purposeful intent in His judgment.
- "their punishment": The penalty that is deserved due to their sin and disobedience. The Hebrew word implies retribution or a decision about their allotted fate.
- "and": A conjunction connecting two parallel clauses of consequence.
- "I": Again, emphasis on God's personal involvement.
- "will bring": To cause to come, to inflict, to lead upon them.
- "their fears": The very things they dreaded, the anxieties and terrors that stemmed from their disobedience and anticipation of judgment. This suggests God utilizes their own ungodly anticipations against them.
- "upon them": Directed towards them, indicating the experience of this judgment.
- "because": Introduces the reason for God's action.
- "when I called": God's persistent invitations and invitations to repentance and obedience throughout history. This points to multiple instances of divine outreach.
- "no one answered": Their refusal to respond to God's call. This highlights a collective rejection.
- "when I spoke": God's spoken commands, warnings, and counsel through prophets and divine manifestations.
- "none paid attention": A complete lack of heed or listening to God's words. This underscores their willful ignorance and stubbornness.
Word Groups Analysis
- "I also will choose their punishment, and I will bring their fears upon them": This phrase emphasizes God's deliberate and precise execution of judgment. He does not arbitrarily punish; He selects the appropriate consequences that align with their choices and fears, effectively bringing their own negative expectations to fruition because of their rejection.
- "because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, none paid attention": This is the foundational reason for God's punitive action. It highlights a persistent, reciprocal failure: God continuously reached out, and the people continuously ignored His initiatives. Their deafness to His call and voice resulted in His decisive judgment.
Isaiah 66 4 Bonus Section
This verse strongly echoes the theme of divine rejection of a people who persistently refuse to hear. It reflects a consistent pattern seen throughout Israel's history, documented from the Exodus onwards. The prophecy here finds a profound fulfillment and parallel in Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in the Gospels (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34), where He expresses His desire to gather them, but they were unwilling. This emphasizes that God's judgment is always preceded by His desire for relationship and their willful rejection of it. The "fears" God brings upon them are the direct consequence of their spiritual unresponsiveness, revealing that unaddressed sin ultimately leads to self-inflicted distress, which God then sovereignly allows to be manifested as judgment.
Isaiah 66 4 Commentary
Isaiah 66:4 reveals God's just response to persistent rebellion. His judgment is not capricious but a deliberate consequence of His people's collective refusal to heed His voice and respond to His calls. He chooses their punishment, meaning He will ensure that the penalty perfectly fits their transgressions. Furthermore, He brings "their fears" upon them, indicating that the very anxieties they harbored due to their sinful paths will be realized through His righteous judgment. This verse underscores the critical importance of listening to and obeying God's Word. The people's silence in response to God's voice seals their fate; they have demonstrated they prefer their own way, and God allows that choice to manifest in their punishment. This serves as a stark warning about the seriousness of spiritual deafness and the inescapable reality of divine justice for those who reject His gracious invitations.