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Isaiah 48:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 48:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
Isaiah 48:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 48

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness
2(for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; Jehovah of hosts is his name):
3I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
4Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
5therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
6Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.
7They are created now, and not from of old; and before this day thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
← Isaiah 48:3Isaiah 48:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because I knew that thou art obstinate, &c.] Or “hard”f947, hard hearted, an obdurate and rebellious people, contradicting and gainsaying: and thy neck is as an iron sinew; stiffnecked, inflexible, not compliant with the will of God, and his commands; unwilling to admit his yoke, and bear it: and thy brow brass; impudent, not ashamed of sin, nor blushing at it, refusing to receive correction for it, having a whore’s forehead. This the Lord knew and foreknew, and therefore declared before hand what would come to pass unto them; who otherwise would have had the assurance to have ascribed them to themselves, or their idols, and not to him.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“obstinate--Hebrew, "hard" (Deu 9:27; Eze 3:7, Margin). iron sinew--inflexible (Act 7:51). brow brass--shameless as a harlot (see Jer 6:28; Jer 3:3; Eze 3:7, Margin).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Because I knew that thou art obstinate - I made these frequent predictions, and fulfilled them in this striking manner, because I knew that as a people, you were prone to unbelief, and in order that you might have the most full and undoubted demonstration of the truth of what was declared. As they were disinclined to credit his promises, and as he saw that in their long captivity they would be prone to disbelieve what he had said respecting their deliverance under Cyrus, he had, therefore, given them these numerous evidences of the certainty of the fulfillment of all his prophecies, in order that their minds might credit what he said about their return to their own land. That thou art…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I knew - Therefore I gave thee clearer demonstrations of my nature and providence, because I knew thou wast an unbelieving nation. Thy neck - Will not bow down to receive my yoke. Thy brow - Thou wast impudent. Isaiah 48:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I knew: Isa 46:12; Psa 78:8; Zac 7:11, Zac 7:12 obstinate: Heb. hard, Jer 5:3; Eze 3:4-7; Dan 5:20; Rom 2:5; Heb 3:13, and they, Exo 32:9, Exo 33:3, Exo 33:5; Deu 10:16, Deu 31:27; Kg2 17:14; Ch2 30:8, Ch2 36:13; Neh 9:16, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:28; Psa 75:5; Pro 29:1; Jer 7:26, Jer 19:15; Zac 7:12; Act 7:51 thy brow: Jer 3:3; Eze 3:7-9 Isaiah 48:5”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification