Isaiah 64:12

12 ¹Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

Isaiah 64:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 64:12

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord?
&c.] From delivering us out of our troubles and miseries, and taking vengeance on our enemies, and showing thy zeal for thine own glory; or, as Kimchi paraphrases it,

``how canst thou contain thyself for these things, and not have mercy?''

how canst thou bear to see Judea, and all its cities, a wilderness; Jerusalem, and the temple of it, in ruins? wilt thou hold thy peace?
or, "be silent"; and not plead thine own cause, and the cause of thy people? and afflict us very sore?
exceedingly, even to extremity; or for ever, as the Targum, thinking it long, as well as heavy. Jerom observes, that the Jews say these words in their synagogues every day; which show that they look upon this prophecy to respect their present case.

Isaiah 64:12 In-Context

10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

11 Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins.

12 Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 42:14; [Zechariah 1:12]