Isaiah 48:2

2 For they call themselves of the holy city and stay themselves upon the God of Israel. The LORD of the hosts is his name.

Isaiah 48:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:2

For they call themselves of the holy city
The city Jerusalem, so called because the temple, the place of divine worship, was in it, the residence of the Holy One of Israel: they valued themselves, not only upon their being of the family of Jacob, and of the tribe of Judah, but that they were inhabitants of Jerusalem, the holy city; as many now call themselves fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, when they are strangers both to God and his people in the experimental knowledge of things: and stay themselves upon the God of Israel;
professed to trust in the Lord, and lean upon him, and rely upon his power and providence, his mercy and goodness, and expect all needful things from him, renouncing all confidence in the creature; and yet at the same time acted an hypocritical part, their faith was feigned: see ( Micah 3:11 ) . The Lord of hosts is his name;
whom they professed to be their God and Father, their Lord and Husband, their Saviour and Redeemer; who has all power in heaven and in earth, and does according to his will in both worlds, having the hosts of angels and armies of men at his command, and therefore so called.

Isaiah 48:2 In-Context

1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who call yourselves by the name of Israel, those that are come forth out of the waters of Judah, those who swear by the name of the LORD 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. The LORD of the hosts is his name.
3 That which happened, I have already declared many days ago; and it went forth out of my mouth, and I published it; I did it suddenly, and it came to pass.
4 Because I know that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow bronze;
5 I have already declared it many days ago; before it came to pass I showed it to thee: lest thou should say, My idol has done it, my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded these things.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010