Isaiah 48:4-14

4 For I knew that thou art hard, and thy noll is (like) a sinew of iron, and thy forehead is (like) of brass.

5 I before-said to thee from that time; before that those things came, I showed (them) to thee; lest peradventure thou wouldest say, Mine idols did these things, and my graven images, and my molten images, sent these things, (I told thee before the time; before that those things came, I showed them to thee; lest thou wouldest say, My idols did these things, yea, my carved idols, and my cast idols, have commanded these things to be.)

6 which thou heardest. See thou all things, but ye told not. I made heard new things to thee from that time, and things be kept which thou knowest not; (Thou hast heard, and seen, all these things, but ye have not told them out. I made known to thee new things from that time, and hidden things which thou knewest not before;)

7 now those be made of nought, and not from that time, and before the day, and thou heardest not (of) those things; lest peradventure thou say, Lo! I knew those things. (and those things be made out of nothing, and were not from that time, yea, before today thou heardest not of those things; lest thou now say, Lo! I knew all these things.)

8 Neither thou heardest, neither thou knewest, neither thine ear was opened from that time; for I know, that thou trespassing shalt trespass, and I called thee a trespasser from the womb.

9 For my name I shall make far my strong vengeance, and with my praising I shall refrain (for) thee, lest thou perish. (For the sake of my name I shall make my strong vengeance to go far away, and for the sake of my praises I shall refrain from hurting thee, lest thou perish.)

10 Lo! I have sodden thee, but not as silver; I chose thee in the chimney of poverty. (Lo! I have tested thee, but not like silver; I chose thee in the furnace of affliction.)

11 I shall do for me, that I be not blasphemed (I shall do it for my own sake, so that I be not blasphemed), and I shall not give my glory to another.

12 Jacob and Israel (Jacob, yea, Israel), whom I call(ed), hear thou me; I myself, I am the first, and I am the last.

13 And mine hand founded the earth, and my right hand meted (the) heavens; I shall call them, and they shall stand (up) together (and when I call them, they stand up at once).

14 All ye be gathered together, and hear; who of them told [out] these things? The Lord loved him, he shall do his will in Babylon, and his arm in Chaldees (and his arm, or his power, shall be upon the Chaldeans).

Isaiah 48:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 48

The prophecy of this chapter is concerning the deliverance and salvation of the Jews, and is addressed unto them; who are described by their natural descent and lineage, and by their hypocrisy in religious things, Isa 48:1,2. By their obstinacy and impudence, and by their proneness to idolatry, and to ascribe that to idols which belonged to God; which were the reasons why the Lord foretold all former things to them, before they came to pass, Isa 48:3-5. And for the same reasons also he declared unto them what should be hereafter, particularly the destruction of Babylon, and their deliverance by Cyrus, Isa 48:6-8. From which account of them it would clearly appear, that it was not for any merits of theirs, but for his own name's sake, for his own glory, that he chose them, purified, and saved them as gold tried in the fire, Isa 48:9-11. He observes his own perfections, his eternity and immutability, and power displayed in creation, to engage their faith in the promise of deliverance, Isa 48:12,13 and points out the deliverer Cyrus, a type of Christ, whom he loved, called, sent, and made him prosperous, Isa 48:14-16. Then he directs them to walk in his ways, with promises of peace and prosperity, Isa 48:17-19. And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to go out of Babylon with joy, publishing wherever they came their redemption, and who would be supplied with all necessaries in their return to their own land; only it should be observed, that there was no peace or happiness for the wicked, Isa 48:20-22.