Isaiah 22:12

12 Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to 1weeping, to wailing, To 2shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.

Isaiah 22:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord God of hosts
When it was a day of trouble, of treading down, and of perplexity; when Jerusalem was besieged by the Assyrian army; and when the people were so much concerned, and so careful for their defence and preservation; then did the Lord call to weeping and to mourning;
to confess and mourn over their sins, the cause of these calamities; to lament their unhappy case; to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and, by prayer and supplication, with tears to implore his help and assistance, and grant them deliverance; this the Lord called them unto by the voice of his Providence, by the afflictive dispensations of it, and also by his prophets, whom he sent unto them, particularly the Prophet Isaiah; so the Targum,

``and the prophet of the Lord God of hosts called in that day,'' &c.:
and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;
which were external signs and tokens of inward sorrow and repentance; the former of which was done by shaving the head, or plucking off the hair, and was forbidden on private occasions, yet might be allowed in a public case; see ( Micah 1:16 ) ( Jeremiah 16:6 ) .

Isaiah 22:12 In-Context

10 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And tore down houses to fortify the wall.
11 And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago.
12 Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.
13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."
14 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, "Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Isaiah 32:11; Joel 1:13; Joel 2:17
  • 2. Micah 1:16

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.