Isaiah 48:4

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

Isaiah 48:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:4

Because I knew that thou art obstinate
Or "hard" ^F1, 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 (hta hvq yk) "quod durus tu es", Pagninus, Montanus; "te durum esse", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vitringa.

Isaiah 48:4 In-Context

2 For they be called of the holy city (For they call themselves citizens of the holy city), and be stablished on the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name.

3 From that time I told (of) the former things, and those went out of my mouth; and I made them known; (then) suddenly I wrought (them), and those things came (to be).

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;)