Isaiah 64:12

12 When you see these things, will you hold yourself back from helping us, Lord? Will you be silent and punish us beyond what we can stand?

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 are empty like the desert. Jerusalem is like a desert; it is destroyed.

11 Our ancestors worshiped you in our holy and wonderful Temple, but now it has been burned with fire, and all our precious things have been destroyed.

12 When you see these things, will you hold yourself back from helping us, Lord? Will you be silent and punish us beyond what we can stand?