Isaiah 30:12

12 Why thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon;

Isaiah 30:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 30:12

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel
The prophet introduces his message with the phrase they objected to: ministers of the word must not seek to please men, nor should they be deterred from the use of phrases, because disliked by natural men: as, in our days, men do not love to hear the name of Christ so often mentioned, or his Gospel, or the glorious truths of it; but the use of them should not be left off on that account, but rather they should be the more inculcated, as we find this phrase was; see ( Isaiah 30:15 ) : Because ye despise this word;
either this name of the Lord, "the Holy One of Israel"; or this prophecy that was delivered unto them, which reproved them for their confidence in Egypt, and exhorted them to sit still at home, and trust in the Lord; but instead of that they trusted in what was very bad, as follows: but trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon;
either in oppressors, and perverse persons, as the Egyptians were; or in their wealth, got by oppression, rapine, and fraud, which they carried to Egypt, and on which they depended for help and relief; and in that perverse disposition of mind, contradicting the Lord speaking by his prophets, resolving to take their own way, not doubting but that they should have success.

Isaiah 30:12 In-Context

10 who tell the seers, "Don't see;" and to the prophets, "Don't prophesy to us right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits,

11 get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

12 Why thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon;

13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant.

14 He shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces of it a broken piece with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.