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Isaiah 48:4

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Isaiah 48:4 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.

King James Version KJV

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

American Standard Version ASV

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

Bible in Basic English BBE

Because I saw that your heart was hard, and that your neck was an iron cord, and your brow brass;

Free Bible Version FBV

I know how stubborn you are, with necks as unbending as iron and foreheads as hard as bronze.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Because I knewe, that thou art obstinate, and thy necke is an yron sinew, and thy brow brasse,

Young's Literal Translation YLT

From my knowing that thou art obstinate, And a sinew of iron thy neck, And thy forehead brass,

World English Bible WEB

Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow bronze;

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

For I knew that thou art stubborn, and thy neck is as an iron sinew, and thy forehead as brass.

Translation for Translators T4T

I knew that you people are very stubborn; I knew that your heads are [MET] as hard as iron or brass [DOU].

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 48:4

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 48:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB מִ/דַּעְתִּ֕/י כִּ֥י קָשֶׁ֖ה אָ֑תָּה וְ/גִ֤יד בַּרְזֶל֙ עָרְפֶּ֔/ךָ וּ/מִצְחֲ/ךָ֖ נְחוּשָֽׁה
מִ/דַּעְתִּ֕/י daʻath H1847 knowledge Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
כִּ֥י kîy H3588 for Conj
קָשֶׁ֖ה qâsheh H7186 severe Adj
אָ֑תָּה ʼattâh H859 you(m.s.) Pron
וְ/גִ֤יד gîyd H1517 sinew Conj | N-ms
בַּרְזֶל֙ barzel H1270 iron N-ms
עָרְפֶּ֔/ךָ ʻôreph H6203 neck N-ms | Suff
וּ/מִצְחֲ/ךָ֖ mêtsach H4696 forehead Conj | N-ms | Suff
נְחוּשָֽׁה nᵉchûwshâh H5154 bronze N-fs
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 48:4

מִ/דַּעְתִּ֕/י daʻath H1847 "knowledge" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
In the Bible, daath means knowledge or understanding, like when Solomon asked God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. It involves skill and perception, and is often linked to wisdom. This concept appears in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) knowledge 1a) knowledge, perception, skill 1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
Usage: Occurs in 91 OT verses. KJV: cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). See also: Genesis 2:9; Proverbs 14:7; Psalms 19:3.
כִּ֥י kîy H3588 "for" Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
קָשֶׁ֖ה qâsheh H7186 "severe" Adj
This word describes something or someone as severe or cruel, like the harsh treatment of the Israelites by their enemies in Judges.
Definition: 1) hard, cruel, severe, obstinate 1a) hard, difficult 1b) severe 1c) fierce, intense, vehement 1d) stubborn, stiff of neck, stiff-necked 1e) rigorous (of battle)
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, [phrase] impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff(necked), stubborn, [phrase] in trouble. See also: Genesis 42:7; 2 Samuel 2:17; Psalms 60:5.
אָ֑תָּה ʼattâh H859 "you(m.s.)" Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
וְ/גִ֤יד gîyd H1517 "sinew" Conj | N-ms
This Hebrew word means a sinew or tendon, which connects muscles to bones. In the Bible, it is used to describe the physical body, such as in Job 40:17, where it refers to a strong tendon. The word symbolizes strength and connection.
Definition: sinew
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: sinew. See also: Genesis 32:33; Isaiah 48:4; Ezekiel 37:8.
בַּרְזֶל֙ barzel H1270 "iron" N-ms
Iron refers to a strong metal used for tools and furniture, symbolizing strength or harshness, as seen in the Bible's descriptions of iron implements.
Definition: 1) iron 1a) iron 1a1) iron ore 1a2) as material of furniture, utensils, implements 2) tool of iron 3) harshness, strength, oppression (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: par.zel (פַּרְזֶל "iron" H6523)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: (ax) head, iron. See also: Genesis 4:22; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalms 2:9.
עָרְפֶּ֔/ךָ ʻôreph H6203 "neck" N-ms | Suff
The neck or back of the neck represents a turning point, like the back of a fleeing enemy or a stubborn person with a stiff neck.
Definition: 1) neck, back of the neck, back 1a) back of the neck 1a1) of fleeing foe 1a2) of apostasy (fig.) 1b) stiff of neck, obstinate (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: back ((stiff-) neck((-ed). See also: Genesis 49:8; 2 Chronicles 30:8; Psalms 18:41.
וּ/מִצְחֲ/ךָ֖ mêtsach H4696 "forehead" Conj | N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for forehead, referring to the open and prominent part of the face. In the Bible, it is used to describe the forehead of humans, like in Ezekiel 3:8-9. It represents the front of a person.
Definition: brow, forehead
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: brow, forehead, [phrase] impudent. See also: Exodus 28:38; Jeremiah 3:3; Isaiah 48:4.
נְחוּשָֽׁה nᵉchûwshâh H5154 "bronze" N-fs
The Hebrew word for copper or bronze, a metal made from melting copper ore, is used in the Bible to describe items like the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:9. It is also translated as brass or steel in some versions. This metal was highly valued in ancient times.
Definition: 1) copper, bronze 1a) copper (made from melting copper ore) 1b) bronze (made from copper and alloy) Aramaic equivalent: ne.chash (נְחָשׁ "bronze" H5174)
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: brass, steel. Compare H5176 (נָחָשׁ). See also: Leviticus 26:19; Job 41:19; Psalms 18:35.

Study Notes — Isaiah 48:4

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
2 Exodus 32:9 The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.
3 Zechariah 7:11–12 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.
4 Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
5 Ezekiel 3:4–9 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.”
6 Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
7 Jeremiah 19:15 “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am about to bring on this city and on all the villages around it every disaster I have pronounced against them, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to heed My words.’”
8 Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
9 Deuteronomy 31:27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!
10 Exodus 33:5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”

Isaiah 48:4 Summary

[Isaiah 48:4 tells us that God knows we are stubborn, with hearts that can be as hard as iron and bronze. This means we often resist God's will and refuse to listen to Him. However, despite our stubbornness, God still loves us and wants to work in our lives, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11, where He promises to give us a future and a hope. He calls us to acknowledge our need for Him and to yield to His will, that we might experience His love and mercy, as described in Psalm 103:8-14.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that our neck is iron and our forehead is bronze?

This metaphor, as seen in Isaiah 48:4, indicates a stubborn and hardened heart, unwilling to yield to God's will, much like the unyielding nature of iron and bronze, as also described in Jeremiah 17:1 and Ezekiel 3:7-9.

Is God saying that we are beyond hope because of our stubbornness?

No, God's declaration of our stubbornness is not a statement of hopelessness, but rather a call to acknowledge our need for Him, as seen in Isaiah 48:4 and reinforced by Romans 3:10-18, which emphasizes our universal need for salvation.

How does God's knowledge of our stubbornness affect His relationship with us?

God's knowledge of our stubbornness, as stated in Isaiah 48:4, underscores His omniscience and His patient, loving nature, as seen in Psalm 103:8-14, where it is written that God is slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

What is the significance of God knowing our stubbornness in the context of Isaiah 48:4?

The significance lies in God's ability to work despite our stubbornness, declaring His plans and fulfilling them, as stated in Isaiah 46:10, which emphasizes God's sovereignty and ability to accomplish His will.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways do I exhibit stubbornness in my own life, and how can I yield to God's will?
  2. How does the image of an iron neck and a bronze forehead make me think about my own heart and its tendency to harden against God?
  3. What are some areas where I have seen God work in my life despite my stubbornness, and how can I learn to trust Him more?
  4. In what ways can I apply the lesson of God's patience and love, as demonstrated in His knowledge of our stubbornness, to my relationships with others?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 48:4

Because I knew that thou art obstinate,.... Or "hard" (a), hard hearted, an obdurate and rebellious people, contradicting and gainsaying: and thy neck is as an iron sinew; stiffnecked, inflexible,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 48:4

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; Because I knew that thou (art) obstinate - Hebrew, hard, (Deuteronomy 9:27; Ezekiel 3:7, margin.) And thy

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 48:4

Because I knew: therefore I gave thee the more and clearer demonstrations of my Divine nature and providence, because I knew thou wast an unbelieving and perverse nation, that would not easily nor willingly be convinced. Thy neck is an iron sinew, which will not bow down to receive my yoke, nor to obey my commands. It is a metaphor taken from untamed and stubborn cattle; of which see also . The sense is, I considered that thou wast unteachable and incorrigible. Thy brow brass; thou wast impudent, and therefore wouldst boldly pretend that thou didst forsake me, for want of full conviction of my Divine authority, and of thy duty; therefore I determined that I would leave thee without excuse.

Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 48:4

Isaiah 48:4 Because I knew that thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;Ver. 4. Because I knew that thou art obstinate.] Heb., Hard, obdurate; therefore do I so inculcate these things, if by any means I may mollify thee. Hypocrites are harder to be wrought upon than other sinners. And thy neck is an iron sinew.] Thou art utterly averse from, yea, adverse to any good; no more bended thereunto than if the body had for every sinew a plate of iron. And thy brow brass.] Sinews of iron argue a natural impotence, and somewhat more; but brows of brass impudence in evil; quando pudet non esse impudentes, when men are shameless in sin, setting it "upon the cliff of the rock," and "declaring it as Sodom."

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 48:4

(4) Because I knew that thou art obstinate . . .—The point is that Jehovah foresees not only the conquests of Cyrus, but the obduracy of His own people. In Egypt (Jeremiah 44) and in Babylon, as of old, they were still a stiff-necked people, inclined (Isaiah 48:5), to ascribe their deliverance to another god, and to worship that god in the form of a graven image.

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 48:4

4. Cf. Ezekiel 3:7-9. thy neck is an iron sinew] Cf. for the idea Exodus 32:9; Deuteronomy 9:6; Deuteronomy 9:13.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 48:4

Because I knew that thou art obstinate - I made these frequent predictions, and fulfilled them in this striking manner, because I knew that as a people, you were prone to unbelief, and in order that

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 48:4

3-5. I have declared — Or, have announced. Former things — Former events, before they came to pass; or, as some suppose, “and they have come to pass” Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 44:7-8.

Sermons on Isaiah 48:4

SermonDescription
Ray Comfort Militant Evangelism by Ray Comfort In this sermon, the preacher tells a story of a father who risks his life to save his son from crocodile-infested waters. The preacher uses this story to emphasize the importance o
A.W. Tozer (Titus - Part 11): Inspiration by Information by A.W. Tozer In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing his joy in seeing the work of God in the neighborhood through the Pioneer Girls program. He then addresses the perception of the ch
Art Katz Jeremiah - Prophet of the Last Days by Art Katz In this sermon, the speaker discusses the significance of the last days for Israel and their eternal indebtedness to God's deliverance. He emphasizes the importance of examining an
Robert Murray M'Cheyne The Ten Virgins (Reading) by Robert Murray M'Cheyne In this sermon, Reverend Robert Murray McChain focuses on the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-13. He addresses the congregation, dividing them into two classes: the wi
Art Katz Arab-07 Martyrdom - God's Normative Call by Art Katz In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on the eternal glory of God rather than our own earthly struggles. He uses the example of Paul and Silas, who were
Don Basham A Plea for Kingdom Honesty - Part 1 by Don Basham In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the power and miracles experienced by the early church as recorded in Acts 4. The disciples prayed and were filled with the Holy Spirit, spe
Art Katz Arab-07 Martyrdom by Art Katz In this sermon, the speaker discusses the challenges faced by the church in overcoming historic prejudices and moving Israel to receive the Gospel. The speaker emphasizes the impor
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