Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 48:4
Because I knew that thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
4. Cf. Eze 3:7-9.
thy neck is an iron sinew ] Cf. for the idea Exo 32:9; Deu 9:6; Deu 9:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 you might have the most full and undoubted demonstration of the truth of what was declared. As they were disinclined to credit his promises, and as he saw that in their long captivity they would be prone to disbelieve what he had said respecting their deliverance under Cyrus, he had, therefore, given them these numerous evidences of the certainty of the fulfillment of all his prophecies, in order that their minds might credit what he said about their return to their own land.
That thou art obstinate – Margin, as Hebrew, Hard, The sense is, that they were obstinate and intractable – an expression probably taken from a bullock which refuses to receive the yoke. The word hard, as expressive of obstinacy, is often combined with others. Thus, in Exo 32:9; Exo 34:9, hard of neck, that is, stiff-necked, stubborn; hard of face Eze 2:4; hard of heart Eze 3:7. The idea is, that they were, as a people, obstinate, rebellious, and indisposed to submit to the laws of God – a charge which is often brought against them by the sacred writers, and which is abundantly verified by all their history as a people (compare Exo 32:9; Exo 33:3-5; Exo 34:9; Deu 9:6-13; Deu 31:27; 2Ch 30:8; Eze 2:4; Act 7:51).
Thy neck is an iron sinew – The word giyd means properly a cord, thong, or band; then a nerve, sinew, muscle, or tendon. The metaphor is taken from oxen when they make their neck stiff, and refuse to submit it to the yoke.
And thy brow brass – Thy forehead is hard and insensible as brass. The phrase is applied to the shameless brow of a harloi Jer 3:3; Eze 3:7, where there is an utter want of modesty, and consummate impudence. A brow of brass is an image of insensibility, or obstinacy (so in Jer 6:28).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 Neh 9:29; Zec 7:11; Act 7:51. 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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. obstinateHebrew,“hard” (Deu 9:27;Eze 3:7, Margin).
iron sinewinflexible(Ac 7:51).
brow brassshameless asa harlot (see Jer 6:28; Jer 3:3;Eze 3:7, Margin).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, 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.
a “quod durus tu es”, Pagninus, Montanus; “te durum esse”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. For I knew that thou art obstinate. Literally it is, “On account of my knowing,” or, “From nay knowing.” Here the Lord solemnly declares by the Prophet, that it was on account of the hard-heartedness of the people that he spake of future events; as if he had said that he acted more liberally towards them than he ought to have done. Not that this was the only end which he aimed at; for we know that the chief use of doctrine belongs to believers, who gently submit themselves and cheerfully obey; but Isaiah, who had to deal with obstinate men, justly says that, if their depravity had not been incurable, God made use of an excellent remedy, by uttering many successive predictions for the purpose of ratifying his Law. Thus as he had foretold future events to the fathers, so he shews that he follows the same course, in order to conquer or soften the obstinacy and hard-heartedness of the people.
And thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy forehead is of brass. He calls their neck “an iron sinew,” because it cannot be bent. “Sinews” are indeed hard, but still they are capable of being bent; here, he says, there is no bending, because they are untameable. He next mentions “a brazen forehead,” to denote their impudence. There are two ways by which we may be kept in the path of duty; first, if we are submissive and obey good instructions or holy commandments; and secondly, if, after having fallen into any sin, we are moved by sincere shame to repent of what we have done. When these are wanting, it is a sign of desperate wickedness. These are two proofs, therefore, which he has brought forward to shew that the nation was abandoned to everything that was sinful; they were refractory, and they were impudent. And yet, when the Lord cannot cure us in any other way, he treats even our perversity with such forbearance, that he is pleased to give us warning of future events. Thus he assumes, as it were, every possible shape, in order to recall us to himself, and bring us back into the right path.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
THE PROBABILITY AND USE OF INSPIRED PREDICTIONS
Isa. 48:3. I have declared the former things, &c.
I. Is it quite plain that any being that is distinguished above others must be exalted, either by knowledge or by power, or by both? Hence God is known in this way, and chiefly by knowledge.
II. The uses of inspired predictions.
1. Study the book that contains them.
2. Watch Gods providence, and see how it fulfils His word.
3. Learn from hence to admire and adore the omniscience and faithfulness of God.
4. Expect all that God has predicted, both for time and eternity.Dr. J. Bennett. Biblical Museum, in loco.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(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 (Isa. 48:5), to ascribe their deliverance to another god, and to worship that god in the form of a graven image.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 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.
And thy brow brass.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thy neck, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 32:9).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I knew: Isa 46:12, Psa 78:8, Zec 7:11, Zec 7:12
obstinate: Heb. hard, Jer 5:3, Eze 3:4-7, Dan 5:20, Rom 2:5, Heb 3:13, and they, Exo 32:9, Exo 33:3, Exo 33:5, Deu 10:16, Deu 31:27, 2Ki 17:14, 2Ch 30:8, 2Ch 36:13, Neh 9:16, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:28, Psa 75:5, Pro 29:1, Jer 7:26, Jer 19:15, Zec 7:12, Act 7:51
thy brow: Jer 3:3, Eze 3:7-9
Reciprocal: Exo 9:7 – the heart Exo 34:9 – stiffnecked Deu 2:30 – obstinate Deu 9:6 – a stiffnecked Job 40:18 – General Job 41:24 – as hard Ecc 8:3 – stand Isa 9:9 – in the pride Isa 43:12 – declared Isa 48:8 – I knew Jer 17:23 – they obeyed Jer 44:5 – they Eze 2:4 – they Eze 11:19 – I will take Eze 22:18 – brass Amo 6:12 – horses
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
48:4 Because I knew that {e} thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
(e) I have done for you more than I promised, that your stubbornness and impudency might have been overcome.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
God had done this because His people were stubborn when it came to trusting Him. If He had not done this, they would have concluded that some idol had been responsible for the turn of events. They, like all people, resisted trust in a sovereign God, preferring rather to make their gods in their own image and so control them. People are by nature like animals, in that they often refuse to go a certain way, simply because their Master wants them to go that way. The "neck of iron" pictures unwillingness to bow in submission. The "brazen forehead" represents an opinionated person with a closed mind, or a shameless person who persists in sin.