Isaiah 57:11
in Isaiah 57Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?
KJV
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
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This verse in Isaiah 57
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
It would be better openly to renounce God, than to "flatter Him" with lies of false professions (Ps 78:36) [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU]. However, Isa 51:12, 13 favors English Version of the whole verse; God's "silent" long-suffering, which was intended to lead them to repentance, caused them "not to fear Him" (Ro 2:4, 5).
This site's exposition
Whom have you dreaded and feared
on Isaiah 57:11-13
“Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me” names the root, a fear of others. Verse 13 sets the idols against a promise: “he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain”.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 11.) For what reason did you fear anxiously? Because you lied and did not remember me, nor did you think in your heart? For I was silent and as if not seeing, and you forgot about me. LXX: Whom you feared, you were greatly terrified, and you lied to me, and you did not remember me. Nor did you place me in your mind and in your heart. And I, seeing you, despise you, and you did not fear me.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, because you were not recalled by divine awaiting: nor thought on me in your heart; for I am silent, overlooking your sins, waiting for you, to show you mercy: you overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance (Wis 11:24), above: I …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Feared - And who are they, the fear of whom drives thee to these wicked courses? Lied - That thou hast dealt thus perfidiously with me. Not remembered - Hast thou forgotten all those great things which I have done for thee.
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For laid it to thy heart “Nor revolved it in thy hand” - Eight MSS., (four ancient), and the two oldest editions, with another, add the conjunction ו vau, ולא velo: which is confirmed by all the ancient Versions. Even of old “And winked” - For ומעולם umeolam, which makes no good sense or construction in this place, twenty-three MSS. (seven ancient) and three editions have מעלם, (to be thus pointed מעלם malim); Παρορω, Septuagint; quasi non videns, “as if not seeing,” Vulgate. See Psa 10:1. The truth of this reading, so confirmed, admits of no doubt. In one of my own MSS. the ו vau has been written, but afterwards struck out. Is it not because I was silent, and winked?
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And of whom hast thou been afraid - The sense of this verse is exceedingly obscure. The design is evidently to reprove the Jews for the course which they had been pursuing in practicing idolatry, and in seeking the alliance of foreign powers. The main scope of the passage seems to be, to state that all this was proof that they did not fear God. Their conduct did not originate from any reverence for him, or any respect to his commands.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
With the length of your way you became wearied You engaged in your necessities, in the filling of your lust, to increase your wealth.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
I tell your righteousness Constantly, I tell you things to do, so that you will be righteous.
Thou hast wearied thyself in the greatness of thy way; yet thou didst not thinks to return the many treasures thou hast multiplied, wherefore thou thoughtest not to repent.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מִ֞י | mi | whom? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| דָּאַ֤גְתְּ | daagt | did you dread | H1672 → | |
| וַתִּֽירְאִי֙ | vatirei | and did you fear? | H3372 → | 315 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| תְכַזֵּ֔בִי | tekhazevi | you will lie | H3576 → | |
| וְאוֹתִי֙ | veoti | and <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| זָכַ֔רְתְּ | zakhart | you remembered | H2142 → | 230 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שַׂ֖מְתְּ | samt | you put [it] | H7760 → | 584 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| לִבֵּ֑ךְ | libekh | heart your | H3820 → | 595 times |
| הֲלֹ֨א | halo' | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אֲנִ֤י | ʾani | [am] I | H589 → | 874 times |
| מַחְשֶׁה֙ | machsheh | silent | H2814 → | 16 times |
| וּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔ם | umeolam | and from long ago | H5769 → | 438 times |
| וְאוֹתִ֖י | veoti | and <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִירָֽאִי׃ | tirai | you fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
מִ֞יwhom?
miH4310 →423 times
דָּאַ֤גְתְּdid you dread
daagtH1672 →
וַתִּֽירְאִי֙and did you fear?
vatireiH3372 →315 times
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
תְכַזֵּ֔בִיyou will lie
tekhazeviH3576 →
וְאוֹתִי֙and <obj.> me
veotiH853 →10935 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
זָכַ֔רְתְּyou remembered
zakhartH2142 →230 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
שַׂ֖מְתְּyou put [it]
samtH7760 →584 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
לִבֵּ֑ךְheart your
libekhH3820 →595 times
הֲלֹ֨א¿ not
halo'H3808 →5168 times
אֲנִ֤י[am] I
ʾaniH589 →874 times
מַחְשֶׁה֙silent
machshehH2814 →16 times
וּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔םand from long ago
umeolamH5769 →438 times
וְאוֹתִ֖יand <obj.> me
veotiH853 →10935 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
תִירָֽאִי׃you fear
tiraiH3372 →315 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 29:25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
it leads to
- Psalms 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
- Luke 12:4
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Psalms 91:14
“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.
- Proverbs 16:20
Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
- Psalms 118:8
Through
Psalms 50:21You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.
it leads to
- Romans 2:4–5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Romans 2:4–5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Isaiah
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.