Isaiah 1:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

NIV: The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.'

NASB: An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand.'

CSB: The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand."

NLT: Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care — but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.'

KJV: The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

NKJV: The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.”

God is laying out His case against His people Israel (Isaiah 1:1–2) as a lawyer would present a case in a lawsuit over a broken contract. He has described these children of His as living in rebellion against Him.

Now the Lord compares Israel's willful ignorance to livestock. Donkeys, especially, were known to be stubborn animals. Even donkeys, though, understand who feeds them. Even donkeys know who owns and provides for them.

God insists that the people of Israel have demonstrated by their behavior that they do not know where their sustenance comes from. They show their lack of understanding by rebelling against the one who provides what they need to live. They don't show even basic awareness that if they succeed in pushing the Lord away, they will lose everything else, as well.

Isaiah 1:2–20 begins a presentation somewhat like a lawsuit against the people of Judah in Israel. The Lord will show many of the ways they have broken their covenant with Him. The people are saturated with sin. They have forsaken Him. Isaiah describes a spiritual sickness Israel refuses to treat. It will lead to their physical destruction by enemy invaders. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful rebellion. God calls them to stop sinning and to do good. He offers to make their sins white as snow if they repent and to consume them if they rebel.

After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.

Isaiah 1 begins Isaiah's massive book of prophecy with the Lord presenting a lawsuit against His people Israel in Judah for breach of covenant. They live in rebellion against Him and are saturated in sin. They refuse to treat their spiritual illness and will be decimated by their enemies. Their offerings are meaningless. They must stop doing evil and start doing what is good. The Lord will burn off the corrupt from Jerusalem and return it to a place of justice and righteousness. Those who refuse to repent will be broken and destroyed.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/7/2024 6:05:06 AM