Isaiah 1:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

NIV: Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.

NASB: Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The entire head is sick And the entire heart is faint.

CSB: Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick.

NLT: Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick.

KJV: Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

NKJV: Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints.

The Lord pauses His case against Israel to ask a question: Why do you keep doing these things? Why keep acting in ways that lead to consequences and punishments?

The question can be taken in two ways. First, the Lord wants Israel—specifically the southern tribes of Judah—to understand why they will be struck down. When the blow comes, it will be because they have rebelled against Him. From another perspective, though, God seems to want Israel to face up to their reasons for continuing on the path that leads to destruction. This ruin is depicted later in the passage (Isaiah 1:7–8).

The Lord's answer to the question "why" seems to be that the people of Israel are spiritually sick. This error starts in the minds and continues to their hearts. Their heads are sick because their minds are closed to understanding that the Lord is the source of their survival and protection (Romans 12:2). Their hearts are faint, and weak, because they no longer trust Him (John 14:1).

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 5/4/2024 3:13:56 PM