Isaiah 22:12

KJV

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

KJV (with Strong's)

And in that day {H3117} did the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} of hosts {H6635} call {H7121} to weeping {H1065}, and to mourning {H4553}, and to baldness {H7144}, and to girding {H2296} with sackcloth {H8242}:

Complete Jewish Bible

That day Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot called on you to weep and mourn, to shave your heads and wear sackcloth;

Berean Standard Bible

On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.

American Standard Version

And in that day did the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 22:12 presents an urgent and profound divine summons from the Lord GOD of hosts to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, calling them to a deep and visible demonstration of repentance and sorrow. In stark contrast to their prevailing revelry and self-reliant preparations for an impending crisis, God commands traditional acts of lamentation—weeping, mourning, baldness, and girding with sackcloth—as an imperative response to their spiritual apathy and the looming judgment. This verse powerfully underscores God's sovereign authority and His profound desire for genuine contrition and humility from His people when they have strayed from Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 22 is an "Oracle Concerning the Valley of Vision," a prophetic burden specifically directed at Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. The preceding verses ([Isaiah 22:1-11](/isaiah/22-1-11 "Isaiah 22:1-11 - Jerusalem's Misplaced Confidence")) vividly portray Jerusalem's frantic human efforts to prepare for an anticipated siege. Instead of turning to the Lord for deliverance, the people are depicted as diligently fortifying walls, collecting water, and even demolishing houses to strengthen defenses, all while engaging in revelry and feasting. Verse 12 serves as a sharp, divine interruption to this scene of carnal security and spiritual blindness. It presents God's true desire for His people's response to their precarious situation, setting up a tragic contrast with their actual defiant choice of hedonism over humility, which is explicitly condemned in [Isaiah 22:13](/isaiah/22-13 "Isaiah 22:13 - Jerusalem's Defiant Response"). The prophet highlights the profound spiritual disconnect between God's call and the people's actions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 22 is most likely the Assyrian threat to Judah in the late 8th century BCE, possibly during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-19). Jerusalem, as the capital, was a focal point of this impending crisis, having witnessed the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria. In the ancient Near East, public displays of grief, sorrow, and repentance were deeply ingrained cultural practices. Weeping, mourning, shaving the head (baldness), and wearing sackcloth were universally recognized signs of extreme distress, national calamity, or profound contrition before deity. These were not merely symbolic gestures but embodied a deep-seated communal and individual lament, often accompanied by fasting and prayer. Such acts signified humility, self-abasement, and an earnest dependence on a higher power, acknowledging a state of vulnerability and a plea for mercy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights the **Divine Call to Repentance**, emphasizing God's initiative in calling His people back to Himself, even in the face of their defiance and spiritual apathy. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Authentic Grief and Humiliation**, contrasting superficial religiosity or worldly distractions with the deep, visceral sorrow God expects from a people who have strayed from His covenant. The prescribed actions are a call for genuine internal change expressed outwardly. Thirdly, it speaks powerfully to the **Consequences of Spiritual Blindness and Apathy**, revealing that Jerusalem's failure to recognize God's hand in their circumstances and their reliance on human strength would inevitably lead to severe judgment. Finally, the potent use of the title "Lord GOD of hosts" reinforces God's **Sovereignty in Judgment and Salvation**, portraying Him as the supreme commander who orchestrates both the trials and the opportunities for repentance for His people, as seen in His overarching control over nations and their destinies throughout the book, for example, in the oracles against other nations found in [Isaiah 13-23](/isaiah/13 "Oracles Against the Nations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **call (Hebrew, _qârâʼ'_):** From H7121, meaning "to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say." In this context, _qârâʼ_ signifies a divine summons, an authoritative proclamation from God, not merely an invitation but an imperative command for a specific and urgent response from His people.
* **weeping (Hebrew, _Bᵉkîy'_):** From H1065, meaning "a weeping; by analogy, a dripping; overflowing, [idiom] sore, (continual) weeping, wept." This term denotes a deep, often uncontrollable and overflowing expression of sorrow, grief, or distress. It points to profound emotional pain and lamentation, indicating a visceral response to a dire situation.
* **sackcloth (Hebrew, _saq'_):** From H8242, meaning "properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain, etc.); sack(-cloth, -clothes)." This coarse, rough material, typically made of goat's hair, was worn directly against the skin as a powerful visual and tactile symbol of deep distress, humility, and repentance. Its discomfort symbolized a stripping away of comfort and an embrace of self-abasement before God, signifying a profound state of mourning and contrition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts":** This opening phrase establishes both the divine authority and the specific, imminent timing of the pronouncement. "In that day" (H3117, _yôwm_) points to a specific, future period of judgment and crisis for Jerusalem, emphasizing its certainty and proximity. The title "Lord GOD of hosts" (Hebrew: _Adonai Yahweh Sabaoth_ – H136, H3069, H6635) is immensely significant. "Adonai" (Lord) emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and mastery; "Yahweh" (GOD) is His covenant name, highlighting His faithfulness and self-existence; and "Sabaoth" (hosts) refers to His supreme power as commander of heavenly armies and all creation. This composite title underscores the immense gravity and inevitability of His decree, indicating that the command comes from the Almighty Commander of the universe.
* **"call to weeping, and to mourning":** This specifies the initial, emotional components of the commanded response. The verb "call" (H7121, _qârâʼ_) here is an authoritative summons. "Weeping" (H1065, _Bᵉkîy_) and "mourning" (H4553, _miçpêd_) are natural, visceral expressions of profound sorrow and grief. God is calling His people to acknowledge their dire spiritual state and the impending consequences with genuine, heartfelt lamentation, a turning away from their current revelry and a recognition of their sin.
* **"and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth":** These are the prescribed physical, outward manifestations of repentance and humility, deeply embedded in ancient Near Eastern cultural practices of lament. "Baldness" (H7144, _qorchâh_), specifically the shaving or tearing of hair, was a common practice signifying extreme sorrow, humiliation, or a vow of deep lamentation, often in response to death or national calamity. It symbolized laying aside pride, beauty, and comfort. "Girding with sackcloth" (H2296, _châgar_, and H8242, _saq_) involved wearing a coarse, uncomfortable material directly against the skin. This act served as a powerful visual and tactile sign of deep distress, humility, and repentance, symbolizing a stripping away of worldly comfort and an embrace of self-abasement before God. These outward acts were intended to reflect and reinforce an internal posture of contrition and brokenness.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 22:12 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and severe message. **Metonymy** is prominently featured in the use of "weeping, mourning, baldness, and girding with sackcloth." These physical actions and symbols stand in for the deeper, internal state of genuine repentance, contrition, and humility that God desires from His people. They are not merely rituals, but outward manifestations meant to accompany and reflect an inward transformation. The phrase "Lord GOD of hosts" functions as a powerful **epithet**, emphasizing God's absolute authority, omnipotence, and military might over all creation. This title intensifies the gravity of His call and underscores the certainty of His impending judgment if His command is ignored. Furthermore, while not explicit within this single verse, the broader context of [Isaiah 22:12](/isaiah/22-12 "Isaiah 22:12 - The Lord's Call to Repentance") implicitly utilizes **juxtaposition** by contrasting God's solemn call for lamentation with Jerusalem's actual response of defiant revelry and feasting, as explicitly detailed in [Isaiah 22:13](/isaiah/22-13 "Isaiah 22:13 - Jerusalem's Defiant Response"). This stark contrast powerfully highlights the profound spiritual disconnect, rebellion, and tragic blindness of the people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 22:12 profoundly illustrates God's persistent and compassionate desire for His people's genuine repentance, even when they are on the brink of severe judgment. It reveals that God's primary concern is not merely outward compliance or ritualistic observance, but a deep transformation of the heart, expressed through authentic sorrow for sin and humble submission to His sovereign will. The divine call to traditional acts of lamentation underscores the seriousness of their spiritual condition and the severity of the impending consequences of their defiance. This summons is a testament to God's unwavering justice, which demands accountability for sin, but also to His long-suffering mercy, which consistently provides an opportunity for His people to turn back to Him before it is too late. It demonstrates that true security and well-being lie not in human fortifications, worldly wisdom, or carnal revelry, but solely in a right, humble, and repentant relationship with the sovereign Lord of all hosts.

* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12-13 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [Jonah 3:5-10](/jonah/3-5-10 "Jonah 3:5-10 - Nineveh's Repentance and God's Mercy")
* [Matthew 11:20-24](/matthew/11-20-24 "Matthew 11:20-24 - Woes to Unrepentant Cities")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 22:12 serves as a timeless and convicting mirror for individuals, communities, and nations today. It challenges us to critically examine our default responses when faced with difficult circumstances, divine warnings, or the natural consequences of our own spiritual complacency and sin. Do we, like ancient Jerusalem, instinctively default to self-reliance, worldly distractions, or superficial remedies, trusting in our own strength, intellect, or material comforts? Or do we heed the Lord's profound call to genuine introspection, heartfelt humility, and authentic repentance? This verse powerfully reminds us that true spiritual health and flourishing are marked by a courageous willingness to acknowledge our sin, grieve over our failures, and turn wholeheartedly back to God. It calls us to strip away our pride, self-sufficiency, and any false sense of security, embracing a posture of humble dependence and profound contrition before the sovereign Lord, recognizing that His ways are always for our ultimate good, even when they involve painful self-examination and a turning away from cherished comforts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be trusting in human strategies, worldly comforts, or my own abilities rather than seeking God's will and strength?**
* **What does genuine "weeping and mourning" for sin look like in a modern, personal context, beyond mere fleeting emotional expression?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart of humility and a spirit of repentance that is quick to respond to God's calls and convictions, rather than being spiritually apathetic or defiant?**

### FAQ
**Why did God call for such extreme outward displays of mourning?**

Answer: God called for these extreme outward displays because in ancient Near Eastern culture, actions such as weeping, mourning, baldness, and wearing sackcloth were universally understood as profound, non-verbal declarations of extreme sorrow, humiliation, and repentance. They were not merely symbolic gestures but were expected to reflect a deep, internal state of contrition and a recognition of one's dire situation before God. For Jerusalem, who was depicted as reveling and feasting despite impending judgment and divine warning ([Isaiah 22:13](/isaiah/22-13 "Isaiah 22:13 - Jerusalem's Defiant Response")), these acts were a necessary and culturally significant way for God to call them to a complete reversal of their spiritual apathy and defiant pride. He was demanding a visible and visceral acknowledgment of their sin and a humble dependence on Him, demonstrating the seriousness of their spiritual condition and the urgency of His call.

**What does "Lord GOD of hosts" signify in this context?**

Answer: The title "Lord GOD of hosts" (Hebrew: _Adonai Yahweh Sabaoth_) is one of the most powerful and significant divine titles in the Old Testament, particularly in prophetic literature. "Adonai" (H136) signifies God's absolute sovereignty, mastery, and ownership over all things. "Yahweh" (H3069) is God's covenant name, emphasizing His faithfulness, self-existence, and personal relationship with His people. "Sabaoth" (H6635), meaning "hosts" or "armies," refers to the celestial armies of angels, the stars, or the earthly armies of Israel, but ultimately signifies God's supreme power, authority, and command over all creation and all forces, both spiritual and physical. In [Isaiah 22:12](/isaiah/22-12 "Isaiah 22:12 - The Lord's Call to Repentance"), this composite title underscores the immense gravity of the divine call, indicating that the command comes from the Almighty Commander of the universe, whose word carries ultimate authority and whose judgments are inevitable if unheeded. It emphasizes that this is not a mere suggestion, but a decree from the One who controls all things.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 22:12 presents a divine call to repentance under the Old Covenant, its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning are profoundly realized in Christ Jesus. The Old Testament's calls for outward acts of lamentation—weeping, mourning, baldness, and sackcloth—were powerful expressions of sorrow for sin and a desperate plea for divine mercy, pointing to humanity's inherent need for a radical change of heart. Jesus, the Lamb of God, embodies the perfect fulfillment of this call, not by demanding outward rituals, but by offering the ultimate means of true repentance and reconciliation with God. He Himself "was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - A Man of Sorrows")), bearing the full weight of humanity's sin and offering the only true path to freedom from its dominion. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He provides the genuine spiritual transformation that mere outward acts could only symbolize. The "weeping and mourning" that God desired from ancient Jerusalem finds its true spiritual expression in the believer's conviction of sin and the "godly sorrow [that] produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret" ([2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance")). Believers are called not to gird themselves with sackcloth, but to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" ([Romans 13:14](/romans/13-14 "Romans 13:14 - Put on Christ")), embracing His righteousness and finding true humility, forgiveness, and new life in Him. Jesus "came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" ([Mark 2:17](/mark/2-17 "Mark 2:17 - Jesus Calls Sinners")), providing the very grace that enables the heart to turn from sin and embrace God's saving love.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joel 1:13

Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

Micah 1:16

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

Joel 2:17

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?

Amos 8:10

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only [son], and the end thereof as a bitter day.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

James 5:1

¶ Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].

Job 1:20

¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,