Isaiah 22:4

Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

Therefore said {H559} I, Look away {H8159} from me; I will weep {H1065} bitterly {H4843}, labour {H213} not to comfort {H5162} me, because of the spoiling {H7701} of the daughter {H1323} of my people {H5971}.

This is why I said, "Don't look at me, leave me alone to weep bitterly, don't try to comfort me over the destruction of my people."

Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Context

Isaiah 22 focuses on a prophetic burden concerning "the valley of vision," a clear reference to Jerusalem. This chapter vividly describes a period of impending judgment and devastation upon the city and its inhabitants, likely alluding to the Assyrian threat or perhaps looking further to the Babylonian exile. Leading up to verse 4, the prophet laments the people's misplaced confidence and revelry in the face of impending doom (Isaiah 22:12-13), contrasting their indifference with the profound sorrow God desires. Verse 4 captures the prophet's personal, intense grief over the certain destruction that awaits his people.

Key Themes

  • Profound Prophetic Grief: The verse expresses an overwhelming, inconsolable sorrow. The prophet (likely Isaiah himself) is so consumed by the impending disaster that he wishes to be left alone to weep, refusing comfort. This highlights the immense burden of carrying God's message of judgment.
  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The "spoiling of the daughter of my people" refers to the devastating consequences of Judah's sin and rebellion against God. It signifies violent destruction, plunder, and ruin that will befall Jerusalem, a direct result of their unfaithfulness.
  • Empathy for the Nation: Despite delivering prophecies of doom, the prophet deeply identifies with the suffering of his own people. His tears are for "the daughter of my people," a tender, poetic term for the vulnerable nation or Jerusalem, underscoring his deep love and sorrow for them.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "weep bitterly" translates the Hebrew bakah bechi (בכה בכי), which is a cognate accusative construction. This intensifies the verb "weep," emphasizing a profound, unrestrained, and inconsolable crying. It's not just crying, but a wailing of deep anguish. The word "spoiling" comes from the Hebrew shōd (שׁוֹד), which denotes violent devastation, destruction, or plunder, painting a vivid picture of the ruin to come.

Practical Application

Isaiah's lament in this verse offers several powerful lessons for today:

  • Gravity of Sin: It reminds us of the serious consequences of turning away from God and the pain that unrepentant sin can bring, not only to individuals but to communities.
  • Genuine Lament: The prophet's raw, unvarnished grief serves as a model for honest lament. Sometimes, true comfort cannot come until the full weight of sorrow is acknowledged and experienced, rather than suppressed. This resonates with the biblical tradition of lament found throughout the Psalms and in books like Lamentations.
  • Compassion for the Lost: Isaiah's deep sorrow for his people, even in their rebellion, challenges believers to cultivate a similar compassion for those who are spiritually lost or facing the consequences of their choices. It speaks to the burden that true spiritual leadership often carries, sharing in the pain of those they serve.
  • Hope Beyond Despair: While this verse captures intense despair, the broader biblical narrative, including other prophecies in Isaiah, ultimately points to God's redemptive plan and the promise of a day when He will wipe away all tears for His redeemed people.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 9:1

    ¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • Matthew 2:18

    In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

  • Psalms 77:2

    In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

  • Jeremiah 31:15

    Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] not.

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

  • Micah 1:8

    ¶ Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

  • Jeremiah 4:19

    ¶ My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

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