Isaiah 22:4

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 22:4 captures the prophet's profound and inconsolable grief over the impending devastation of Jerusalem, referred to tenderly as "the daughter of my people." His plea to be left alone to weep bitterly underscores the overwhelming burden of judgment he foresees, a sorrow so deep that it resists all attempts at comfort, stemming from the certain "spoiling" or violent destruction awaiting his beloved nation due to their unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 22 opens with a "burden concerning the valley of vision," a clear prophetic oracle directed at Jerusalem. The preceding verses (Isaiah 22:1-3) describe a city filled with revelry and shouts, seemingly oblivious to the approaching danger. This contrasts sharply with the divine call to weeping and mourning found in Isaiah 22:12-13, where God expresses His desire for repentance, while the people instead indulge in feasting and drinking, declaring, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" The prophet's personal lament in verse 4 thus stands as a poignant counterpoint to the nation's spiritual blindness and hardened hearts, highlighting the immense chasm between God's perspective, conveyed through Isaiah, and the people's misplaced confidence. It serves as a bridge, transitioning from the general description of Jerusalem's state to the specific, agonizing sorrow of the prophet.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "spoiling" likely refers to the imminent threat posed by the Assyrian Empire, a dominant power in the 8th century BCE. Jerusalem, though seemingly secure within its walls and relying on alliances, faced the very real prospect of siege, famine, and destruction. The Assyrians were known for their brutal military tactics, including mass deportations, plunder, and the utter devastation of conquered cities. The phrase "daughter of my people" is a tender, personified reference to the nation of Judah or specifically Jerusalem, a common biblical idiom that emphasizes vulnerability and affection, much like a father's concern for his child. Culturally, public lament and bitter weeping were common expressions of profound grief and national distress in the ancient Near East, often accompanied by specific rituals like tearing clothes or wearing sackcloth. Isaiah's private, yet intense, lament here reflects a deep identification with his people's fate, even as he delivers God's stern message.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it exemplifies the theme of **Prophetic Burden and Empathy**, showcasing the prophet's deep identification with his people's suffering, even when that suffering is a consequence of their own sin. This personal anguish mirrors God's own sorrow over His people's rebellion, a theme echoed in passages like [Isaiah 1:2-4](/isaiah/1-2 "Isaiah 1:2-4 - Israel's Rebellion"). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and its Inevitability**, as the "spoiling" is presented as a certain outcome of Judah's unfaithfulness, a consequence of ignoring God's warnings and calls to repentance (cf. [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard")). Finally, the verse highlights the theme of **Misplaced Confidence vs. True Repentance**. While the people revel, Isaiah weeps, illustrating the stark contrast between human folly and the righteous response to impending judgment. This serves as a stark reminder of the importance of genuine lament and turning to God, rather than relying on human strength or fleeting pleasures, a message woven throughout the prophetic books.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **weep (Hebrew, _bᵉkîy'_):** From the root _bâkâh_, meaning "to weep." This noun signifies "a weeping," and by extension, "a dripping" or "overflowing." In this context, it denotes an unrestrained, copious outpouring of tears, emphasizing the depth and continuity of the prophet's sorrow. It is not merely crying, but a profound, overwhelming lament.
* **bitterly (Hebrew, _mârar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to be (causatively, make) bitter." It can refer to literal bitterness but is often used figuratively to describe intense emotional pain, grief, or vexation. When paired with "weep," it forms a cognate accusative construction ("weep a bitter weeping"), intensifying the action and indicating a sorrow that is sharp, agonizing, and devoid of comfort.
* **spoiling (Hebrew, _shôd'_):** From the root _shûd_, meaning "to devastate" or "to lay waste." This noun refers to "violence," "ravage," "desolation," "destruction," "oppression," or "robbery." It paints a vivid and grim picture of the total ruin and plunder that will befall the city, emphasizing the violent and destructive nature of the impending judgment.
* **daughter (Hebrew, _bath'_):** From _bânâh_, "to build." This term is widely used to denote a female offspring, but also, as here, a collective or personified entity, such as a city or nation. "Daughter of my people" is a tender, affectionate, and vulnerable designation for Jerusalem or Judah, highlighting the prophet's deep personal connection and sorrow for his nation's impending fate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore said I, Look away from me;":** The prophet, overwhelmed by the vision of destruction, expresses a desperate need for solitude in his grief. The command "Look away from me" (Hebrew _shâʻâh_, "to gaze at or about," "to inspect," "to regard," or "to turn") is a plea for privacy, an indication that his sorrow is too profound for public display or casual observation. He desires to be unburdened by the presence of others as he processes the impending catastrophe.
* **"I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me,":** This clause intensifies the prophet's resolve to grieve without interruption or alleviation. "Weep bitterly" (as analyzed above) conveys a sorrow that is agonizing and inconsolable. His instruction "labour not to comfort me" (Hebrew _ʼûwts_, "to press," "to hurry," "to labor"; _nâcham_, "to sigh," "to pity," "to console") is not a rejection of kindness, but an acknowledgment that the depth of this particular sorrow cannot be assuaged by human consolation. The pain is too immense, the judgment too certain, for superficial comfort.
* **"because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.":** This final clause reveals the profound cause of the prophet's inconsolable grief: the imminent and violent destruction ("spoiling") of Jerusalem, personified as "the daughter of my people." This tender, familial language underscores his deep love and identification with his nation, making their impending suffering his own. The "spoiling" is not merely a threat but a perceived certainty, a devastating reality that breaks the prophet's heart.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 22:4 is rich in **Pathos**, evoking deep emotion and sympathy for the prophet's profound sorrow. The prophet's plea, "Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me," is a powerful expression of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and inconsolable nature of his grief. It is not that comfort is literally impossible, but that the magnitude of the coming destruction renders conventional solace inadequate. The phrase "daughter of my people" is a poignant example of **Personification** and **Metonymy**, where Jerusalem or Judah is tenderly referred to as a vulnerable female child, making the impending "spoiling" (destruction) all the more tragic and personal. The use of the cognate accusative "weep bitterly" (literally "weep a bitter weeping") is a form of **Intensification**, amplifying the verb's meaning and underscoring the severity of the prophet's anguish. This verse, therefore, uses powerful emotional and rhetorical techniques to convey the gravity of the judgment and the depth of the prophet's identification with his suffering nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah's deep lament in this verse is a powerful theological statement about the consequences of national sin and the burden of prophetic ministry. It reveals that God's judgment, while righteous and just, is not without sorrow, even for His messengers. The prophet's inconsolable grief mirrors, in a human way, the divine sorrow over humanity's rebellion and the pain caused by turning away from God. It highlights the reality that sin has devastating consequences, not only for individuals but for entire communities, leading to "spoiling" and desolation. This passage challenges us to consider the gravity of unrepentant sin and to cultivate a heart that grieves over spiritual indifference and its inevitable outcomes, rather than remaining complacent.

* [Jeremiah 9:1](/jeremiah/9-1 "Jeremiah 9:1 - Jeremiah's Lament for His People")
* [Lamentations 1:16](/lamentations/1-16 "Lamentations 1:16 - Jerusalem's Weeping")
* [Luke 19:41-42](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41-42 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah's raw, unvarnished grief in this verse offers a profound model for authentic spiritual lament. In a world that often encourages suppression of sorrow or quick fixes for pain, the prophet's insistence on "weeping bitterly" and refusing superficial comfort reminds us that true healing often requires fully acknowledging and experiencing the depth of our pain, especially when it stems from the consequences of sin or spiritual brokenness. This passage calls us to cultivate a compassionate heart, not only for our own struggles but for the spiritual condition of our communities and the world. Do we truly grieve over the "spoiling" of lives and societies that reject God's truth? Do we allow ourselves to feel the weight of spiritual apathy and its destructive outcomes, or do we remain detached? Isaiah's lament compels us to move beyond intellectual understanding of sin's consequences to a heartfelt burden for those who are lost and suffering, prompting us to intercede and act with genuine love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does Isaiah's refusal of comfort teach us about the nature of deep grief, especially in response to spiritual brokenness or impending judgment?**
* **How does the prophet's personal sorrow for "the daughter of my people" challenge us to cultivate a deeper empathy for the spiritual condition of our own communities or the world?**
* **In what ways might we be guilty of the same misplaced confidence or revelry that Jerusalem exhibited, ignoring the spiritual "spoiling" around us?**
* **When faced with the consequences of sin, either personally or corporately, do we allow ourselves to truly lament, or do we seek to quickly bypass the pain?**

### FAQ
**Why does Isaiah refuse comfort in this verse?**

Answer: Isaiah's refusal of comfort is not a rejection of human kindness but an expression of the overwhelming and inconsolable nature of his grief. The "spoiling of the daughter of my people" refers to the certain and devastating judgment awaiting Jerusalem. This impending destruction is so dire and so deeply felt by the prophet that he perceives human comfort as inadequate or even inappropriate in the face of such profound sorrow. His lament is a recognition that some pains are too deep to be easily assuaged, requiring a period of unhindered grief before any true healing or hope can be embraced. It underscores the gravity of the situation and the prophet's deep identification with his people's suffering, mirroring God's own sorrow over their unfaithfulness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah's inconsolable weeping over the "spoiling of the daughter of my people" finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest resonance in the person of Jesus Christ. While Isaiah wept for a nation facing physical and spiritual desolation due to their sin, Jesus, the Son of God, also wept over Jerusalem, foreseeing its destruction because it "did not recognize the time of your visitation" ([Luke 19:41-44](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41-44 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")). Isaiah's sorrow was that of a faithful servant; Christ's sorrow was that of the divine King, who came to gather His people but was rejected ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")). Furthermore, the "spoiling" that Isaiah lamented—the consequence of sin and rebellion—is precisely what Christ bore on the cross. He became the "spoiled" one, enduring the ultimate desolation and separation from God, so that "the daughter of His people," the church, might be redeemed from the curse of sin and death ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us From the Curse")). Through His bitter suffering and death, Jesus absorbed the full weight of the "spoiling" that humanity deserved, offering true comfort and eternal hope where human consolation utterly failed ([2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God of All Comfort")). He is the one who ultimately wipes away every tear, transforming the bitter weeping of judgment into the joyous tears of salvation ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - God Wipes Away Every Tear")).

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

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.