Isaiah 40:27

¶ Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

Why sayest {H559} thou, O Jacob {H3290}, and speakest {H1696}, O Israel {H3478}, My way {H1870} is hid {H5641} from the LORD {H3068}, and my judgment {H4941} is passed over {H5674} from my God {H430}?

Why do you complain, Ya'akov; why do you say, Isra'el, "My way is hidden from ADONAI, my rights are ignored by my God"?

Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice due to me is passed away from my God?

Isaiah 40:27 serves as a poignant rhetorical question, challenging the despairing thoughts of God's people during a time of immense hardship. The prophet Isaiah, speaking to "Jacob" and "Israel"—terms referring to the entire nation, particularly those facing or already in exile in Babylon—confronts their feelings of abandonment and injustice.

Context

This verse is situated within the profound and comforting section of Isaiah, beginning with "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God". The preceding verses in chapter 40 establish God's incomparable power, wisdom, and sovereignty over all creation and nations. The people of Israel, having experienced the consequences of their disobedience and now suffering under foreign domination, felt that God had forgotten them or was indifferent to their plight. Their lament, "My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God," expresses a deep sense of being unseen and unheeded by the very God who promised to be their protector and vindicator. Isaiah's message seeks to dispel this despair by reminding them of God's eternal nature and unwavering attentiveness, particularly during the challenging period of the Babylonian captivity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omniscience and Omnipresence: The core challenge of the verse is against the notion that anything could be "hid from the LORD." God's knowledge is complete; He sees and knows every circumstance, every suffering, and every path taken by His people. This underscores God's perfect awareness.
  • God's Unwavering Justice: The phrase "my judgment is passed over from my God" reflects a feeling that their pleas for justice or vindication have been overlooked. Isaiah counters this, implying that God's justice is perfect and will not be neglected. He is a God who executes righteous judgment for all.
  • Human Doubt and Despair: The verse honestly portrays the human tendency to question God's presence and care during times of prolonged suffering or silence. It acknowledges the legitimate feelings of abandonment that can arise from difficult circumstances, even among those who know God.
  • God's Faithfulness and Comfort: Though expressed as a rebuke, the underlying message is one of profound comfort. By challenging their doubt, God reassures His people that He is neither blind nor deaf to their struggles, and His covenant promises remain steadfast. This passage aims to bring comfort in despair.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hid" (נִסְתְּרָה - nistᵉrah) suggests something concealed or unseen, emphasizing the people's feeling of being invisible to God. "Judgment" (מִשְׁפָּטִי - mishpatî) refers not merely to a legal verdict, but to their cause, their right, or the just resolution of their situation. It encompasses their plea for vindication and the proper handling of their circumstances. The use of "Jacob" and "Israel" interchangeably highlights that this message is for all of God's covenant people, regardless of their current state or location, addressing their collective spiritual state.

Practical Application

In our own lives, this verse powerfully speaks to moments when we feel unseen, unheard, or forgotten by God. When trials persist, or when justice seems delayed, it's easy to echo the lament of ancient Israel, feeling like our way is hid from the Lord. Isaiah 40:27 serves as a vital reminder that our perception of God's absence does not equate to His actual absence. He is intimately aware of our "way" and our "judgment." Instead of succumbing to despair, we are called to remember God's character as revealed throughout Scripture: His infinite knowledge, His perfect justice, and His unwavering love. This understanding should lead us to wait on the Lord, trusting that He works even when we cannot perceive it, and that He will ultimately bring about His righteous purposes for those who are His.

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.

  • Isaiah 49:4

    Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God.

  • Luke 18:7

    And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

  • Luke 18:8

    I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

  • Isaiah 49:14

    But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

  • Job 27:2

    [As] God liveth, [who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul;

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