Isaiah 42:25

Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart.

Therefore he hath poured {H8210} upon him the fury {H2534} of his anger {H639}, and the strength {H5807} of battle {H4421}: and it hath set him on fire {H3857} round about {H5439}, yet he knew {H3045} not; and it burned {H1197} him, yet he laid {H7760} it not to heart {H3820}.

This is why he poured on him his blazing anger as well as the fury of battle - it wrapped him in flames, yet he learned nothing; it burned him, yet he did not take it to heart.

So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Context of Isaiah 42:25

Isaiah 42 introduces the Servant of the Lord, who brings justice to the nations (verses 1-7). However, the latter part of the chapter shifts focus to Israel, who is also called God's servant but is depicted as spiritually blind and deaf (verses 18-20). This verse, Isaiah 42:25, directly follows a rhetorical question in verse 24 asking who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the robbers. The answer is clear: God Himself, because of their sin. This verse therefore explains the divine judgment that came upon the nation due to their persistent disobedience and failure to heed His laws.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Disobedience: The verse vividly portrays God's righteous wrath ("fury of his anger," "strength of battle") as a direct consequence of Israel's rebellion and sin. This judgment was not arbitrary but a just response to their persistent turning away from God's covenant.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Apathy: Despite experiencing severe hardship and suffering ("it hath set him on fire round about," "it burned him"), the nation failed to recognize the divine hand in their afflictions or to understand the reason for their distress. They "knew not" and "laid it not to heart," indicating a profound spiritual insensitivity and an unwillingness to learn from their painful experiences.
  • Consequences of Ignoring God's Warnings: The passage underscores the grave repercussions of spiritual apathy. When people or nations repeatedly ignore God's calls to repentance and refuse to internalize His warnings, they face the full weight of His corrective discipline.

Linguistic Insights

  • "poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle": This strong imagery emphasizes the overwhelming and inescapable nature of God's judgment. It's not a gentle rebuke but a forceful, comprehensive outpouring of His wrath.
  • "yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart": The Hebrew phrase for "knew not" (yada') suggests a lack of understanding or acknowledgment of the divine source and purpose of their suffering. "Laid it not to heart" (sim lev) means they did not internalize the lesson, reflect on it, or move towards repentance. This highlights a deep-seated spiritual indifference, even in the face of calamity. This echoes the spiritual dullness described elsewhere, such as in Isaiah 6:10.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning and a call to introspection for believers today. Just as ancient Israel experienced consequences for their disobedience, we too must be attentive to God's voice and the promptings of His Spirit. It reminds us:

  • To avoid spiritual apathy and hardness of heart, especially when facing difficulties. Sometimes, trials are God's way of getting our attention, urging us to return to Him and His ways.
  • To always seek to understand the lessons in our struggles and to repent when conviction arises. Ignoring God's discipline can lead to greater suffering and a deepening of spiritual blindness.
  • That God's judgment, while severe, is ultimately righteous and often designed to bring about repentance and restoration, not just destruction.
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.

  • Hosea 7:9

    Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

  • Isaiah 57:11

    And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

  • Ezekiel 7:8

    Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

  • Ezekiel 7:9

    And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations [that] are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD that smiteth.

  • 2 Kings 25:9

    And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great [man's] house burnt he with fire.

  • Malachi 2:2

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

  • Isaiah 57:1

    ¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

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