Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
Yea, thou heardest {H8085} not; yea, thou knewest {H3045} not; yea, from that time that thine ear {H241} was not opened {H6605}: for I knew {H3045} that thou wouldest deal very {H898} treacherously {H898}, and wast called {H7121} a transgressor {H6586} from the womb {H990}.
No, you haven't heard, and you haven't known; these things have not reached your ears before. For I knew how treacherous you were - you were called a rebel from the womb.
You have never heard; you have never understood; for a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew how deceitful you are; you have been called a rebel from birth.
Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou didst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
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Psalms 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. -
Matthew 13:13
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. -
Matthew 13:15
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. -
Hosea 5:7
They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions. -
Jeremiah 6:10
To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. -
John 12:39
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, -
John 12:40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Isaiah 48:8 (KJV): "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."
Context
Isaiah 48 concludes a section (chapters 40-48) where God declares His sovereignty, especially His ability to foretell future events, in contrast to the impotence of idols. In this chapter, God addresses the nation of Israel (often referred to as Jacob), challenging their reliance on idols and their lack of spiritual attentiveness. He highlights their history of stubbornness and rebellion, even as He reaffirms His divine plan to deliver them from Babylonian captivity. Verse 8 specifically underscores God's perfect foreknowledge of Israel's inherent tendency to disobey, which is why He revealed prophecies beforehand, to leave no doubt that He alone is God.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase translated "deal very treacherously" (בָּגוֹד תִּבְגּוֹד, bagod tivgod) uses a literary device known as an infinitive absolute, which intensifies the verb. It means "to deal treacherously, indeed treacherously" or "to surely betray." This emphasizes the certainty and severity of Israel's unfaithfulness. The declaration "wast called a transgressor from the womb" (וּפֶשַׁע מֵרֶחֶם קֹרָא לָךְ, u'fesha' merechem qora lach) is profound. It doesn't necessarily imply original sin in a theological sense for every individual, but it certainly speaks to Israel's consistent, ingrained tendency towards rebellion from its earliest stages of existence as a people, echoing sentiments found in other scriptures about inherent human sinfulness.
Practical Application
Isaiah 48:8 serves as a stark reminder of humanity's natural inclination towards sin and spiritual dullness. Just as God knew Israel's nature, He knows ours. This verse calls us to humility, acknowledging our own capacity for treachery and disobedience. It underscores the necessity of God's grace and His active involvement in our lives, despite our failings. It also highlights the importance of truly "opening our ears" to God's Word and His Spirit, actively resisting the natural tendency to be spiritually deaf and rebellious. God's foreknowledge isn't an excuse for sin, but a testament to His unwavering character and His determination to work His purposes through imperfect vessels.