Isaiah 57:11

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And of whom hast thou been afraid {H1672} or feared {H3372}, that thou hast lied {H3576}, and hast not remembered {H2142} me, nor laid {H7760} it to thy heart {H3820}? have not I held my peace {H2814} even of old {H5769}, and thou fearest {H3372} me not?

Complete Jewish Bible

Of whom have you been so afraid, so fearful that you lied? But me you don't remember, you don't give me a thought! I have held my peace so long that you no longer fear me.

Berean Standard Bible

Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

American Standard Version

And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 57:11 delivers a searing divine interrogation, exposing the profound spiritual apostasy of Judah. God confronts His people, revealing that their unfaithfulness stemmed from a misplaced fear of worldly powers, which led them to spiritual deception and a tragic failure to remember Him or internalize His truth. The verse powerfully highlights their misinterpretation of God's long-suffering patience as indifference, rather than an invitation to reverent awe, culminating in a devastating indictment of their lack of proper fear and trust in their sovereign Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal rhetorical question within a section of Isaiah (chapters 56-66) that directly addresses the spiritual and moral decay of Judah, particularly focusing on the pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness that plagued both the pre-exilic and post-exilic communities. Chapter 57 specifically condemns the nation's spiritual harlotry, detailing their engagement in pagan rituals, child sacrifice, and alliances with foreign powers, likening their infidelity to prostitution (as seen in [Isaiah 57:3-10](/isaiah/57-3-10 "Isaiah 57:3-10 - Judah's Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery")). Verse 11 serves as a climactic divine challenge, directly probing the underlying motivations behind their abominable practices and their abandonment of Yahweh for false gods and human security. It immediately follows the prophet's vivid description of their persistent pursuit of idolatry "on every high hill and under every leafy tree" ([Isaiah 57:7](/isaiah/57-7 "Isaiah 57:7 - Idolatry on High Places")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah's prophetic ministry spanned significant periods of geopolitical upheaval, from the Assyrian threat to the looming Babylonian exile. During this time, Judah often found itself caught between powerful empires, leading them to seek political alliances with nations like Egypt or Assyria rather than placing their trust solely in God's protection. These alliances frequently necessitated adopting the foreign gods and religious practices of their allies, resulting in widespread syncretism and idolatry within Judah. The "fear" mentioned in the verse likely refers to the existential dread of these geopolitical powers or the perceived threats they posed, which drove Judah to compromise their covenant with God. Culturally, the worship of idols and participation in fertility cults, often involving ritual prostitution, were common in the ancient Near East. Tragically, Judah had adopted these practices, viewing them as a means to secure prosperity, protection, or stability, rather than relying on the living God who had proven Himself faithful throughout their history.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 57:11 encapsulates several critical themes woven throughout the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. A central theme is **Misplaced Fear**, where the people's actions are driven by a fear of human adversaries or political instability, rather than a proper reverence for God. This is a recurring warning in Scripture, as seen in [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man is a Snare"). Another significant theme is **Spiritual Amnesia and Apathy**, highlighted by the accusation "hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart?" This speaks to a profound forgetfulness of God's covenant, His past faithfulness, and His commands, indicating a failure to internalize divine truth (compare [Deuteronomy 8:11-14](/deuteronomy/8-11-14 "Deuteronomy 8:11-14 - Do Not Forget the Lord")). Furthermore, the verse addresses **God's Patience Misunderstood**, where His long-suffering and apparent silence ("have not I held my peace even of old") were tragically misinterpreted as indifference or weakness, leading to a dangerous presumption and a lack of proper awe and reverence for His holy character and ultimate authority. This echoes the divine patience described in [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience and Desire for Repentance"). Finally, the theme of **Unfaithfulness and Lying** refers to Judah's spiritual deceit and betrayal of their covenant relationship with God, turning to idols and false gods as a source of security, a motif prevalent in books like [Hosea](/hosea/1 "Hosea - Israel's Spiritual Adultery") and [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/2 "Jeremiah 2 - Israel's Forsaking God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fear (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** (H3372) This primitive root carries a dual semantic range: to be afraid (implying terror or dread) and to revere (denoting awe, respect, or worship). In the initial query, "of whom hast thou been afraid or feared," it points to the misplaced, human-centered dread that drove Judah to compromise their faith and engage in idolatry. In the concluding accusation, "and thou fearest me not," it signifies the profound absence of proper, reverential awe for God. The divine question highlights the tragic irony: they feared the wrong things (men, circumstances, false gods) and utterly failed to fear the One truly worthy of fear (Yahweh).
* **Remembered (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** (H2142) More than mere cognitive recall, _zâkar_ implies an active, mindful engagement with the past, leading to present action and obedience. To "remember" God means to actively acknowledge His covenant, His mighty acts of deliverance, His commands, and His unchanging character, and to live in accordance with that remembrance. Judah's failure to remember God was not an accidental lapse of memory but a deliberate turning away from active acknowledgment and obedient devotion, indicating a profound spiritual amnesia that impacted their entire way of life.
* **Heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** (H3820) In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (_lêb_) is the comprehensive seat of the inner person—encompassing the intellect, will, emotions, and conscience. To "lay [it] to thy heart" (from the root _sûwm_, H7760, "to put" or "to set") means to take something deeply to oneself, to consider it profoundly, to internalize it, and to allow it to shape one's affections, decisions, and actions. Judah's failure to lay God's truth to their heart signifies not just intellectual forgetfulness, but a fundamental apathy and an unwillingness to allow God's reality to govern their deepest motivations, inner being, and outward conduct.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared":** This opening rhetorical question immediately pierces the heart of Judah's spiritual malady. God challenges their motivations, implying that their actions—their idolatry, unfaithfulness, and pursuit of foreign alliances—stemmed from a fear of something or someone other than Him. It highlights a profound misplaced trust and a distorted understanding of true power and ultimate security.
* **"that thou hast lied":** The "lying" here extends beyond mere verbal falsehoods to encompass a deeper spiritual deception and betrayal. Judah's actions, such as making covenants with pagan nations and worshipping idols, constituted a lie against their covenant with Yahweh, a false declaration that these other powers or gods could provide what only the true God could. It was a profound betrayal of their identity as God's chosen people.
* **"and hast not remembered me":** This clause points to a profound spiritual amnesia. Judah had forgotten God's past faithfulness, His mighty deliverance from Egypt, His covenant promises, and His divine commands. This forgetfulness was not accidental but a willful disregard for their divine relationship, leading to a catastrophic breakdown in their obedience and devotion.
* **"nor laid [it] to thy heart?":** This phrase emphasizes the depth of their spiritual apathy and internal resistance. It wasn't just that they forgot God intellectually, but they failed to internalize His truth, His warnings, and His love. They did not take His words seriously or allow them to shape their deepest affections, intentions, and decisions, resulting in a profound disconnect between their outward religious practices and their inner spiritual state.
* **"have not I held my peace even of old":** God here reveals His long-suffering patience and forbearance. His "holding peace" refers to His perceived silence or delay in judgment, His restraint in the face of their persistent sin. This was not a sign of indifference or weakness on God's part, but rather an expression of His divine patience, giving them ample opportunity to repent and return to Him.
* **"and thou fearest me not?":** This final rhetorical question underscores the tragic outcome of their misinterpretation of God's patience. Instead of leading to repentance and a proper reverence for His holiness and power, God's forbearance led to a dangerous presumption and a complete lack of awe or fear of Him. They took His patience for granted, believing they could sin with impunity, thereby demonstrating a profound spiritual blindness to His ultimate authority and impending justice.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 57:11 is powerfully constructed through the use of several literary devices. The most prominent are **Rhetorical Questions**, which serve to confront the audience directly and force them to consider the irrationality and sinfulness of their actions. The verse opens with "And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared...?" and concludes with "have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?" These questions are not asked for information but to elicit conviction and highlight the stark contrast between God's character and Judah's behavior. There is also evident **Irony** in the passage: Judah fears human adversaries and perceived threats, which leads them to lie and forget God, yet they do not fear the Almighty God whose profound patience they abuse. The divine **Personification** of God speaking directly to His people adds a deeply personal and poignant tone, emphasizing His relational disappointment and sorrow over their unfaithfulness. The repetition of the concept of "fear" (Hebrew: _yârêʼ_) at the beginning and end of the verse creates a powerful **Inclusio**, framing the accusations of lying, forgetting, and apathy within the overarching problem of misplaced fear and a devastating lack of proper reverence for God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 57:11 stands as a profound indictment of spiritual idolatry and apathy, revealing that the root of unfaithfulness often lies in misplaced fear and a failure to truly remember and internalize God's truth. Theologically, it underscores God's unwavering faithfulness despite His people's treachery, and His profound patience which, tragically, is often misunderstood as indifference or weakness. It highlights the critical importance of a proper "fear of the Lord"—not a cowering terror, but a reverential awe and humble respect that leads to obedience, trust, and genuine devotion. This passage serves as a timeless reminder that true security, wisdom, and flourishing are found not in human alliances, material pursuits, or the appeasement of worldly powers, but in a heart wholly devoted to God, actively remembering His character and commands, and living in response to His sovereign authority and boundless grace.

* [Deuteronomy 6:12](/deuteronomy/6-12 "Do Not Forget the Lord")
* [Jeremiah 2:32](/jeremiah/2-32 "Can a Virgin Forget Her Ornaments?")
* [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 57:11 serves as a piercing mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to honestly examine the true objects of our fears and affections. In a world saturated with anxieties—economic instability, social pressures, political turmoil, or even the pervasive fear of missing out—are we, like ancient Judah, allowing these temporal fears to subtly displace our trust in God and lead us into spiritual compromises or apathy? This verse calls us to a profound spiritual inventory: do we genuinely "remember" God, not just intellectually, but with an active, grateful heart that recalls His faithfulness, His mighty acts, His commands, and His unfailing love? And crucially, do we "lay His truth to our heart," allowing it to deeply shape our desires, decisions, and daily walk, permeating our very being? Furthermore, it compels us to rightly interpret God's patience; His perceived silence or delay in judgment is not an invitation to presumption or continued sin, but a gracious opportunity for deeper repentance, renewed trust, and a profound reverence for His holy character. Living out the lessons of Isaiah 57:11 means cultivating a deep, reverential awe for God that casts out all lesser fears, actively nurturing our spiritual memory of His goodness, and allowing His transformative Word to permeate the very core of our being, guiding every thought and action.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the primary fears that subtly influence my decisions and actions, potentially leading me away from full trust in God?**
* **In what practical ways can I more intentionally "remember" God's faithfulness and His Word in my daily life, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to active, heartfelt remembrance?**
* **How might I be misinterpreting God's patience or perceived silence in my life, and what might He be inviting me to do in response to His long-suffering grace?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to "lay God's truth to my heart," and how can I cultivate a deeper internalization of His character and commands?**

### FAQ

**What does "of whom hast thou been afraid or feared" imply about Judah's spiritual state?**

Answer: This rhetorical question implies that Judah's actions, particularly their widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness, were driven by a profound and misplaced fear of human adversaries, powerful political entities, or the perceived threats of their circumstances, rather than a proper reverence for God. It reveals a deep spiritual misdirection where they sought security, solutions, and stability from sources other than the Almighty, demonstrating a fundamental lack of trust in God's sovereignty and protection. Their fear of man or worldly powers superseded their fear of the Lord, leading them to compromise their covenant relationship and engage in deceitful, idolatrous practices, effectively lying about their allegiance to Yahweh.

**What is the significance of "nor laid [it] to thy heart" in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "nor laid [it] to thy heart" (Hebrew: `lo' samta 'al-libbech`) is profoundly significant. The "heart" (Hebrew: _lêb_) in biblical thought is not just the seat of emotions, but the comprehensive center of the entire inner person—encompassing the intellect, will, conscience, and deepest affections. To "lay something to one's heart" means to take it deeply to oneself, to ponder it, to internalize it, and to allow it to profoundly influence one's thoughts, desires, and actions. Therefore, Judah's failure to "lay it to thy heart" signifies a deep spiritual apathy and an unwillingness to allow God's truth, His warnings, and His love to penetrate their inner being and govern their lives. It indicates a failure of both memory and will, leading to spiritual indifference, deliberate disobedience, and a hardened heart towards God.

**How does God's "holding His peace even of old" relate to Judah's lack of fear?**

Answer: God's "holding His peace even of old" refers to His long-suffering patience and divine forbearance in the face of Judah's persistent sin. Instead of immediately bringing swift judgment, God had, for a long time, remained silent or delayed His righteous wrath, graciously giving His people ample opportunity to repent. Tragically, Judah misinterpreted this divine patience as indifference, weakness, or even tacit approval of their sin. This misinterpretation led to a dangerous presumption and a complete absence of proper "fear of the Lord"—that reverential awe, humble respect, and obedient submission for His holy character, ultimate authority, and impending justice. They took His grace for granted, believing they could sin with impunity, thereby demonstrating a profound spiritual blindness to the true nature of God's patience, which is always intended to lead to repentance and a renewed relationship, as powerfully affirmed in [Romans 2:4](/romans/2-4 "God's Goodness Leads to Repentance").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 57:11, with its poignant questions about misplaced fear, spiritual amnesia, and a heart hardened by apathy, finds its ultimate answer and redemptive fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "fear" that Judah lacked—a reverential awe and perfect obedience to God—is perfectly embodied by Christ, who lived in absolute submission to the Father, always doing His will ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "Jesus Always Does the Father's Will")). He is the one who truly "remembered" God in every thought and action, never deviating from His divine purpose or forgetting the Father's commands. The "lying" and spiritual harlotry of Judah are overcome by Christ, who is the very embodiment of truth ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")), revealing God's character with flawless integrity. Furthermore, the problem of a heart that failed to "lay it to thy heart" is fundamentally addressed by the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's perfect sacrifice, where God promises to put His laws "into their minds and write them on their hearts" ([Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "The New Covenant")). God's "holding His peace even of old" finds its deepest meaning and most profound expression in the cross, where His patience culminated in the ultimate act of self-giving love, providing a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him. Christ's death and resurrection reveal both the terrifying holiness of God's justice and the boundless depth of His mercy, compelling a true and proper fear of the Lord—not out of terror, but out of grateful reverence for the One who delivered us from the very fears that enslave. Through faith in Him, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to remember God, to lay His truth to our hearts, and to live in reverent obedience, no longer driven by the fear of man or the world, but by the perfect love that casts out all fear ([1 John 4:18](/1_john/4-18 "Perfect Love Casts Out Fear")).

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

Isaiah 51:12

I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;

Isaiah 51:13

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?

Proverbs 29:25

¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Psalms 50:21

These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.

Jeremiah 2:32

Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Jeremiah 3:21

A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, [and] they have forgotten the LORD their God.

Isaiah 30:9

That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD: