Isaiah 64:12

KJV

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these [things], O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

KJV (with Strong's)

Wilt thou refrain {H662} thyself for these things, O LORD {H3068}? wilt thou hold thy peace {H2814}, and afflict {H6031} us very sore {H3966}?

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI, after all this, will you still hold back? Will you still stay silent and punish us past endurance?

Berean Standard Bible

After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?

American Standard Version

Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 64:12 concludes a fervent communal lament, articulating the desperate cry of a people under profound divine judgment. The prophet, speaking on behalf of a repentant Israel, confronts the LORD with poignant rhetorical questions, imploring Him to cease His perceived silence and the intense affliction they endure, appealing to His inherent character and covenant faithfulness to intervene decisively on their behalf.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climactic and emotionally charged conclusion to a deeply moving communal prayer of confession and petition found in [Isaiah 63:7-64:12](/isaiah/63-7-64-12 "Isaiah 63:7-64:12 - A Prayer of Lament and Confession"). The preceding verses meticulously detail the nation's confession of their profound sinfulness, their humble acknowledgment of God's righteous judgment, and a heartfelt appeal to God as their compassionate Father and sovereign Creator, likening themselves to malleable clay in the hands of the divine Potter, as beautifully expressed in [Isaiah 64:8](/isaiah/64-8 "Isaiah 64:8 - God as Father and Potter"). They lament the utter desolation of their cherished land and the tragic destruction of their holy temple, the very symbol of God's presence among them, as vividly depicted in [Isaiah 64:11](/isaiah/64-11 "Isaiah 64:11 - The Desolate Temple"). This collective anguish over their separation from God and the devastating consequences of their unfaithfulness culminates in verse 12, which acts as a direct, impassioned challenge to God's apparent inaction in the face of such overwhelming suffering, urgently pleading with Him to break His silence and intervene with His saving power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The profound prayer encapsulated in Isaiah 64 vividly reflects the immense distress of the Israelite community, most likely during or in the immediate aftermath of the Babylonian exile. This period was characterized by the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred temple, and the painful scattering of the people across foreign lands. It represented an unparalleled test of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Culturally, communal laments were not only common but also a deeply ingrained and accepted form of prayer in ancient Israel. These laments provided a vital spiritual outlet for the community to express their grief, confusion, and even their raw anger directly to God, while simultaneously reaffirming His absolute sovereignty and their unwavering dependence upon Him. The theological concept of divine discipline as a consequence of covenant disobedience was central to their understanding of God's justice. However, the sheer severity and prolonged duration of their suffering prompted this desperate appeal for His compassion and a fervent longing for a return to His previous acts of salvation, which are powerfully recalled in [Isaiah 63:7-14](/isaiah/63-7-14 "Isaiah 63:7-14 - God's Past Mercies Recalled").
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 64:12 powerfully articulates several foundational themes that resonate throughout the book of Isaiah and are deeply embedded within broader biblical theology. Foremost among these is the theme of **Lament and Supplication**, which unequivocally demonstrates the biblical precedent for believers to bring their deepest pain, confusion, and even their challenging questions directly to God. It highlights the profound human experience of **God's Apparent Silence** during periods of intense hardship, a perception that can become an agonizing source of distress, prompting desperate prayers for divine intervention, much like the psalmist's anguished cry in [Psalm 22:1-2](/psalm/22-1-2 "Psalm 22:1-2 - Why Have You Forsaken Me?"). The poignant phrase "afflict us very sore" underscores the **Severity of Affliction** experienced by the people, acknowledging their suffering as profoundly impactful and a direct, though perhaps mysterious, consequence of their sin and God's just discipline. Underlying these rhetorical questions is a desperate **Plea for Divine Compassion** and intervention, appealing to God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and His revealed character as a merciful and gracious God, as profoundly declared in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - The LORD's Compassion and Justice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **refrain (Hebrew, _ʼâphaq'_):** From H662, this primitive root means "to contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain; force (oneself), restrain." In this context, the people are questioning why God, who possesses the inherent power and capacity to act on their behalf, is deliberately holding Himself back. It implies a conscious choice on God's part to exercise restraint from intervening or showing compassion, prompting the people to ask why He is actively choosing not to act in their favor.
* **hold thy peace (Hebrew, _châshâh'_):** From H2814, this primitive root means "to hush or keep quiet; hold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still." This word profoundly emphasizes the people's perception of God's silence or inaction. They feel that God is neither speaking words of comfort or promise nor actively demonstrating His presence or power in their desperate situation. It conveys a deep sense of abandonment, neglect, or divine unresponsiveness.
* **afflict (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** From H6031, this primitive root means "to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; to abase self, afflict(-ion, self), chasten self, deal hardly with, humble (self), hurt, weaken." This term highlights the severe and oppressive suffering the people are enduring. It suggests a deep, pervasive pain, implying that God is the one allowing or even directly causing this intense hardship as a form of discipline. The question is whether He will continue to impose such suffering without relief.
* **very sore (Hebrew, _mᵉʼôd'_):** From H3966, this word denotes "vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative)." When combined with "afflict," it functions as a powerful intensifier, indicating that the suffering is not merely painful but extreme, overwhelming, and profoundly impactful. It signifies that the affliction has reached a peak of severity, making the people's plea all the more urgent and desperate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wilt thou refrain thyself for these [things], O LORD?":** This clause is a direct, impassioned rhetorical question addressed to the sovereign God. The people are pleading with the LORD, asking if He will continue to withhold His compassion, His saving intervention, and His powerful presence in the face of their dire circumstances. "These [things]" encompasses the totality of their desolation, the destruction of their sacred temple, their overwhelming suffering, and their confessed sins. It is a heartfelt plea for God to cease His restraint and act decisively on their behalf.
* **"wilt thou hold thy peace":** This second rhetorical question powerfully reiterates the first, placing particular emphasis on God's perceived silence and unresponsiveness. The people are experiencing a profound sense of divine absence or a lack of engagement. They are asking if God will continue to remain silent, refusing to speak words of comfort, promise, or deliverance, or to act in a way that visibly demonstrates His presence and power. It conveys their deep longing for God to break His silence and actively engage with their suffering.
* **"and afflict us very sore?":** This final clause articulates the core of their profound anguish and desperation. They acknowledge that their suffering is not merely painful but extreme and overwhelming ("very sore"), and they implicitly attribute it to God's hand, whether directly or by His sovereign allowance. The question is a desperate plea for God to bring an end to this intense and prolonged affliction. It highlights the profound tension between God's justice in disciplining His people and their desperate hope for His mercy to alleviate their overwhelming pain and desolation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 64:12 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of the people's anguish and the urgency of their desperate appeal. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, as the entire verse is framed by two such inquiries ("Wilt thou refrain thyself...?" and "wilt thou hold thy peace...?"). These are not questions seeking information, but rather expressions of profound distress, frustration, and fervent plea, meticulously crafted to provoke a divine response by highlighting the perceived incongruity of God's inaction with His covenant character. There is also a subtle but powerful element of **Personification** in the phrases "refrain thyself" and "hold thy peace," which attribute human actions of deliberate restraint and silence to God, thereby making His perceived inaction more palpable and emotionally resonant for the suffering people. The use of the intensive "very sore" is an example of **Hyperbole** or **Emphasis**, serving to underscore the extreme and overwhelming nature of their suffering and to amplify the urgency of their plea for divine intervention. Finally, the verse functions as a quintessential example of **Lament** and **Supplication**, a vital genre of prayer that candidly expresses pain, doubt, and complaint to God while simultaneously appealing to His mercy, faithfulness, and covenant promises.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 64:12 profoundly addresses the intricate theological tension between God's unwavering justice and His boundless mercy, alongside the challenging human experience of divine hiddenness or apparent silence. It powerfully affirms that even in the throes of severe judgment and perceived divine withdrawal, the people of God are not only permitted but actively encouraged to bring their raw, honest, and even challenging questions directly before Him. This lament is not indicative of unbelief or rebellion; rather, it represents a deep, covenantal engagement, born out of a profound trust that God, who is sovereign over all affliction, is also ultimately compassionate and will not forever abandon His people. It speaks to the mystery of God's perfect timing and His inscrutable ways, reminding us that His silence is not necessarily absence, and His discipline is not abandonment, but often a profound call to deeper repentance, purification, and an unwavering reliance upon Him. The prayer, though born of pain, implicitly anticipates that God's ultimate character is one of salvation and restoration, even when His immediate actions appear to contradict that cherished hope.

* [Psalm 13:1-2](/psalm/13-1-2 "How Long, O LORD? - A Cry of Despair and Hope")
* [Psalm 44:23-26](/psalm/44-23-26 "Awake, O LORD! - A Plea for Deliverance")
* [Habakkuk 1:2-4](/habakkuk/1-2-4 "How Long Shall I Cry? - The Prophet's Lament")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 64:12 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers navigating periods of intense suffering, deep doubt, or the unsettling experience of perceived divine silence. It powerfully validates the authenticity of honest, even challenging, prayer. We are not called to suppress our pain, our confusion, or our questions, but rather to bring them directly and vulnerably to God, just as the community of Israel did. This verse serves as a potent reminder that true faith is not the absence of questioning, but rather the courageous willingness to question *to* God, trusting implicitly that He is vast enough and loving enough to handle our raw emotions and that His character remains steadfast and unchanging even when His actions are mysterious to us. It profoundly encourages perseverance in prayer, even when answers seem agonizingly delayed or suffering is prolonged, fostering a deep and abiding reliance on God's ultimate goodness and His unwavering promise of restoration. In our own times of "very sore" affliction, we can confidently echo this ancient lament, secure in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father hears our cries and will, in His perfect and sovereign timing, break His silence and bring forth His promised relief and redemption.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when God seems silent or distant in your life, and what does this verse challenge you to consider about that response?**
* **What does Isaiah 64:12 teach us about the nature of honest prayer and lament, and how can you incorporate this authenticity into your own prayer life?**
* **In what ways might God's "refraining" or "holding His peace" ultimately serve a redemptive purpose, even if the immediate experience is profoundly painful?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper, more resilient trust in God's character and His ultimate faithfulness even when you are experiencing severe affliction and His presence seems hidden?**

### FAQ
**Is it appropriate to question God's actions or silence, as the prophet does here?**

Answer: Yes, the Bible, particularly the Psalms and prophetic books, provides ample precedent for believers to express their deepest anguish, confusion, and even questioning directly to God. This is not a sign of rebellion or a lack of faith, but rather an authentic, vulnerable, and deeply covenantal engagement with the God who invites such honesty. The prophet's questions in [Isaiah 64:12](/isaiah/64-12 "Isaiah 64:12 - A Cry to God") are born out of intense suffering and a profound desire for God's intervention, demonstrating a deep trust that God is capable of hearing and responding to such raw honesty. It acknowledges God's sovereignty over their affliction while simultaneously appealing to His boundless mercy and compassion.

**What does "afflict us very sore" imply about the nature of their suffering?**

Answer: The phrase "afflict us very sore" (Hebrew: *ʻânâh mᵉʼôd*) signifies an extreme, intense, and deeply painful experience of suffering. It implies that the people's hardship was not trivial or temporary, but prolonged, overwhelming, and had reached a critical, unbearable point of severity. The use of "very sore" as an intensifier highlights the profound physical, emotional, and spiritual distress they were enduring, likely encompassing the catastrophic destruction of their land and temple, the trauma of exile, and the agonizing perception of abandonment by God. It underscores the desperate and urgent nature of their plea for divine intervention to alleviate this immense and crushing burden.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The poignant lament of Isaiah 64:12, with its desperate cry for God to break His silence and bring an end to severe affliction, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the prophet's plea was for an immediate, external intervention to end national suffering and restore God's manifest presence, God's definitive and most comprehensive answer to human suffering and the pervasive problem of sin came not through an expected political or military deliverance, but through the Incarnation and the sacrificial act of the cross. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, fully entered into the depths of human suffering, experiencing the ultimate "affliction" and even the profound, agonizing "silence" of God when He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - The Cry of Dereliction")). In that moment, God did not "refrain Himself" from judgment; instead, He poured out His righteous wrath against sin upon His own beloved Son, allowing Him to be "afflicted very sore" so that humanity might be eternally reconciled to God. Through Christ's unparalleled suffering, atoning death, and triumphant resurrection, God definitively broke His silence regarding the power of sin and death, providing the ultimate intervention and securing the glorious promise of a future where all tears will be wiped away and there will be no more pain, sorrow, or suffering ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")). Thus, the desperate plea of Isaiah 64:12 is answered not by God merely ceasing to afflict His people, but by God Himself enduring the ultimate affliction in Christ, thereby securing eternal peace, restoration, and salvation for all who believe.

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 42:14

I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

Psalms 74:10

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Psalms 74:11

Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck [it] out of thy bosom.

Zechariah 1:12

Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

Psalms 74:18

¶ Remember this, [that] the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and [that] the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Psalms 74:19

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude [of the wicked]: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

Psalms 83:1

¶ A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.