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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 48:4 For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/48-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/23_Isa_48_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 48:4 - Israel's Stubbornness" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/48-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/48-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/48.htm">Chapter 48</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/48-3.htm" title="Isaiah 48:3">◄</a> Isaiah 48:4 <a href="/isaiah/48-5.htm" title="Isaiah 48:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/48.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/48.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/48.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/48.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/48.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/48.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Because I knew that thou <i>art</i> obstinate, and thy neck <i>is</i> an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/48.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Because I knew that you <i>were</i> obstinate, And your neck <i>was</i> an iron sinew, And your brow bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/48.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron tendon And your forehead bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/48.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron sinew And your forehead bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/48.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron sinew, And your forehead bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/48.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Because I know that you are stiff, And your neck is an iron sinew And your forehead bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/48.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron tendon And your brow is bronze [both unyielding],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/48.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Because I know that you are stubborn, and your neck is iron and your forehead bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/48.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Because I know that you are stubborn, and your neck is iron and your forehead bronze, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/48.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/48.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I knew you were stubborn and hardheaded. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/48.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/48.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I know that you are stubborn. Like iron, you are hardheaded. Like bronze, nothing gets through your thick skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/48.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I knew that you would prove to be stubborn, as rigid as iron and unyielding as bronze. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/48.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Because I knew that you are obstinate, and because your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/48.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/48.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I did this because I know how stubborn you are. Your neck muscles are like iron and your forehead like bronze. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/48.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow bronze;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/48.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/48.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow bronze; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/48.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />From My knowing that you are obstinate, "" And your neck—a sinew of iron, "" And your forehead—bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/48.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> From my knowing that thou art obstinate, And a sinew of iron thy neck, And thy forehead brass,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/48.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />From my knowledge that thou wert hard, and thy neck an iron sinew, and thy forehead of brass:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/48.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For I knew that thou art stubborn, and thy neck is as an iron sinew, and thy forehead as brass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/48.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For I knew that you are stubborn, and that your neck is like an iron sinew, and that your forehead is like brass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/48.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Because I know that you are stubborn and that your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead bronze, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/48.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/48.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Because I knew that you are obstinate and your neck is an iron sinew and your brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/48.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I know that you are hard and your neck sinew is of iron, and your forehead is brass<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/48.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Because I knew that thou art obstinate, And thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/48.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I know that thou art stubborn, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy forehead brazen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/48-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=10685" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/48.htm">Israel's Stubbornness</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: mid·da‘·tî (Prep-m:: V-Qal-Inf:: 1cs) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">For I knew</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’āt·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/1517.htm" title="1517: wə·ḡîḏ (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Sinew. Probably from guwd; a thong; by analogy, a tendon."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7186.htm" title="7186: qā·šeh (Adj-ms) -- Hard, severe. From qashah; severe.">are stubborn;</a> <a href="/hebrew/6203.htm" title="6203: ‘ā·rə·pe·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Back of the neck, neck. From araph; the nape or back of the neck; hence, the back generally.">your neck</a> <a href="/hebrew/1270.htm" title="1270: bar·zel (N-ms) -- Iron. Perhaps from the root of Birzowth; iron; by extension, an iron implement.">is iron</a> <a href="/hebrew/4696.htm" title="4696: ū·miṣ·ḥă·ḵā (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- Brow, forehead. From an unused root meaning to be clear, i.e. Conspicuous; the forehead.">and your forehead</a> <a href="/hebrew/5154.htm" title="5154: nə·ḥū·šāh (N-fs) -- Copper, bronze. Or nchushah; feminine of nachuwsh; copper.">is bronze.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Jeremiah 5:3</a></span><br />O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/2-4.htm">Ezekiel 2:4</a></span><br />They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-6.htm">Deuteronomy 9:6</a></span><br />Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-16.htm">Nehemiah 9:16-17</a></span><br />But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. / They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-8.htm">Psalm 78:8</a></span><br />Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/7-11.htm">Zechariah 7:11-12</a></span><br />But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51</a></span><br />You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5</a></span><br />But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8</a></span><br />do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a></span><br />The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-14.htm">2 Kings 17:14</a></span><br />But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/30-8.htm">2 Chronicles 30:8</a></span><br />Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/95-8.htm">Psalm 95:8</a></span><br />do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/29-1.htm">Proverbs 29:1</a></span><br />A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;</p><p class="hdg">I knew</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/46-12.htm">Isaiah 46:12</a></b></br> Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that <i>are</i> far from righteousness:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-8.htm">Psalm 78:8</a></b></br> And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation <i>that</i> set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/7-11.htm">Zechariah 7:11,12</a></b></br> But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear… </p><p class="hdg">obstinate.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Jeremiah 5:3</a></b></br> O LORD, <i>are</i> not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, <i>but</i> they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/3-4.htm">Ezekiel 3:4-7</a></b></br> And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/5-20.htm">Daniel 5:20</a></b></br> But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:</p><p class="hdg">and they</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it <i>is</i> a stiffnecked people:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/33-3.htm">Exodus 33:3,5</a></b></br> Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou <i>art</i> a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Deuteronomy 10:16</a></b></br> Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.</p><p class="hdg">they brow</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/3-3.htm">Jeremiah 3:3</a></b></br> Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ezekiel 3:7-9</a></b></br> But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel <i>are</i> impudent and hardhearted… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/45-2.htm">Brass</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-2.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/job/16-15.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-29.htm">Cord</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/26-20.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-14.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-10.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-2.htm">Iron</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-28.htm">Neck</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-1.htm">Obstinate</a> <a href="/genesis/32-32.htm">Sinew</a> <a href="/job/40-17.htm">Sinews</a> <a href="/isaiah/46-12.htm">Stubborn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/60-17.htm">Brass</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-17.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-3.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-21.htm">Cord</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-3.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-23.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-8.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-17.htm">Iron</a> <a href="/isaiah/52-2.htm">Neck</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-2.htm">Obstinate</a> <a href="/genesis/32-32.htm">Sinew</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-6.htm">Sinews</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-23.htm">Stubborn</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 48</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/48-1.htm">God, to convince the people of their foreknown obstinance, revealed his prophecies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/48-9.htm">He saves them for his own sake</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/48-12.htm">He exhorts them to obedience, because of his power and providence</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/48-16.htm">He laments their backwardness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/48-20.htm">He powerfully delivers his people out of Babylon</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/48.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/48.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For I knew that you are stubborn;</b><br>This phrase highlights God's omniscience and His understanding of Israel's character. The term "stubborn" reflects Israel's repeated resistance to God's commands and guidance. Historically, Israel's stubbornness is evident in their frequent idolatry and disobedience, despite witnessing God's miracles and receiving His law. This stubbornness is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, seen in the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 32) and during the period of the judges (<a href="/judges/2-11.htm">Judges 2:11-19</a>). The stubbornness of Israel serves as a warning to believers about the dangers of hardening one's heart against God.<p><b>your neck is iron</b><br>The imagery of an "iron neck" suggests inflexibility and an unwillingness to bow or submit. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a stiff neck was a metaphor for pride and rebellion. This metaphor is used elsewhere in Scripture, such as in <a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/9-6.htm">Deuteronomy 9:6</a>, where God calls Israel a "stiff-necked people." The iron neck symbolizes a refusal to yield to God's authority, contrasting with the pliability and humility that God desires from His people.<p><b>and your forehead is bronze.</b><br>A "bronze forehead" symbolizes a hardened and unyielding mind. In biblical times, bronze was a strong and durable metal, often used in armor and weaponry. This imagery suggests a mental and spiritual obstinacy, where the people are resistant to correction and truth. The forehead, being the most visible part of the face, represents one's thoughts and attitudes. This phrase can be connected to <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ezekiel 3:7-9</a>, where God tells Ezekiel that He has made his forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint, to stand against Israel's rebellion. The bronze forehead indicates a deep-seated defiance against God's will, emphasizing the need for repentance and transformation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah during a time of moral and spiritual decline.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The southern kingdom of Israel, which Isaiah primarily addressed. The people of Judah were often resistant to God's messages delivered through the prophets.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The speaker in this verse, expressing His knowledge of the stubbornness of His people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_exile.htm">Babylonian Exile</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Isaiah includes prophecies about the coming Babylonian captivity due to the people's persistent disobedience.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/stubbornness.htm">Stubbornness</a></b><br>The condition of the people of Judah, described metaphorically as having a neck of iron and a forehead of bronze, indicating their resistance to God's guidance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_stubbornness.htm">Understanding Stubbornness</a></b><br>Recognize that stubbornness is a spiritual condition that can prevent us from hearing and obeying God's voice. It is often rooted in pride and self-reliance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_a_hardened_heart.htm">The Danger of a Hardened Heart</a></b><br>A "neck of iron" and "forehead of bronze" symbolize a refusal to submit to God. This hardness can lead to spiritual blindness and separation from God's blessings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_omniscience.htm">God's Omniscience</a></b><br>God knows our hearts and our tendencies. His awareness of our stubbornness is not to condemn us but to call us to repentance and transformation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Just as God called Judah to turn from their stubborn ways, He calls us to examine our hearts and turn back to Him in humility and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets_and_scripture.htm">The Role of Prophets and Scripture</a></b><br>Prophets like Isaiah were sent to guide and correct. Today, Scripture serves as our guide, and we must be open to its teachings to avoid the pitfalls of stubbornness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_48.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 48</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'return_to_me'_mean.htm">What is Zaphon in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_or_what_were_the_rephaim.htm">Who or what were the Rephaim?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_verify_isaiah_48_3-5_predates_events.htm">In Isaiah 48:3-5, how can we verify that these prophecies weren't written or edited after the events occurred?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jeremiah_6_26-30_stress_total_ruin.htm">Why does the message in Jeremiah 6:26-30 emphasize complete destruction when other prophetic texts suggest partial judgment, possibly indicating an inconsistency in prophetic outlooks?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/48.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Because I knew that thou art obstinate . . .</span>--The point is that Jehovah foresees not only the conquests of Cyrus, but the obduracy of His own people. In Egypt (Jeremiah 44) and in Babylon, as of old, they were still a stiff-necked people, inclined (<a href="/isaiah/48-5.htm" title="I have even from the beginning declared it to you; before it came to pass I showed it you: lest you should say, My idol has done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded them.">Isaiah 48:5</a>), to ascribe their deliverance to another god, and to worship that god in the form of a graven image.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/48.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I knew that thou art obstinate;</span> literally, <span class="accented">hard</span>, or <span class="accented">stiff - the</span> adjective used in the phrase translated in our version "stiff-necked." The idea is still more forcibly expressed in the following clause <span class="cmt_word">- thy neck is an iron sinew;</span> or rather, <span class="accented">a band of iron</span>, <span class="accented">as</span> stiff as if it were made-of the hardest metal. <span class="cmt_word">And thy brow brass</span>. The exact simile here used does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. It seems to be the origin of our expressions, "brazen,<span class="cmt_word">...</span> brazen-faced," "to brazen a thing out." The forehead may be hardened for a good or for a bad purpose; in obstinacy or in a determination to resist evil (comp. <a href="/isaiah/1-7.htm">Isaiah 1:7</a> and <a href="/ezekiel/3-8.htm">Ezekiel 3:8</a> with <a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Jeremiah 5:3</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ezekiel 3:7</a>; <a href="/zechariah/7-12.htm">Zechariah 7:12</a>). Here the hardening is evil, marking defiance and self-will. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/48-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For I knew</span><br /><span class="heb">מִדַּעְתִּ֕י</span> <span class="translit">(mid·da‘·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1847.htm">Strong's 1847: </a> </span><span class="str2">Knowledge</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֑תָּה</span> <span class="translit">(’āt·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are stubborn;</span><br /><span class="heb">קָשֶׁ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(qā·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7186.htm">Strong's 7186: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hard, severe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your neck</span><br /><span class="heb">עָרְפֶּ֔ךָ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·rə·pe·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6203.htm">Strong's 6203: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nape, back of the neck, the back</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is iron</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּרְזֶל֙</span> <span class="translit">(bar·zel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1270.htm">Strong's 1270: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iron, an iron implement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and your forehead</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמִצְחֲךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(ū·miṣ·ḥă·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4696.htm">Strong's 4696: </a> </span><span class="str2">Brow, forehead</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] bronze.</span><br /><span class="heb">נְחוּשָֽׁה׃</span> <span class="translit">(nə·ḥū·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5154.htm">Strong's 5154: </a> </span><span class="str2">Copper, bronze</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/48-4.htm">Isaiah 48:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/48-4.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 48:4 Because I knew that you are obstinate (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/48-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 48:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 48:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/48-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 48:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 48:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>