Isaiah 66:4

Isaiah 66:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
• New International Version (NIV)so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.”

Context of Isaiah 66:4

2For all these things My hand has made, So all these things came into being [by and for Me],” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look [graciously], To him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word and honors My commands. 3“He who kills an ox [for pagan sacrifice] is [as guilty] as one who kills a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as one who offers swine’s blood; He who offers incense, as one who blesses an idol. Such people have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their repulsive acts; So I will choose their punishments, And will bring the things they dread upon them Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen or obey. But they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.” 5Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble [with awe-filled reverence] at His word: “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My Name’s sake, Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they will be put to shame. 6The sound of an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, providing retribution to His enemies.

Isaiah 66:4 word by word

גַּם־אֲנִ֞י אֶבְחַ֣ר בְּתַעֲלֻלֵיהֶ֗ם וּמְגֽוּרֹתָם֙ אָבִ֣יא לָהֶ֔ם יַ֤עַן קָרָ֙אתִי֙ וְאֵ֣ין עוֹנֶ֔ה דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי וְלֹ֣א שָׁמֵ֑עוּ וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּחָֽרוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I also will chooseבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• their delusionsתַּעֲלוּלִיםta‛ălûl · capriceH8586
• and will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• their fearsמְגוּרָהmegûrâh · fearH4035
• upon them; because when I calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• none did answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• when I spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• they did not hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• but they didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• before mine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• in which I delightedחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654

Cross-references for Isaiah 66:4

• 1 Kings 22:19Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.
• Psalms 81:12So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in [the path of] their own counsel.
• Proverbs 1:31Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.
• Matthew 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them].
• Proverbs 10:24What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.
• Isaiah 50:2Why, when I came, was there no man [to greet Me]? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is My hand really so short that it cannot redeem [My servants]? Or have I no power to rescue? Listen carefully, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers into a desert; Their fish stink because there is no water And die of thirst.
• Isaiah 65:12I will destine you for the sword, [says the Lord], And all of you will bow down to the slaughter, Because when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not listen or obey. But you did [what was] evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”
• Proverbs 1:24Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];
• Jeremiah 7:13And now, because you have done all these things,” says the Lord, “and I spoke [persistently] to you, even rising up early and speaking, but you did not listen, and I called you but you did not answer,
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
• Isaiah 65:3The people who continually provoke Me to My face, Sacrificing [to idols] in gardens and making offerings with incense on bricks [instead of at the designated altar];
• 2 Kings 21:2He did [great] evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with the [idolatrous] repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons (descendants) of Israel.

Commentaries on Isaiah 66:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I also will choose their delusions - Margin, Devices.‘ The Hebrew word rendered here delusions‘ and devices‘ (תעלוּלים ta‛ălûlı̂ym ) properly denotes petulance, sauciness; and then vexation, adverse destiny, from עלל ‛âlal to do, to accomplish, to do evil, to maltreat. It is not used in the sense of delusions, or devices; and evidently here means the same as calamity or punishment. Compare the Hebrew in Lamentations 1:22. Lowth and Noyes render it…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-24Here, the Lord responds to the prayer in Isaiah 63:7–64:12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. delusions--(2Th 2:11), answering to "their own ways" (Is 66:3; so Pr 1:31). However, the Hebrew means rather "vexations," "calamities," which also the parallelism to "fears" requires; "choose their calamities" means, "choose the calamities which they thought to escape by their own ways." their fears--the things they feared, to avert which their idolatrous "abominations" (Is 66:3) were practised. I called ... none ... answer--(See on Is 65:12; Is 65:24…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 66:4

• God
• Hypocrisy
• Impenitence

In the dictionaries

• Draw
• Extend
• Throne
• Delight
• Delusion
• Eschatology of the Old Testament
• Fear
• Isaiah

Commentaries on Isaiah 66

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings