Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

ISAIAH 2:6KJV
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Isaiah 2:6 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 2:6 mean?

Isaiah 2:6 describes God’s people as having turned toward practices Isaiah associates with other nations. Isaiah addresses God and says that God has forsaken the house of Jacob because its people have filled their lives with those influences and practices.

The words “thou” and “thy” address God, while “they” refers to the house of Jacob. After the invitation to walk in the Lord’s light in verse 5, Isaiah describes the people’s conduct in stark contrast to that invitation.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 2:6

  • “replenished” — מָלֵא (maleʾ): This word carries the sense of being filled. In Isaiah 2:6, the KJV describes the people as filled with something “from the east,” suggesting a strong influence rather than a passing contact.
  • “soothsayers” — עָנַן (ʿanan): This word is associated with trying to discover hidden knowledge or foretell events by special practices. Isaiah compares the people who do this to the Philistines, a neighboring people.
  • “please” — שָׂפַק (saph aq): This word can carry the sense of striking hands or making an agreement. The KJV’s “please themselves in the children of strangers” presents a close association with foreigners; the exact nature of that association is not clear.

Why Isaiah 2:6 matters

  • Isaiah’s charge concerns the people’s conduct, not simply where other people come from. The comparison “like the Philistines” identifies a practice—soothsaying—that Isaiah objects to.

  • The verse contrasts the house of Jacob’s calling with its present condition. Verse 5 invites that same house to walk in the Lord’s light, while verse 6 begins with “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people.”

  • The surrounding passage adds to the picture of what occupies the land. Verses 7–8 mention wealth, horses, and idols, placing Isaiah’s words about outside influences alongside further concerns about Judah.

Where else these words appear

“please” Hebrew H5606 · used in 10 verses

  • Numbers 24:10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
  • Job 34:26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
  • Jeremiah 48:26 Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.

“soothsayers” Hebrew H6049 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
  • Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

“forsaken” Hebrew H5203 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
  • 1 Samuel 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
  • Isaiah 21:15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

“strangers” Hebrew H5237 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
  • Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;