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 2:6KJVWhat does Isaiah 2:6 mean?
Isaiah 2:6 says that God has abandoned or turned away from the people of Israel (the house of Jacob) because they have adopted foreign practices, such as seeking guidance from the east and using fortune-telling like the Philistines, and they associate closely with outsiders. The verse points to Israel’s unfaithfulness as the reason for God’s rejection.
Isaiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, warning them that their behavior has led to a break in their relationship with God. The verse highlights that the Israelites have copied customs from neighboring nations, especially those involving superstition and alliances with foreigners, which were seen as unfaithful to God’s ways.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 2:6
- The word "forsaken" (נָטַשׁ, natash) means to abandon or leave behind, emphasizing the seriousness of God’s turning away from His people because of their actions.
- "Replenished from the east" uses מָלֵא (male, "replenished" or "filled") and קֶדֶם (qedem, "east"), showing that the people have filled themselves with eastern influences, likely referring to spiritual or religious practices from neighboring eastern cultures.
- "Soothsayers" (עָנַן, anan) refers to those who practice divination or fortune-telling, which was forbidden in Israel but common among the Philistines (פְּלִשְׁתִּים, Pelishtim).
- "Please themselves in the children of strangers" uses שָׂפַק (safaq, "please" or "strike hands with") and נָכְרִי (nokhri, "strangers"), suggesting making deals or close associations with foreigners, which often led to adopting their ways.
Why Isaiah 2:6 matters
- Isaiah 2:6 clarifies that God’s rejection is not arbitrary but a direct response to the people’s choice to imitate foreign customs and spiritual practices.
- The verse emphasizes how easily God’s people could be influenced by the cultures around them, which was a recurring problem throughout Israel’s history.
- This verse sets the stage for the rest of Isaiah’s message, showing that the root issue is not just external threats but the internal unfaithfulness of the people themselves.