But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

ISAIAH 43:22KJV
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Isaiah 43:22 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 43:22 mean?

Isaiah 43:22 presents God’s complaint against Israel: the people have neglected to seek him and have grown tired of him. The verse portrays a strained relationship, in which the people addressed as God’s own have turned away from calling on him.

God addresses the people as both “Jacob” and “Israel,” names used for the same people. After the people are described as declaring God’s praise in verse 21, verse 22 turns sharply to their failure to call on him.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 43:22

  • “called” — קָרָא (qara): This word can mean to call out or summon. Here, “called upon me” describes turning to God with a request or appeal.
  • “weary” — יָגַע (yaga): This word can mean to grow tired or worn out. In the KJV, the phrase “weary of me” presents the people’s tiredness as directed toward God.

Why Isaiah 43:22 matters

  • The complaint concerns more than the absence of spoken prayer. The following verses also mention offerings the people have failed to bring, placing their lack of response to God in a wider setting (verses 23–24).
  • The passage contrasts the people’s weariness with God’s burden. Verse 24 says that the people have burdened God with their wrongs, turning the language of weariness back toward the speaker.

Where else these words appear

“weary” Hebrew H3021 · used in 25 verses

  • Joshua 7:3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
  • Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
  • Isaiah 57:10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.