And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
ISAIAH 57:11KJVWhat does Isaiah 57:11 mean?
Isaiah 57:11 describes God questioning why His people have been afraid of others and have lied, forgetting Him and not taking His presence seriously, even though He has been patient and silent for a long time. The verse highlights how God's restraint and silence have led the people to stop fearing or respecting Him.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, who have turned to other powers and idols instead of trusting Him. The setting is one of confrontation, as God points out their misplaced fear and lack of remembrance. The verse emphasizes that God's long-standing patience ("held my peace even of old") has not led to reverence, but instead to neglect and dishonesty.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 57:11
- "afraid" (גּוּר, gur): This word often means to be terrified or unsettled by someone or something. Here, it points to the people's fear of others rather than of God Himself.
- "feared" and "fearest" (יָרֵא, yare): This word means to have reverence or awe, not just terror. The verse uses it to highlight that the people have lost their proper respect for God.
- "lied" (כָּזַב, kazav): This word means to deceive or act falsely. God accuses the people of dishonesty, likely in their worship and trust.
- "remembered" (זָכַר, zakar): This means to call to mind or be mindful of. The people have failed to keep God in their thoughts.
- "laid" (שִׂים, sim): This word means to set or place, often used for taking something to heart. The people have not truly considered God in their inner lives.
- "heart" (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of thought and will, not just emotion. The people have not made God central in their decisions.
- "peace" (חָשָׁה, chashah): This word means to be silent or still. God’s silence is not approval, but patience.
- "old" (עוֹלָם, olam): This means a long duration or from ancient times. God’s patience has lasted for generations.
Why Isaiah 57:11 matters
- Isaiah 57:11 clears up the idea that God's silence means He is absent or unconcerned; instead, it is a sign of His patience, not His approval.
- The verse reveals that misplaced fear—fearing people or circumstances more than God—can lead to dishonesty and spiritual forgetfulness.
- This verse connects to the wider passage by showing that Israel's idolatry and unfaithfulness are rooted in a failure to remember and honor God, despite His long history of patience and mercy toward them.