The Meaning of Isaiah 48:8 Explained

Isaiah 48:8

KJV: Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

YLT: Yea, thou hast not heard, Yea, thou hast not known, Yea, from that time not opened hath thine ear, For I have known thou dealest treacherously, And 'Transgressor from the belly,' One is crying to thee.

Darby: Yea, thou heardest not, yea, thou knewest not, yea, from of old thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldest ever deal treacherously, and thou wast called a transgressor from the womb.

ASV: Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou didst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea, thou heardest  not; yea, thou knewest  not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear  was not opened:  for I knew  that thou wouldest deal very  treacherously,  and wast called  a transgressor  from the womb. 

What does Isaiah 48:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Israelites had not listened to the message that predictive prophecy was to teach them. They did not welcome the idea that God could surprise them and so keep them trusting Him. Instead they wanted to know the future so they would not have to trust Him. Rebellion against God is part of human nature. They did not know what He was going to do, but He knew their hearts.

Context Summary

Isaiah 48:1-16 - The Obstinate And Insincere Rebuked
We are meant to be for God's praise and glory; but we may delay the realization of His high purpose. Our neck iron, our brow brass, we trust in idols and refuse to open our ear. It is necessary, therefore, to send us to Babylon, where, as in a furnace for silver, the dross and alloy are purged away. Many of us are in furnaces which have been rendered needful through our evil ways.
Notwithstanding our sins, God comes to the furnace mouth and chooses us there. For His own sake, His own sake, He does it that His name may not be polluted. He cannot give His glory to another. You cannot account for God's grace to you personally. He must have known all, from the first. Then dare to believe that the reason that prompted Him at the first will suffice to the end. He is not "the son of man that He should repent." He who was the first will be the last. Jesus is Omega as well as Alpha; the end as well as the beginning! Fear not! Revelation 1:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 48

1  God, to convince the people of their foreknown obstinance, revealed his prophecies
9  He saves them for his own sake
12  He exhorts them to obedience, because of his power and providence
16  He laments their backwardness
20  He powerfully delivers his people out of Babylon

What do the individual words in Isaiah 48:8 mean?

Surely not you did hear not you did know from long ago not was opened your ear for I knew very that you would deal treacherously and a transgressor from the womb were called to
גַּ֣ם לֹֽא־ שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתָּ מֵאָ֖ז לֹא־ פִתְּחָ֣ה אָזְנֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ בָּג֣וֹד תִּבְגּ֔וֹד וּפֹשֵׁ֥עַ מִבֶּ֖טֶן קֹ֥רָא לָֽךְ

גַּ֣ם  Surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ  you  did  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יָדַ֔עְתָּ  you  did  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מֵאָ֖ז  from  long  ago 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: אָז  
Sense: then, at that time.
פִתְּחָ֣ה  was  opened 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
אָזְנֶ֑ךָ  your  ear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙  I  knew 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
בָּג֣וֹד  very 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: בָּגֹוד  
Sense: treacherous, deceitful.
תִּבְגּ֔וֹד  that  you  would  deal  treacherously 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.
וּפֹשֵׁ֥עַ  and  a  transgressor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּשַׁע  
Sense: to rebel, transgress, revolt.
מִבֶּ֖טֶן  from  the  womb 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
קֹ֥רָא  were  called 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.