Bible Strands
Isaiah 1:5
Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Isaiah delivers this divine rebuke to the covenant people of Israel immediately after detailing their forsaking of the Lord in the preceding verse. God addresses a nation that has despised His holiness and turned its back on Him.
The words — The Hebrew term סָרָה (sa.Rah) means "rebellion," paired with תֻכּוּ (tu.Ku) translated as "will you be struck," which structures the rhetorical question about persistent discipline. The phrase כָּל־רֹאשׁ (kol-rosh) literally renders "all the head," underscoring total physical and spiritual affliction.
The thread — This pattern of unrepentant rebellion despite correction runs through Daniel 9:8, where the people acknowledge their shame for sinning against God, and Jeremiah 5:3, which records their refusal to feel pain after being struck. It also parallels Ezekiel 24:13, where God's attempt to cleanse filth is met with continued uncleanness.
Why it lands — The text states that continued rebellion produces a head with a massive wound and an afflicted heart, presenting affliction as the direct consequence of persistent sin. It asks a reader to recognize that rejecting correction only deepens damage, requiring honest acknowledgment of sin before any path to restoration can be pursued.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Cross-references
- Daniel 9:8 O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.
- Ezekiel 24:13 Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
- Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
- Revelation 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.
- Isaiah 31:6 Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel.
- Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
- Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
- Isaiah 33:24 And no resident of Zion will say, “I am sick.” The people who dwell there will be forgiven of iniquity.
- Jeremiah 2:30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 6:28 All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.