Bible Strands
Isaiah 48:9
For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses rebellious Israel, who have consistently ignored His warnings and remained deceitful from birth. He pronounces this promise of restraint immediately before announcing a refining trial in the furnace of affliction.
The words — לְמַ֤עַן (le.Ma.'an) means "for the sake of," and אַאֲרִ֣יךְ ('a.'a.Rikh) literally means "I will make long," describing God's deliberate delay of His anger. אֶחֱטָם־ ('e.che.tom-) conveys "I will restrain myself," indicating a deliberate holding back of judgment.
The thread — This motif of divine restraint for the sake of His name appears in Psalms 79:9, Psalms 78:38, and Psalms 106:8, where God's mercy is tied to His reputation rather than human merit.
Why it lands — The text asserts that God's patience is motivated by His own name and praise, not by Israel's obedience. It requires the reader to recognize that divine forbearance is an act of sovereign self-interest, not a guarantee of exemption from subsequent testing.
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
For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Cross-references
- Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
- Psalms 78:38 And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.
- Psalms 106:8 Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.
- Psalms 143:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
- Isaiah 37:35 ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”
- 1 Samuel 12:22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.
- Psalms 25:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
- Psalms 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.
- Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
- Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.