Isaiah 65:12

I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord addresses those who have forsaken Him and set up altars to Fortune and Destiny, delivering a pronouncement of judgment that directly contrasts with the future provision and joy promised to His faithful servants.

The words — קָרָ֙אתִי (ka.Ra.ti) translates literally as “I called,” and תִּכְרָ֔עוּ (tikh.Ra.'u) means “you will bow down” or kneel, describing the forced posture of the condemned.

The thread — The theme of rejected divine speech appears in Isaiah 50:2, where God asks why no one answered when He called, while Jeremiah 7:13 notes God’s repeated warnings that went unheeded and 2 Chronicles 36:15 records His repeated sending of messengers out of compassion.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that deliberate refusal to heed God’s call results in appointed judgment, requiring the reader to examine whether they are responding to divine speech or choosing their own path.

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

וּמָנִ֨יתִיu./ma.Ni.tiand/ I will appoint אֶתְכֶ֜ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you לַחֶ֗רֶבla./Che.revto the/ sword וְכֻלְּכֶם֙ve./khu.le./Khemand/ all of/ you לַטֶּ֣בַחla./Te.vachto the/ slaughter תִּכְרָ֔עוּtikh.Ra.'uyou will bow down יַ֤עַןYa.'anbecause קָרָ֙אתִי֙ka.Ra.tiI called וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not עֲנִיתֶ֔ם'a.ni.Temyou answered דִּבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiI spoke וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑םshe.ma'.Temyou listened וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּva./ta.'a.Suand/ you did הָרַע֙ha./Ra'the/ evil בְּעֵינַ֔יbe./'ei.Na/iin/ view/ my וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥רu./va./'a.Sherand/ <in>/ [that] which לֹֽא־lo'-not חָפַ֖צְתִּיcha.Fatz.tiI desired בְּחַרְתֶּֽם׃ פbe.char.Temyou chose

King James Version

Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 7:13 And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,
2 Chronicles 36:15 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
Isaiah 50:2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Matthew 21:34 When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit.
Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
Deuteronomy 32:25 Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
Proverbs 1:24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
Isaiah 3:25 Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.