Isaiah 22:4

Authorized King James Version

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Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

Original Language Analysis

עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 1 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּ֥ן H3651
כֵּ֥ן
Strong's: H3651
Word #: 2 of 14
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
אָמַ֛רְתִּי Therefore said H559
אָמַ֛רְתִּי Therefore said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 3 of 14
to say (used with great latitude)
שְׁע֥וּ I Look away H8159
שְׁע֥וּ I Look away
Strong's: H8159
Word #: 4 of 14
to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewil
מִנִּ֖י H4480
מִנִּ֖י
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 5 of 14
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֲמָרֵ֣ר bitterly H4843
אֲמָרֵ֣ר bitterly
Strong's: H4843
Word #: 6 of 14
to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively)
בַּבֶּ֑כִי from me I will weep H1065
בַּבֶּ֑כִי from me I will weep
Strong's: H1065
Word #: 7 of 14
a weeping; by analogy, a dripping
אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 8 of 14
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תָּאִ֣יצוּ labour H213
תָּאִ֣יצוּ labour
Strong's: H213
Word #: 9 of 14
to press; (by implication) to be close, hurry, withdraw
לְנַֽחֲמֵ֔נִי not to comfort H5162
לְנַֽחֲמֵ֔נִי not to comfort
Strong's: H5162
Word #: 10 of 14
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 11 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שֹׁ֖ד me because of the spoiling H7701
שֹׁ֖ד me because of the spoiling
Strong's: H7701
Word #: 12 of 14
violence, ravage
בַּת of the daughter H1323
בַּת of the daughter
Strong's: H1323
Word #: 13 of 14
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
עַמִּֽי׃ of my people H5971
עַמִּֽי׃ of my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 14 of 14
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

Analysis & Commentary

Look away from me; I will weep bitterly—Isaiah's anguish is so profound he refuses comfort. The Hebrew אָמַר (amar, "Therefore said I") introduces his personal lament. I will weep bitterly (אֶבְכֶּה בַמָּרִי, evkeh vamari) uses the verb בָּכָה (bakah, weep) intensified by mar (bitter)—sobbing with bitter grief, not mere sadness.

Labour not to comfort me (אַל־תָּאִיצוּ לְנַחֲמֵנִי, al-ta'itsu lenachameni)—don't hurry/press to console me. True prophets don't just announce judgment; they grieve over it. The spoiling of the daughter of my people (שֹׁד בַּת־עַמִּי, shod bat-ami)—"daughter of my people" is a tender, corporate term for Jerusalem/Judah. The prophet's heart breaks over the coming devastation, modeling how God's messengers should combine truth-telling with compassion.

Historical Context

Prophetic grief is a consistent biblical theme. Jeremiah is the 'weeping prophet' (Jeremiah 9:1, 13:17). Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Paul had 'great heaviness and continual sorrow' for Israel (Romans 9:2). Isaiah's bitter weeping shows that announcing judgment doesn't mean callousness—true prophets grieve over sin's consequences even while declaring them. This distinguishes genuine prophetic ministry from harsh judgmentalism.

Questions for Reflection

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