Isaiah 63:17

Authorized King James Version

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O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Original Language Analysis

לָ֣מָּה H4100
לָ֣מָּה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 1 of 12
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תַתְעֵ֤נוּ why hast thou made us to err H8582
תַתְעֵ֤נוּ why hast thou made us to err
Strong's: H8582
Word #: 2 of 12
to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both
יְהוָה֙ O LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ O LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִדְּרָכֶ֔יךָ from thy ways H1870
מִדְּרָכֶ֔יךָ from thy ways
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 4 of 12
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
תַּקְשִׁ֥יחַ and hardened H7188
תַּקְשִׁ֥יחַ and hardened
Strong's: H7188
Word #: 5 of 12
to be (causatively, make) unfeeling
לִבֵּ֖נוּ our heart H3820
לִבֵּ֖נוּ our heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 6 of 12
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
מִיִּרְאָתֶ֑ךָ from thy fear H3374
מִיִּרְאָתֶ֑ךָ from thy fear
Strong's: H3374
Word #: 7 of 12
fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence
שׁ֚וּב Return H7725
שׁ֚וּב Return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 8 of 12
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
לְמַ֣עַן H4616
לְמַ֣עַן
Strong's: H4616
Word #: 9 of 12
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ for thy servants H5650
עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ for thy servants
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 10 of 12
a servant
שִׁבְטֵ֖י sake the tribes H7626
שִׁבְטֵ֖י sake the tribes
Strong's: H7626
Word #: 11 of 12
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃ of thine inheritance H5159
נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃ of thine inheritance
Strong's: H5159
Word #: 12 of 12
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

Analysis & Commentary

'O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.' The bold question attributes their wandering to God - 'why hast thou made us to err?' This doesn't deny human responsibility but acknowledges divine sovereignty even over sin's effects. The prayer is for God to 'return.'

Historical Context

This echoes the hardening theme of Isaiah 6:10 and anticipates Romans 9-11. The relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility remains mysterious yet real.

Questions for Reflection

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