But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder (וַיְמָאֲנוּ לְהַקְשִׁיב וַיִּתְּנוּ כָתֵף סֹרָרֶת, vayma'anu lehaqshiv vayitnu chatef soraret)—Israel's response to prophetic warning was deliberate defiance. The verb ma'en (מָאֵן) means to refuse stubbornly, reject willfully. Haqshiv (הַקְשִׁיב) means to pay attention, give heed—they actively chose not to listen. The idiom natan chatef soraret (gave a stubborn shoulder) pictures a draft animal refusing the yoke, pulling away from the load (Nehemiah 9:29; Hosea 4:16). It suggests rebellious resistance to divine instruction, shrugging off God's authority like an ox refusing to plow.
And stopped their ears, that they should not hear (וְאָזְנֵיהֶם הִכְבִּידוּ מִשְּׁמוֹעַ, ve'oznehem hichbidu mishmo'a)—The verb kavad (כָּבַד, to make heavy, dull) describes deliberate deafening. They made their ears heavy/insensitive so they wouldn't hear. This wasn't accidental misunderstanding but intentional ignorance. Isaiah received similar commission: preach to those who hear but don't understand, see but don't perceive, lest they repent and be healed (Isaiah 6:9-10, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15). Paul warns that people suppress truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18) and eventually God gives them over to reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).
This verse diagnoses the pathology of spiritual rebellion. Unbelief isn't primarily intellectual confusion but moral rebellion—refusing to hear, pulling away from God's yoke, stopping up ears against His voice. The problem isn't that God's Word is unclear but that rebellious hearts actively resist. This explains Jesus's repeated formula: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15)—the issue isn't auditory capacity but willingness to submit.
Historical Context
This describes pre-exilic Israel's response to the prophets whom God sent repeatedly to call them to repentance (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). Isaiah prophesied for 40+ years to increasingly hostile audiences. Jeremiah endured beatings, imprisonment, and death threats for delivering God's unwelcome message. Amos was expelled from Israel's royal sanctuary for announcing judgment (Amos 7:10-13). The people's consistent pattern was to reject prophetic calls to social justice and covenant faithfulness, preferring comfortable lies from false prophets who promised peace when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11).
Questions for Reflection
In what areas of your life might you be 'pulling away the shoulder' from God's yoke—resisting His clear instruction?
How can you cultivate soft-hearted responsiveness to Scripture rather than hardened selective hearing that accepts only comfortable truths?
What warning does this verse give about the cumulative effect of repeatedly ignoring God's voice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder (וַיְמָאֲנוּ לְהַקְשִׁיב וַיִּתְּנוּ כָתֵף סֹרָרֶת, vayma'anu lehaqshiv vayitnu chatef soraret)—Israel's response to prophetic warning was deliberate defiance. The verb ma'en (מָאֵן) means to refuse stubbornly, reject willfully. Haqshiv (הַקְשִׁיב) means to pay attention, give heed—they actively chose not to listen. The idiom natan chatef soraret (gave a stubborn shoulder) pictures a draft animal refusing the yoke, pulling away from the load (Nehemiah 9:29; Hosea 4:16). It suggests rebellious resistance to divine instruction, shrugging off God's authority like an ox refusing to plow.
And stopped their ears, that they should not hear (וְאָזְנֵיהֶם הִכְבִּידוּ מִשְּׁמוֹעַ, ve'oznehem hichbidu mishmo'a)—The verb kavad (כָּבַד, to make heavy, dull) describes deliberate deafening. They made their ears heavy/insensitive so they wouldn't hear. This wasn't accidental misunderstanding but intentional ignorance. Isaiah received similar commission: preach to those who hear but don't understand, see but don't perceive, lest they repent and be healed (Isaiah 6:9-10, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15). Paul warns that people suppress truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18) and eventually God gives them over to reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).
This verse diagnoses the pathology of spiritual rebellion. Unbelief isn't primarily intellectual confusion but moral rebellion—refusing to hear, pulling away from God's yoke, stopping up ears against His voice. The problem isn't that God's Word is unclear but that rebellious hearts actively resist. This explains Jesus's repeated formula: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15)—the issue isn't auditory capacity but willingness to submit.