For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a crucial distinction: people are "called by the name of Israel" and "of the holy city," yet they don't possess true faith or righteousness. This shows that outward religious affiliation or dwelling in sacred places doesn't guarantee genuine connection with God; true relationship is found in sincere dependence and righteous living.
For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord is addressing the people of Israel, specifically the house of Jacob, who claim to be His chosen people but are living in hypocrisy. Despite their boasts of belonging to the holy city and their reliance on the God of Israel, their hearts are far from Him, and they are not living righteously. This leads into God's declaration of His unique ability to predict future events, which He has done through Isaiah, to prove His divinity and expose their false reliance.
What does it mean to 'call yourself' something, and when does that become a hollow claim?
The people Isaiah addresses pride themselves on two things:
'The Holy City'
They identify with Jerusalem, the city chosen by God for His presence and worship. This was a privileged identity, a sacred heritage. But the prophet points out that claiming this name meant nothing if their lives didn't reflect holiness. It's like having a badge but not living the values it represents.
'The God of Israel'
They also claim to rely on the God of Israel. This wasn't a genuine trust born of obedience and dependence, but a presumptive confidence. They assumed God's favor because they were called Israel and lived in the city, not because they truly followed Him. It's a comfort found in association, not in genuine relationship.
This is a warning against superficial faith. True faith isn't just about knowing the right names or belonging to the right group; it's about the heart's allegiance and the life lived in response.
When God's name is invoked, it carries immense weight. What does it mean that 'The LORD of Hosts is His name'?
The verse culminates with the declaration, 'The LORD of Hosts is His name.' This isn't just another title; it's a profound statement of God's character and power.
Ask a follow-up
Majestic Power
'LORD of Hosts' (Yahweh-Sabaoth) speaks of God as the sovereign Commander of all heavenly armies and earthly forces. It signifies His ultimate authority, His supreme power, and His ability to bring about His purposes.
Holy Judgment
This title is often linked to God's holiness. It implies that He is not only powerful but also righteous and just. When people presumptuously claim His name while living in sin, they are invoking a God who is perfectly capable of judging that sin.
The Prophet's Point
By adding 'The LORD of Hosts is His name,' Isaiah is underscoring the people's hypocrisy. They 'stay themselves' on this God, but in their self-reliance and lack of true righteousness, they are invoking a God whose power and holiness are far beyond their superficial claims. It's a warning: invoking the name of the all-powerful, holy God demands a life of truth and righteousness, not mere association.
Understand the original words
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Used here as a title for Jerusalem, set apart for God's presence, worship, and the administration of His covenant.
Tseba'ot · Hebrew Noun
A title signifying God's authority over the armies of heaven and earth, emphasizing His supreme power, majesty, and sovereignty.
This passage speaks directly to the people of Judah during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, a time when they clung to their identity as citizens of the 'holy city' and the people of 'the God of Israel,' yet lacked true devotion and obedience.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah during a time of political instability and spiritual decay, warning of impending judgment.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, a pivotal event where Judah's survival hangs precariously, highlighting the people's reliance on outward forms of piety.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Babylonian forces conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and deport many inhabitants, marking a catastrophic end to the Davidic kingdom.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great begins his ascent to power, eventually founding the Persian Empire and paving the way for the Jewish return from exile.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, opening the door for the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.
This passage also criticizes the Israelites for boasting about being God's chosen people and relying on the temple, while their actions were far from righteous, mirroring Isaiah's critique of those who 'call themselves of the holy city' without true devotion.
Matthew 3:9John the Baptist rebukes the religious leaders for thinking their lineage from Abraham or their claim to be 'children of Abraham' would save them, much like those in Isaiah 48 who relied on their connection to Jerusalem and God's name without genuine faith.
Romans 2:17-20Paul condemns those who identify as Jews, rely on the Law, and boast in God, yet do not live according to God's ways, highlighting the hypocrisy of claiming a spiritual identity without a corresponding transformed life, a theme present in Isaiah 48.
John 8:39-41Jesus confronts those who claim Abraham as their father, pointing out that their actions prove they are not true children of Abraham, similar to how Isaiah reveals the hollowness of their claim to be 'of the holy city' and 'of the God of Israel' when their hearts were far from Him.
pulpitIsaiah 48:2: "For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name."
Verse 2. - For they call themselves of the holy city. It is an indication of their real want of truth and righteousness, that they lay such stress upon what is so entirely outward and formal, as the fact of their belonging to" the holy city," Jerusalem. Compare the boast of the Jews in our Lord's time, "We be Abraham's seed" (John 8:33). Stay themselves upon the G…
barnesIsaiah 48:2: "For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name."
For they call themselves of the holy city - Of Jerusalem (see Isaiah 52:1 ; Nehemiah 11:1 ; Matthew 4:5 ; Matthew 27:53 ; Revelation 21:2-27 ). The word rendered 'for' here, (כי kı̂y) means, as it often does, "although"; and the sense is, although they call themselves of the holy city, they do not worship God in sincerity and truth. Jerusalem was called 'the holy…
The verse highlights a crucial distinction: people are "called by the name of Israel" and "of the holy city," yet they don't possess true faith or righteousness. This shows that outward religious affiliation or dwelling in sacred places doesn't guarantee genuine connection with God; true relationship is found in sincere dependence and righteous living.
The Lord is addressing the people of Israel, specifically the house of Jacob, who claim to be His chosen people but are living in hypocrisy. Despite their boasts of belonging to the holy city and their reliance on the God of Israel, their hearts are far from Him, and they are not living righteously. This leads into God's declaration of His unique ability to predict future events, which He has done through Isaiah, to prove His divinity and expose their false reliance.
The Lord is addressing the people of Israel, specifically the house of Jacob, who claim to be His chosen people but are living in hypocrisy. Despite their boasts of belonging to the holy city and their reliance on the God of Israel, their hearts are far from Him, and they are not living righteously. This leads into God's declaration of His unique ability to predict future events, which He has done through Isaiah, to prove His divinity and expose their false reliance.
"For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name." — The verse highlights a crucial distinction: people are "called by the name of Israel" and "of the holy city," yet they don't possess true faith or righteousness. This shows that outward religious aff…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026