You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just saying Israel was ignorant of God's plans; it reveals that God deliberately withheld revelation from them ("your ear has not been opened") because He knew their inherent treachery. This highlights a divine strategy of revelation tied to human nature—not revealing fully to those prone to betray.
You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God addresses Israel, rebuking them for their persistent spiritual deafness and unfaithfulness, emphasizing that they have never truly listened or understood His ways, even from their earliest beginnings as a people. He reveals that this inherent rebelliousness was known to Him from the very start, explaining why He has had to repeatedly declare His plans, not just for their knowledge, but to counteract their deep-seated tendency to stray and betray.
The verse states God 'knew' Israel would be treacherous. Does this mean our choices are already decided?
Knowing Your Nature
The text here says, "I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel." This isn't about God predetermining our actions like a puppet master. Instead, it's about His perfect, exhaustive knowledge of reality, including human nature.
Israel is called a 'rebel from the womb.' What does this say about our inherited condition?
The Root of Rebellion
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The description of Israel as a "rebel from the womb" points to a deep-seated, inherent tendency toward disobedience that goes back to the very beginning of their national existence, and by extension, to our own human condition.
The verse repeats, 'you have never heard... you have never known... your ear has not been opened.' What does this spiritual deafness mean for us?
The Deaf Ear of Unbelief
The repeated emphasis on not hearing or knowing, and the ear not being opened, describes a profound spiritual insensitivity. It's not that God didn't speak, but that Israel was unwilling or unable to truly receive His message.
Understand the original words
bagod tibgod · Hebrew Verb
To act faithlessly, break a covenant, or be unfaithful, especially in a relationship with God. It carries the weight of spiritual betrayal and hypocrisy.
poshea · Hebrew Noun/Participle
A person who resists authority or divine commands; one who turns away from the path laid out by God. It signifies a persistent state of disobedience.
This prophecy was delivered during a period of intense national crisis for Judah, marked by internal spiritual decay and external threats from powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon. The verse directly addresses the deep-seated unfaithfulness of the people, whom God knew from their very beginnings were prone to rebellion. The historical context of exile and impending judgment underscores God's foreknowledge and His persistent attempts to reveal Himself to a people who, from their 'womb' or national birth, had a rebellious heart.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Commission and Early Prophecies
Isaiah receives his prophetic commission from God. During this period, he delivers messages to the people of Judah, often rebuking their spiritual unfaithfulness and warning of impending judgment.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. The city is miraculously spared, but Judah remains a weakened vassal state.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, deporting most of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the low point of Judah's national existence.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great unites the Persian tribes and begins to challenge the Babylonian Empire, setting the stage for the eventual overthrow of Babylon.
This passage highlights a similar theme of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness to God, contrasting their easily changed devotion to idols with their neglect of the true God, echoing Isaiah's accusation of treachery.
Romans 3:23This New Testament passage directly states that 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,' underscoring the universal nature of sinfulness that the Old Testament prophets, like Isaiah here, identified even from birth.
Psalm 51:5The Psalmist's confession, 'Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me,' directly parallels Isaiah's declaration that Israel 'from the womb' was called a rebel, pointing to an inherent sinfulness.
Deuteronomy 32:20This passage describes Israel as 'a faithless generation, children in whom there is no trust,' aligning with Isaiah's description of them as treacherous and rebellious from their beginning, illustrating a consistent pattern of unfaithfulness.
Isaiah 44:3This verse promises that God 'will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants,' offering a stark contrast to the inherent rebellion described in Isaiah 48:8 and highlighting God's persistent grace despite human unfaithfulness.
pulpitIsaiah 48:8: "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."
Verse 8. - Thou heardest not... thou knewest not. Again we seem to hear the voice of complaint, as in vers. 1, 2, 4. Israel had not "ears to hear" to any purpose such highly spiritual truths as those of the coming section. They had not profited by what was taught concerning Christ in…
barnesIsaiah 48:8: "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."
Yea, thou heardest not - This verse is designed to show not only that these events could not have been foreseen by them, but that when they were actually made known to them, they were stupid, dull, and incredulous. It is not only re-affirming what had been said in the previous verses,…
The verse isn't just saying Israel was ignorant of God's plans; it reveals that God deliberately withheld revelation from them ("your ear has not been opened") because He knew their inherent treachery. This highlights a divine strategy of revelation tied to human nature—not revealing fully to those prone to betray.
God addresses Israel, rebuking them for their persistent spiritual deafness and unfaithfulness, emphasizing that they have never truly listened or understood His ways, even from their earliest beginnings as a people. He reveals that this inherent rebelliousness was known to Him from the very start, explaining why He has had to repeatedly declare His plans, not just for their knowledge, but to counteract their deep-seated tendency to stray and betray.
God addresses Israel, rebuking them for their persistent spiritual deafness and unfaithfulness, emphasizing that they have never truly listened or understood His ways, even from their earliest beginnings as a people. He reveals that this inherent rebelliousness was known to Him from the very start, explaining why He has had to repeatedly declare His plans, not just for their knowledge, but to counteract their deep-seated tendency to stray and betray.
"You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel." — The verse isn't just saying Israel was ignorant of God's plans; it reveals that God deliberately withheld revelation from them ("your ear has not been opened") because He knew their inherent trea…
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Last reviewed October 2026