The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a crucial reason for God's continued judgment: the people's refusal to learn from His "striking." It's not just about experiencing hardship, but about failing to understand that the pain is intended to turn them back to the One inflicting it, and to seek Him.
The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a message of impending judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel. Following pronouncements of war and devastation, this verse explains why God's anger will not cease: the people themselves are refusing to turn back to the Lord who is disciplining them, nor are they seeking His guidance and help. This stubbornness and lack of repentance will lead to further, more severe judgments.
Why does God allow hardship to come into our lives? Is it just random bad luck, or is there a divine purpose behind it?
The passage in Isaiah reveals a crucial truth: God's 'strikes'—his chastisements and judgments—are not arbitrary. They are intended to turn us back to Him. The text says, 'The people did not turn to him who struck them.' This implies that the very purpose of the affliction was to bring about repentance and a return to God. When we face difficulties, it's a divine invitation to pause, reflect, and inquire if God is using the hardship to draw us closer to Him. Ignoring this purpose only leads to further judgment.
In times of trouble, what's the most dangerous thing we can do? It's not just ignoring the problem, but ignoring the ultimate source of help.
Isaiah declares, 'nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.' This highlights a profound spiritual blindness: refusing to seek God, the very One who has the power to resolve the situation. The people were turning to other means, perhaps idols or their own strategies, instead of the 'LORD of hosts'—the Almighty Commander. Seeking God isn't just a last resort; it's the primary response to any challenge. It means actively asking Him for wisdom, guidance, and strength, trusting in His sovereign power and presence.
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shuv · Hebrew Verb
The act of returning to God in repentance or changing one's course of action. It implies a fundamental change of heart, mind, and direction from sin toward faith and obedience.
tsaba' · Hebrew Noun
The title 'Lord of Armies' or 'Lord of Hosts' emphasizes God's supreme authority, sovereignty, and power over all created beings, both celestial (angels) and earthly (nations and armies). It underscores His role as the ultimate Ruler and Commander of the universe.
This verse captures the stubborn spiritual blindness of the Northern Kingdom of Israel even as Assyrian armies are actively dismantling their nation. Despite repeated devastating judgments, they refuse to turn back to God or seek His guidance, sealing their doom.
c. 760 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II in Israel
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during a period of relative prosperity and expansion for the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam II. However, this prosperity masked deep social injustice and spiritual corruption.
c. 745 BC
Assyrian Empire Rises Under Tiglath-Pileser III
Tiglath-Pileser III begins a period of aggressive expansion for the Neo-Assyrian Empire, imposing heavy tribute and exerting significant political pressure on the smaller kingdoms of the Levant, including Israel and Judah.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel attempt to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance. When Judah refuses, they invade. Isaiah advises King Ahaz to trust in the Lord, not in foreign alliances.
733 BC— this verse
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
Tiglath-Pileser III invades the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), conquering Galilee and Gilead. Many Israelites are deported, weakening the kingdom significantly.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and End of the Northern Kingdom
After a three-year siege, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V (or Sargon II) conquers the capital city of Samaria. The remaining population of the Northern Kingdom is exiled, and the kingdom ceases to exist.
This passage echoes Isaiah's lament, describing the people's stubborn refusal to turn back to God despite His judgments and their persistent pursuit of false gods. It highlights the theme of persistent sin and the refusal to learn from God's discipline.
Hosea 5:15Here, God announces His intention to return to His place until His people acknowledge their guilt and 'seek me earnestly.' This connects by showing God's patient, yet firm, approach to judgment when repentance and seeking Him are absent, mirroring Isaiah's point.
Luke 15:7Jesus' parable of the lost sheep highlights that there is 'more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.' This provides a heavenly perspective on the joy found when people *do* turn back to God, contrasting with the sorrow of their persistent turning away in Isaiah.
Hebrews 12:7-11This passage speaks of God's discipline as a fatherly correction for His children, intended to produce righteousness and peace. It frames God's 'striking' not as arbitrary punishment, but as purposeful, designed to bring about a positive response that Isaiah's audience was refusing.
pulpitIsaiah 9:13: "For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts."
Verse 13. - The people. The people of Israel, as distinct from the people of Judah. The particular judgment announced in vers. 11, 12 is clearly to fall on them. Neither do they seek the Lord of hosts. Israel had set itself to seek after Baal from the time of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31). The reform of Jehu (2 Kings 10:28) had gone but skin-deep. Baal was still "sought to," rather than Jehovah,…
barnesIsaiah 9:13: "For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts."
For the people ... - This is a reason why his anger would not cease, and it is, at the same time, the suggestion of a new crime for which the divine judgment would rest upon them. It commences the second part of the oracle. Turneth not - It is implied here that it was the design of the chastisement to turn them to God. In this case, as in many others, such a design had not been accompli…
The verse highlights a crucial reason for God's continued judgment: the people's refusal to learn from His "striking." It's not just about experiencing hardship, but about failing to understand that the pain is intended to turn them back to the One inflicting it, and to seek Him.
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a message of impending judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel. Following pronouncements of war and devastation, this verse explains why God's anger will not cease: the people themselves are refusing to turn back to the Lord who is disciplining them, nor are they seeking His guidance and help. This stubbornness and lack of repentance will lead to further, more severe judgments.
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a message of impending judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel. Following pronouncements of war and devastation, this verse explains why God's anger will not cease: the people themselves are refusing to turn back to the Lord who is disciplining them, nor are they seeking His guidance and help. This stubbornness and lack of repentance will lead to further, more severe judgments.
"The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts." — The verse highlights a crucial reason for God's continued judgment: the people's refusal to learn from His "striking." It's not just about experiencing hardship, but about failing to understand that…
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Last reviewed October 2026