Isaiah 9:13
The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just describe a people failing to turn to God; it highlights that their turning away is specifically from the very One who is causing their suffering. It implies that God's chastisements were meant as a call to repentance, and their refusal to engage with their disciplinarian is a deeper offense than simply being disobedient.
God has just declared judgment upon Israel for their stubborn pride and rebellion. In response to this, Isaiah reveals why God's anger will continue: the people refuse to learn from the punishments they've already received, not turning back to the Lord who is striking them, nor seeking His guidance. This stubbornness is the immediate cause for the further devastation and leadership downfall described in the following verses.
Why does God strike us with hardship and pain? It's not just punishment, but an invitation.
The text here is clear: God’s chastisements, his 'blows,' are intended to bring people back to Him. When we face difficult times, it's a divine signal, a call to pause and re-evaluate our direction. The 'striking' isn’t meant to crush, but to redirect our steps towards the very one who is causing the discomfort. It’s an opportunity for introspection and a turning point towards seeking God's face.
Ignoring God's call to turn is dangerous. But what does it mean to 'seek the LORD of hosts'?
The verse doesn't just say they didn't turn; it adds they 'neither inquired of the LORD of hosts.' This is a crucial distinction. 'Seeking' or 'inquiring' of the Lord of Hosts involves actively engaging with God. It means asking for His guidance, His wisdom, and His presence. It’s more than just acknowledging His power; it’s about humbly approaching Him for direction in life. When we fail to do this, especially when God is clearly making His presence known through His actions, we are choosing a path of spiritual deafness and blindness, which leads to greater ruin.
Understand the original words
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.
Isaiah 9:13 speaks to the persistent spiritual blindness of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, even as they faced devastating military and political crises. Their refusal to turn to God, who was striking them through these judgments, sealed their fate, highlighting a deep-seated rejection of divine authority in favor of self-reliance and idolatry.
c. 750-740 BC— this verse
Reign of Pekah in Israel
Isaiah prophesied during a period of political turmoil in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, marked by weak rulers and Assyrian influence. Pekah, an unrighteous king, led Israel during this time.
c. 734-732 BC
Syrian-Ephraimite War
Rezin of Aram (Syria) and Pekah of Israel invaded Judah. When Judah's king Ahaz refused to join them against Assyria, they besieged Jerusalem.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Aram and Galilee
Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria intervened, conquering Damascus and annexing northern Israelite territories in Galilee and Gilead. This significantly weakened the Northern Kingdom.
c. 724-722 BC
Assyrian Siege and Fall of Samaria
Under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, the Assyrians besieged and eventually conquered Samaria, the capital of Israel, leading to the deportation of its people and the end of the Northern Kingdom.
This passage speaks of God continuing to punish His people because they have not acknowledged their guilt and have stubbornly refused to seek Him, echoing Isaiah's observation that they would not turn to the one striking them.
Jeremiah 8:6The prophet Jeremiah laments that no one repents or turns to God, with each person pursuing their own wicked way, much like the people in Isaiah's time who failed to seek the Lord of hosts despite their troubles.
1 Samuel 12:19Samuel rebukes the Israelites for their sin and warns them that while they have asked for a king, they have also sinned against the Lord by asking for a king; he then urges them to turn to the Lord, indicating their tendency to not seek Him even when facing consequences.
Isaiah 1:3This earlier passage in Isaiah highlights a similar theme: an ox and donkey know their master, but Israel, God's own people, do not understand or inquire of the Lord, demonstrating a persistent refusal to acknowledge their Creator and Sustainer.
Luke 15:7Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep illustrates God’s joy over one sinner who repents, emphasizing that true repentance and a seeking heart are highly valued, contrasting sharply with the stubborn refusal to turn to God described in Isaiah 9:13.
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 doesn't just describe a people failing to turn to God; it highlights that their turning away is specifically from the very One who is causing their suffering. It implies that God's chastisements were meant as a call to repentance, and their refusal to engage with their disciplinarian is a deeper offense than simply being disobedient.
God has just declared judgment upon Israel for their stubborn pride and rebellion. In response to this, Isaiah reveals why God's anger will continue: the people refuse to learn from the punishments they've already received, not turning back to the Lord who is striking them, nor seeking His guidance. This stubbornness is the immediate cause for the further devastation and leadership downfall described in the following verses.
God has just declared judgment upon Israel for their stubborn pride and rebellion. In response to this, Isaiah reveals why God's anger will continue: the people refuse to learn from the punishments they've already received, not turning back to the Lord who is striking them, nor seeking His guidance. This stubbornness is the immediate cause for the further devastation and leadership downfall described in the following verses.
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"The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts." — The verse doesn't just describe a people failing to turn to God; it highlights that their turning away is specifically from the very One who is causing their suffering. It implies that God's chas…
