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Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
Isaiah 46:12 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness!
  • BSB Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
  • NKJV “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness:
  • NASB ¶“Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, Who are far from righteousness.
  • NLT “Listen to me, you stubborn people who are so far from doing right.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God addresses the stubborn-hearted who are far from righteousness, calling them to listen. Even the hardened are summoned to hear.

Overview

Yahweh speaks to those resistant and distant from righteousness, commanding their attention. It is a gracious word to the obstinate, preparing them for the promise of salvation that follows. God's call to the stubborn shows his patience, the same patience that seeks sinners through the gospel.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • Jer 2:5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
  • Eph 2:13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
  • Isa 46:3Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
  • Isa 48:4Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
  • Isa 28:23Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
  • Zech 7:11–12But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
  • Prov 8:1–5Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
  • Prov 1:22–23How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
  • Ps 76:5The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
  • Ps 119:155Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
  • Ps 49:1Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
  • Ps 119:150They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
  • Isa 45:20Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
  • Rev 3:17–18Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
  • Mal 3:13–15Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
  • Isa 48:1Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
  • Acts 7:51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
  • Eph 5:14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 46:12YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).

How Isaiah 46:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.