Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
Parallel translations
- WEB Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
- KJV Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
- NKJV Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
- NASB “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
- NLT “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
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
Wisdom recounts how she called but was refused and ignored. It matters because it shows persistent rejection of God's call has real consequences.
Overview
The tone shifts from invitation to indictment. Wisdom's repeated, outstretched appeals met stubborn refusal. This portrays God's patient pleading with people who will not listen, a pattern echoed in the prophets and in Christ's lament over Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 10:21But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
- Isa 65:12I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
- Jer 7:13And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,
- Isa 66:4So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
- Heb 12:25–26See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
- Matt 22:5–6But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
- Zech 7:11–12But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
- Ezek 8:18Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”
- Isa 50:2Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
- Matt 23:37–38O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
- Ps 31:20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
- Acts 4:30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 1:24 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.