New International VersionHear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
New Living TranslationListen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me.
English Standard VersionHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
Berean Standard BibleListen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
King James BibleHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
New King James VersionHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;
New American Standard BibleListen, heavens, and hear, earth; For the LORD has spoken: “Sons I have raised and brought up, But they have revolted against Me.
NASB 1995Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me.
NASB 1977Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me.
Legacy Standard BibleHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; For Yahweh speaks, “Sons I have reared and raised up, But they have transgressed against Me.
Amplified BibleHear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; For the LORD has spoken: “I have reared and brought up sons, But they have rebelled against Me and have broken away.
Christian Standard BibleListen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
Holman Christian Standard BibleListen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the LORD has spoken:” I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
American Standard VersionHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Contemporary English VersionThe LORD has said, "Listen, heaven and earth! The children I raised have turned against me.
English Revised VersionHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationListen, heaven, and pay attention, earth! The LORD has spoken, "I raised [my] children and helped them grow, but they have rebelled against me.
Good News TranslationThe LORD said, "Earth and sky, listen to what I am saying! The children I brought up have rebelled against me.
International Standard VersionListen, you heavens, and let the earth pay attention, because the LORD has spoken: "I reared children and brought them to adulthood, but then they rebelled against me.
NET BibleListen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!
New Heart English BibleHear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Webster's Bible TranslationHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleListen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
World English BibleHear, heavens, and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, "" For YHWH has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up sons, "" And they transgressed against Me.
Young's Literal Translation Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For Jehovah hath spoken: Sons I have nourished and brought up, And they -- they transgressed against Me.
Smith's Literal TranslationHear, ye heavens, and give ear thou earth, for Jehovah spake: for I caused to grow and lifted up sons, and they rebelled against me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have despised me.
Catholic Public Domain VersionListen, O heavens, and pay attention, O earth, for the Lord has spoken. I have nurtured and raised children, but they have spurned me.
New American BibleHear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the LORD speaks: Sons have I raised and reared, but they have rebelled against me!
New Revised Standard VersionHear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken, I have reared and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedListen, Heaven, and pay attention, Earth, because LORD JEHOVAH has spoken: “I have raised and I have exalted children, and those have risen up against me OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For the LORD hath spoken: Children I have reared, and brought up, And they have rebelled against Me.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationHear, O heaven, and hearken, O earth: for the Lord has spoken, saying, I have begotten and reared up children, but they have rebelled against me.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Judah's Rebellion1This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2Listen,O heavens,and give ear,O earth,forthe LORDhas spoken:“I have raisedchildrenand brought them up,but theyhave rebelledagainst Me.3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”…
Cross References Deuteronomy 32:1Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Jeremiah 2:12-13Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD. / “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Micah 6:1-2Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. / Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:
Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!
Psalm 50:4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:
Ezekiel 16:20-21You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? / You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.
Malachi 1:6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
Matthew 23:37O 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!
Luke 13:34O 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!
John 1:11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Romans 9:4-5the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Hebrews 3:7-11Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...
Acts 7:51-53You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
Jeremiah 3:19-20Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me. / But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 2:3-5“Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me. / They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ / And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Treasury of Scripture Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. hear Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolongyour days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. for the Lord Jeremiah 13:15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. Amos 3:1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, Micah 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. I have Isaiah 5:1,2 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: … Isaiah 46:3,4 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borneby me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: … Deuteronomy 1:31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. they have Isaiah 63:9,10 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old… Deuteronomy 9:22-24 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath… Jeremiah 2:5-13 Thus 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? … Jump to Previous CareChildrenEarEarthHearHeartsHeavensNourishedRearedRebelledRevoltedSpeaksTransgressedTurnedWordJump to Next CareChildrenEarEarthHearHeartsHeavensNourishedRearedRebelledRevoltedSpeaksTransgressedTurnedWordIsaiah 1 1.Isaiah complains of Judah for her rebellion5.He laments her judgments10.He upbraids their whole service16.He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats21.Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God's judgments25.He promises grace28.And threatens destruction to the wickedListen, O heavens, and give ear, O earthThis phrase is a call to the entire creation to witness the message of God. It reflects the covenantal language found in Deuteronomy 32:1, where Moses calls upon heaven and earth as witnesses against Israel. The heavens and earth are often invoked in Scripture as enduring witnesses to God's covenant with His people, emphasizing the seriousness of the message. This invocation underscores the universal scope of God's authority and the gravity of Israel's rebellion. for the LORD has spoken:
The phrase emphasizes the authority and finality of God's word. When the LORD speaks, it is not merely a suggestion but a divine decree. This echoes the prophetic tradition where the word of the LORD is the ultimate truth and carries the weight of divine judgment or promise. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) highlights the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, reminding them of His faithfulness and their obligations. “I have raised children and brought them up,
This reflects the intimate relationship between God and Israel, portraying God as a loving and nurturing parent. The imagery of raising children is common in the Old Testament, illustrating God's care and provision (Hosea 11:1-4). It also highlights the expectations of obedience and gratitude from the children, which in this context refers to the nation of Israel. The historical context is the period of the divided kingdom, where Israel and Judah often strayed from God's commandments. but they have rebelled against Me.
Rebellion here signifies a deliberate and conscious turning away from God. This is not mere disobedience but a breach of the covenant relationship. The rebellion of Israel is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, often leading to calls for repentance and warnings of judgment (Jeremiah 2:29-31). This rebellion is seen as a rejection of God's authority and love, akin to a child's betrayal of a parent's trust. Theologically, it foreshadows the need for a new covenant, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who restores the broken relationship between God and humanity. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who speaks with authority and calls the heavens and earth to witness His grievance against His people. 2. Heavens and EarthSymbolic witnesses called upon by God to hear His case against Israel, emphasizing the gravity and universality of the message. 3. Children (Israel)Refers to the people of Israel, whom God has nurtured and raised, yet they have turned away from Him. 4. RebellionThe act of Israel turning away from God, despite His care and provision for them. 5. Prophet IsaiahThe messenger through whom God delivers His message, serving as a mouthpiece for divine revelation. Teaching Points God's Parental CareGod is depicted as a loving parent who has raised His children with care and provision. Reflect on how God has nurtured and provided for you in your life. The Seriousness of RebellionRebellion against God is not just a personal failing but a cosmic offense, as it calls upon the heavens and earth as witnesses. Consider the weight of turning away from God in your own life. The Call to ListenThe imperative to "listen" and "give ear" suggests an active engagement with God's word. Evaluate how you are actively listening to God's voice today. Covenantal FaithfulnessGod's grievance is rooted in the covenant relationship with Israel. Reflect on the importance of faithfulness in your relationship with God. Witnesses to Our LivesJust as the heavens and earth are called as witnesses, consider what or who in your life serves as a witness to your faithfulness to God. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 1
In Isaiah 1:2, how can the heavens and earth literally “listen” and “hear,” and does this poetic device conflict with a literal reading?
What does the Bible say about the end times?
In Micah 6:1–2, is there any historical or archaeological evidence of an actual “lawsuit” scenario or divine courtroom setting involving Israel?
What are the main themes in the Book of Isaiah?(2) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth.--The prophet opens the great indictment by calling the universe to listen to it. The words remind us of Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 32:1, but the thought was the common inheritance of Hebrew poets ( Psalm 50:4; Jeremiah 6:19; Jeremiah 22:29), and we can draw no inference from the parallelism as to the date of either book. I have nourished and brought up children.The last word has in the Hebrew the emphasis of position:Sons I have reared and brought up.From those who had thus grown up under a father's care filial duty might have been expected; but it was not so. The sons had rebelled against their father's control. It is significant that the prophet starts from the thought of the fatherhood of God in His relation to Israel. The people might be unworthy of their election, but He had chosen them (Exodus 4:22;Deuteronomy 14:1;Hosea 11:1). . . . Verses 2-6. - GOD'S COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS PEOPLE. The groundwork of Isaiah's entire prophecy is Judah's defection from God. God's people have sinned, done amiss, dealt wickedly. The hour of vengeance approaches. Punishment has begun, and will go on, continually increasing in severity. National repentance would avert God's judgments, but the nation will not repeat. God's vengeance will fall, and by it a remnant will be purified, and return to God, and be his true people. In the present section the indictment is laid. Judah's sins are called to her remembrance. Verse 2. - Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth. "A grave and magnificent exorilium! All nature is invoked to hear Jehovah make complaint of the ingratitude of his people" (Rosenmüller). The invocation is cast in the same form with that so common in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1), and seems to indicate familiarity with that book. The idea extends widely among sacred and other poets (see Psalm 1:3, 4; Micah 6:1, 2; Aesch., 'P. V.,' 11. 88-92). The Lord hath spoken; rather, the Lord (literally, Jehovah) speaketh (so Lowth, Cheyne, and Gesenius). The speech of Jehovah follows in vers. 2, 3. I have nourished and brought up children; literally, ( my) sons I have made great and high; i.e. I have raised Israel to greatness and exalted him among the nations. Notwithstanding their disobedience, God still acknowledges them as his "sons." They have rebelled against me. The verb used is generally rendered in our version "transgressed" (see Jeremiah 3:13; Hosea 7:13; Amos 4:4); but it may also have the stronger sense here assigned it. Lowth translates, "revolted from me;" Gesenius, "fallen away from me;" Cheyne, "broken away from me."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Listen,שִׁמְע֤וּ(šim·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlyO heavens,שָׁמַ֙יִם֙(šā·ma·yim)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064:Heaven, skyand give ear,וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי(wə·ha·’ă·zî·nî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 238:To broaden out the ear, to listenO earth,אֶ֔רֶץ(’e·reṣ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landforכִּ֥י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֖ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelhas spoken:דִּבֵּ֑ר(dib·bêr)Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdue“I have raisedגִּדַּ֣לְתִּי(gid·dal·tî)Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1431:To grow up, become greatchildrenבָּנִים֙(bā·nîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121:A sonand brought them up,וְרוֹמַ֔מְתִּי(wə·rō·w·mam·tî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7311:To be high actively, to rise, raisebut theyוְהֵ֖ם(wə·hêm)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992:Theyhave rebelledפָּ֥שְׁעוּ(pā·šə·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6586:To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrelagainst Me.בִֽי׃(ḇî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 1:2 Hear heavens and listen earth (Isa Isi Is) |
