Isaiah 1:3
1 This 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.
2 Listen, 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.
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
4 Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children of depravity! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
5 Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
- KJV
- The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
- WEB
- The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”
- ASV
- The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master`s crib; [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
- DARBY
- The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; Israel doth not know, my people hath no intelligence.
- BLB
- An ox has known his owner and a donkey the trough of its master; Israel has not known; my people have not understood.”
- ÅB
- En okse kjenner sin eiermann, og et esel sin herres krybbe; Israel kjenner intet, mitt folk forstår intet.
- OTB
- Oksen kjenner sin eier, og eselet sin herres krybbe, men Israel kjenner ikke; mitt folk forstår ikke."
- B1930
- En okse kjenner sin eiermann, og et asen sin herres krybbe; Israel kjenner intet, mitt folk forstår intet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 8:7
Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.
Read in contextJeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
Read in contextIsaiah 44:18
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
Read in contextIsaiah 5:12
At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
Read in contextMatthew 13:13–15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
Read in contextPsalms 94:8
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
Read in contextRomans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Read in contextIsaiah 27:11
When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
Read in context