The Meaning of Isaiah 66:4 Explained

Isaiah 66:4

KJV: I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

YLT: I also -- I fix on their vexations, And their fears I bring in to them, Because I have called, and there is none answering, I spake, and they have not hearkened, And they do the evil things in Mine eyes, And on that which I desired not -- fixed.

Darby: I also will choose their calamities, and will bring their fears upon them; because I called, and none answered, I spoke, and they did not hear, but did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delight not.

ASV: I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I also will choose  their delusions,  and will bring  their fears  upon them; because when I called,  none did answer;  when I spake,  they did not hear:  but they did  evil  before mine eyes,  and chose  [that] in which I delighted  not. 

What does Isaiah 66:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 66:1-14 - God's People Made A Blessing
The prophet forecasts the advent of a new day, when places and rites would be comparatively unimportant compared with the condition of the heart, Isaiah 66:1-4. The opening words were quoted by Stephen, when announcing the substitution of spiritual worship for the effete system which it superseded. See Acts 7:48-49. What is the outward rite to God, when the spirit has fled? It was all one to Him, whether a man killed a lamb in the Temple, or broke a dog's neck on his farm. His chosen home is not in ornate temples but in contrite hearts!
The blessedness of God's people is depicted in glowing words, Isaiah 66:5-14. God will appear, to the joy of His people and the recompense of their foes. Those times will be characterized by great revivals, and souls will be easily born into the heavenly kingdom. The Jew and Gentile will meet like confluent streams in one blessed channel. But, above all, we shall become aware of the mother-side in God's nature. As one whom his mother comforteth, Isaiah 66:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 66

1  The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5  He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7  With the marvelous growth
10  And the gracious benefits of the church
15  God's severe judgments against the wicked
18  The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24  And see the damnation of the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 66:4 mean?

So I will choose their delusions and their fears bring on them because when I called and no one answered when I spoke and not they did hear But they did evil before My eyes and in which not I do delight chose [that] -
גַּם־ אֲנִ֞י אֶבְחַ֣ר בְּתַעֲלֻלֵיהֶ֗ם וּמְגֽוּרֹתָם֙ אָבִ֣יא לָהֶ֔ם יַ֤עַן קָרָ֙אתִי֙ וְאֵ֣ין עוֹנֶ֔ה דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי וְלֹ֣א שָׁמֵ֑עוּ וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־ חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּחָֽרוּ ס

גַּם־  So 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֶבְחַ֣ר  will  choose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
בְּתַעֲלֻלֵיהֶ֗ם  their  delusions 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: תַּעֲלוּלִים  
Sense: wantonness, caprice, vexation.
וּמְגֽוּרֹתָם֙  and  their  fears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מְגוּרָה  
Sense: fear, terror.
אָבִ֣יא  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לָהֶ֔ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יַ֤עַן  because 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַעַן  
Sense: because, therefore, because that, on account of prep.
קָרָ֙אתִי֙  when  I  called 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
וְאֵ֣ין  and  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
עוֹנֶ֔ה  answered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי  when  I  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁמֵ֑עוּ  they  did  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ  But  they  did 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הָרַע֙  evil 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
בְּעֵינַ֔י  before  My  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  and  in  which 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
חָפַ֖צְתִּי  I  do  delight 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
בָּחָֽרוּ  chose  [that] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation