Yesaya 48:4

48:4 I did this ¹  because I know how stubborn you are.

Your neck muscles are like iron

and your forehead like bronze. ² 

Yesaya 48:8

48:8 You did not hear,

you do not know,

you were not told beforehand. ³ 

For I know that you are very deceitful; ⁴ 

you were labeled ⁵  a rebel from birth.

[48:4]  ¹ tn The words “I did this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text v. 4 is subordinated to v. 3.

[48:4]  ² sn The image is that of a person who has tensed the muscles of the face and neck as a sign of resolute refusal.

[48:8]  ³ tn Heb “beforehand your ear did not open.”

[48:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “deceiving, you deceive.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.

[48:8]  ⁵ tn Or “called” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).