Isaiah 48

“Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, declared, former. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, created, heardest. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” The line’s distinctive content terms include affliction, chosen, furnace. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.” Naming Hearken and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto…” Naming Mine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD , thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves…” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, hadst, hearkened. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have…” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include rock, waters, caused. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is no peace, saith the LORD , unto the wicked.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, peace, wicked. Its relationship to verses 21 shows what work it does in this passage.