Isaiah 42:24
New International Version
Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.

New Living Translation
Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt? It was the LORD, against whom we sinned, for the people would not walk in his path, nor would they obey his law.

English Standard Version
Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?

Berean Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law.

King James Bible
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

New King James Version
Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.

New American Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob up for spoils, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose Law they did not obey?

NASB 1995
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose law they did not obey?

NASB 1977
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose law they did not obey?

Legacy Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not Yahweh, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose law they did not obey?

Amplified Bible
Who gave up Jacob [the kingdom of Judah] for spoil, and [the kingdom of] Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we [of Judah] have sinned, And in whose ways they [of Israel] were unwilling to walk, And whose law and teaching they did not obey?

Christian Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob to the robber, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD? Have we not sinned against him? They were not willing to walk in his ways, and they would not listen to his instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob to the robber, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD? Have we not sinned against Him? They were not willing to walk in His ways, and they would not listen to His instruction.

American Standard Version
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.

Contemporary English Version
Israel sinned and refused to obey the LORD or follow his instructions. So the LORD let us be robbed of everything we owned.

English Revised Version
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who gave Jacob away as loot and handed Israel over to robbers? Wasn't it the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They didn't want to live his way. They didn't obey his teachings.

Good News Translation
Who gave Israel up to the looters? It was the LORD himself, against whom we sinned! We would not live as he wanted us to live or obey the teachings he gave us.

International Standard Version
"Who handed Jacob over to looters, and Israel to robbers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? After all, they weren't willing to walk in his ways, and they wouldn't obey his instruction,

Majority Standard Bible
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law.

NET Bible
Who handed Jacob over to the robber? Who handed Israel over to the looters? Was it not the LORD, against whom we sinned? They refused to follow his commands; they disobeyed his law.

New Heart English Bible
Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his law.

World English Bible
Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Didn’t Yahweh, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who has given Jacob for a spoil, "" And Israel to the spoilers? Is it not YHWH—He against whom we sinned? Indeed, they have not been willing to walk in His ways, "" Nor have they listened to His law.

Young's Literal Translation
Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, And Israel to the spoilers? Is it not Jehovah -- He against whom we sinned? Yea, they have not been willing in His ways to walk, Nor have they hearkened to His law.

Smith's Literal Translation
Who gave Jacob for a treading down, and Israel for spoils? did not Jehovah against whom we sinned? and they would not go in his ways and they heard not to his laws.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to robbers? hath not the Lord himself, against whom we have sinned? And they would not walk in his ways, and they have not hearkened to his law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who has handed over Jacob into plunder, and Israel into devastation? It is not the Lord himself, against whom we have sinned? And they were not willing to walk in his ways, and they have not listened to his law.

New American Bible
Who was it that gave Jacob to be despoiled, Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? In his ways they refused to walk, his teaching they would not heed.

New Revised Standard Version
Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who gave Jacob to be trod under foot and Israel for a spoil? Was it not the LORD, because we have sinned against him? For we would not walk in his ways, neither were we obedient to his law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who gave Yaqob for treading under foot and Israel for being plundered? Was it not LORD JEHOVAH, because we have sinned against him and we were not willing to walk in his ways, and we were not listening to his Law?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the LORD? He against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they would not walk, Neither were they obedient unto His law.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For what did he give to Jacob up to spoil, and Israel to them that plundered him? Did not God do it against whom they sinned? and they would not walk in his ways, nor hearken to his law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel is Deaf and Blind
23Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen and obey hereafter? 24Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law. 25So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 5:19
And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

Deuteronomy 28:15-68
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: / You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. / Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed. ...

2 Kings 17:7-23
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

Nehemiah 9:26-30
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. / So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. / But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion. ...

Jeremiah 9:13-16
And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. / Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” / Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. ...

Lamentations 1:5
Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD has brought her grief because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives before the enemy.

Ezekiel 39:23-24
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid My face from them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. / I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Daniel 9:11-14
All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. / You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. / Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. ...

Hosea 8:1-14
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. / Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!” / But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him. ...

Romans 1:18-32
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. / For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. / For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. ...

Hebrews 2:2-3
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, / how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

Matthew 23:37-39
O 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! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. / For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his law.

Isaiah 10:5,6
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation…

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isaiah 47:6
I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

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Attackers Disobeyed Gave Goods Handed Israel Jacob Law Obedient Obey Plunder Plunderers Robbers Sinned Spoil Spoiler Walk Ways Willing Wrong
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Attackers Disobeyed Gave Goods Handed Israel Jacob Law Obedient Obey Plunder Plunderers Robbers Sinned Spoil Spoiler Walk Ways Willing Wrong
Isaiah 42
1. The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy.
5. God's promise unto him.
10. An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13. God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18. He reproves the people of incredulity.














Who gave Jacob up for spoil
The phrase "gave Jacob up for spoil" refers to the consequences faced by the nation of Israel due to their disobedience. The name "Jacob" is often used to represent the entire nation of Israel, harkening back to the patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The Hebrew root for "spoil" (בָּזַז, bazaz) implies being plundered or looted, indicating a complete stripping away of protection and blessing. Historically, this reflects the times when Israel was conquered by foreign powers due to their failure to remain faithful to God. This serves as a sobering reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon obedience.

and Israel to the plunderers?
"Israel to the plunderers" continues the theme of divine judgment. The term "plunderers" (שֹׁסִים, shosim) suggests invaders or raiders who take what is not theirs. This reflects the historical invasions by Assyrians and Babylonians, who were instruments of God's judgment. Theologically, it underscores the principle that God uses even the actions of pagan nations to fulfill His purposes and discipline His people. It is a call to recognize God's sovereignty and justice, even in times of national calamity.

Was it not the LORD
This rhetorical question emphasizes that it was indeed the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh) who allowed these events to occur. The use of God's covenant name, Yahweh, highlights His role as the sovereign ruler and judge. It is a reminder that nothing happens outside of God's will and purpose. From a conservative Christian perspective, this affirms the belief in God's ultimate control over history and His righteous judgment against sin.

against whom we have sinned?
The phrase "against whom we have sinned" acknowledges the root cause of Israel's plight: sin against God. The Hebrew word for "sinned" (חָטָא, chata) means to miss the mark or fall short of God's standards. This confession is crucial, as it points to the need for repentance and restoration. It serves as a timeless reminder that sin has consequences, and turning away from God leads to spiritual and often physical desolation.

For they would not walk in His ways
"Would not walk in His ways" indicates a deliberate choice to reject God's commandments and guidance. The metaphor of "walking" (הָלַךְ, halak) in the Hebrew Bible often represents one's conduct or lifestyle. This phrase highlights the importance of living in accordance with God's will. Historically, Israel's failure to adhere to God's laws led to their downfall. It is a call for believers to examine their own lives and ensure they are walking in alignment with God's Word.

nor were they obedient to His law
The phrase "nor were they obedient to His law" underscores the disobedience of Israel to the Torah, God's revealed instruction. The Hebrew word for "law" (תּוֹרָה, torah) encompasses teaching, direction, and instruction. Obedience to God's law was central to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This serves as a reminder of the importance of Scripture in guiding the believer's life. From a conservative Christian perspective, it emphasizes the necessity of adhering to biblical principles and the transformative power of living in obedience to God's commands.

(24) Who gave Jacob for a spoil . . .?--The sufferers, whether in the nearer or more distant exile, are reminded that they have brought their sufferings upon themselves, and that it is Jehovah who sends them in the wrath which, as aiming at their restoration, is but another aspect of His love.

Verse 24. - Jacob... Israel (comp. Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 41:8, 14; Isaiah 43:1, etc.), He against whom we have sinned. The prophet identifies himself with his people in loving sympathy, just as Daniel does in Daniel 9:5-15, and Ezra in Ezra 9:6-15, of their respective books (comp. also Isaiah 59:9-13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Who
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

gave
נָתַ֨ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֛ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

up for spoil,
לִמְשִׁסָּ֧ה‪‬ (lim·šis·sāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4882: Spoilation

and Israel
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (wə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

to the plunderers?
לְבֹזְזִ֖ים (lə·ḇō·zə·zîm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 962: To spoil, plunder

Was it not
הֲל֣וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

against whom
ז֚וּ (zū)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 2098: This, which, who

we have sinned?
חָטָ֣אנוּ (ḥā·ṭā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

They were unwilling
אָב֤וּ (’ā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

to walk
הָל֔וֹךְ (hā·lō·wḵ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in His ways,
בִדְרָכָיו֙ (ḇiḏ·rā·ḵāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and they would not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
שָׁמְע֖וּ (šā·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

His law.
בְּתוֹרָתֽוֹ׃ (bə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:24 Who gave Jacob as plunder and Israel (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 42:23
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