Isaiah 57:11
New International Version
“Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?

New Living Translation
“Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my words? Is it because of my long silence that you no longer fear me?

English Standard Version
Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?

Berean Standard Bible
Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

King James Bible
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

New King James Version
“And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

New American Standard Bible
“Of whom were you worried and fearful When you lied, and did not remember Me Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent, even for a long time, So you do not fear Me?

NASB 1995
“Of whom were you worried and fearful When you lied, and did not remember Me Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me?

NASB 1977
“Of whom were you worried and fearful, When you lied, and did not remember Me, Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me?

Legacy Standard Bible
“Of whom were you anxious and fearful When you lied and did not remember Me, Nor even put Me upon your heart? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me?

Amplified Bible
“About whom were you worried and fearful That you lied and did not remember Me, Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time And [as a result] you do not fear Me?

Christian Standard Bible
Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn’t remember me or take it to heart? I have kept silent for a long time, haven’t I? So you do not fear me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn’t remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time and you do not fear Me?

American Standard Version
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?

Contemporary English Version
Did you forget about me and become unfaithful because you were more afraid of someone else? Have I been silent so long that you no longer fear me?

English Revised Version
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and fearest me not?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whom did you dread and fear so much that you lied to me? You haven't remembered me or cared about me. I've been silent for a long time. Is that why you don't fear me?

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me because I have kept silent for so long?

International Standard Version
"Whom did you so dread— and while you feared me — that you lied, and you did not remember me, and did not lay to heart these things? Haven't I remained silent for a long time, and still you don't fear me?"

Majority Standard Bible
Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?

NET Bible
Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.

New Heart English Bible
"Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you do not fear me?

Webster's Bible Translation
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

World English Bible
“Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven’t I held my peace for a long time, and you don’t fear me?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And of whom have you been afraid, and fear, "" That you lie, and have not remembered Me? You have not laid [it] to your heart, "" Am I not silent, even from of old? And you do not fear Me?

Young's Literal Translation
And of whom hast thou been afraid, and fearest, That thou liest, and Me hast not remembered? Thou hast not laid it to thy heart, Am not I silent, even from of old? And Me thou fearest not?

Smith's Literal Translation
And whom didst thou fear? and wilt thou be afraid? for thou wilt lie, and thou didst not remember me; thou didst not put it upon thy heart; was not I being silent and from of old, and thou wilt not be afraid of me?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For whose sake have you been anxiously afraid, so that you would lie and not be mindful of me, nor consider me in your heart? For I am silent, and I am like someone who does not see, and so you have forgotten me.

New American Bible
Whom did you dread and fear, that you told lies, And me you did not remember nor take to heart? Am I to keep silent and conceal, while you show no fear of me?

New Revised Standard Version
Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought? Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes, and so you do not fear me?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And of whom have you been in dread and fear, that you have lied against me and have not remembered me nor laid it to your heart? Behold, I am the Holy One of old, and you did not revere me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
By whom have you been agitated with fear, and you have been in dread that you have lied to me, and you have not remembered me, and you have not thought upon me in your heart? Behold, I am The Holy One who is from eternity, and you were not in awe of me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou wouldest fail? And as for Me, thou hast not remembered Me, nor laid it to thy heart. Have not I held My peace even of long time? Therefore thou fearest Me not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Through dread of whom hast thou feared, and lied against me, and has not remembered, nor considered me, nor regarded me, yea, though when I see thee I pass they by, yet thou hast not feared me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Condemns Idolatry
10You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. 11 Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? 12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 2:32
Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.

Jeremiah 3:21
A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God.

Jeremiah 5:22-24
Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it. / But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away. / They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Jeremiah 23:23-24
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” / “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 8:12
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”

Ezekiel 22:12
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Hosea 5:11
Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

Hosea 7:2
But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face.

Hosea 8:14
Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Zephaniah 1:6
and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 15:8
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Mark 7:6
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Luke 12:4-5
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. / But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!


Treasury of Scripture

And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and you fear me not?

of whom

Isaiah 51:12,13
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; …

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Matthew 26:69-75
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee…

that thou

Isaiah 30:9
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isaiah 59:3,4
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness…

Jeremiah 9:3-5
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD…

and hast

Jeremiah 2:32
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Jeremiah 3:21
A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.

nor

Isaiah 57:1
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

have not

Isaiah 26:10
Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

Psalm 50:21
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

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Afraid Dread Fail Fear Feared Fearest Fearful Heart Hearts Held Keeping Lie Peace Pondered Quiet Remember Remembered Secret Silent Thought Time Worried Wouldest
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Afraid Dread Fail Fear Feared Fearest Fearful Heart Hearts Held Keeping Lie Peace Pondered Quiet Remember Remembered Secret Silent Thought Time Worried Wouldest
Isaiah 57
1. The blessed death of the righteous
3. God reproves the People for their idolatry
13. He gives promises of mercy to the penitent














Whom have you so dreaded and feared
This phrase challenges the Israelites to consider the object of their fear. The Hebrew root for "dreaded" (פָּחַד, pachad) and "feared" (יָרֵא, yare) often conveys a sense of terror or reverence. Historically, Israel often turned to other nations or gods for security, forgetting the Lord's power and protection. This rhetorical question highlights the misplaced fear that led them away from God, urging believers to reflect on their own lives and consider whether they fear worldly powers more than God.

that you have lied
The act of lying here is not merely about falsehoods but represents a deeper spiritual unfaithfulness. The Hebrew word for "lied" (כָּזַב, kazab) implies deceit and betrayal. In the context of Israel, this refers to their covenant unfaithfulness, as they turned to idols and false gods. For contemporary believers, it serves as a reminder to remain truthful and faithful to God, avoiding the deceit of sin and idolatry in any form.

and failed to remember Me
Forgetting God is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often leading to Israel's downfall. The Hebrew root for "remember" (זָכַר, zakar) is not just about mental recall but involves active commemoration and acknowledgment. This phrase calls believers to actively remember God's past faithfulness and mighty works, ensuring that His presence and commandments remain central in their lives.

nor taken it to heart
This phrase suggests a failure to internalize God's words and commands. The Hebrew concept of "heart" (לֵב, lev) encompasses the mind, will, and emotions. To not take something to heart means to ignore or dismiss its importance. This serves as a warning to believers to not only hear God's word but to let it transform their innermost being, guiding their actions and decisions.

Is it not because I have long been silent
God's silence is often a test of faith. The Hebrew word for "silent" (חָשָׁה, chashah) can imply a pause or withholding of immediate judgment. Historically, God's patience was meant to lead Israel to repentance, but instead, they misinterpreted it as indifference. This phrase encourages believers to trust in God's timing and remain faithful, even when He seems silent.

that you do not fear Me?
The lack of fear or reverence for God is a critical issue. The Hebrew root for "fear" (יָרֵא, yare) in this context implies a deep respect and awe. The rhetorical question underscores the consequence of misunderstanding God's patience as weakness. For believers, it is a call to cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness, which should lead to obedience and worship.

(11) And of whom hast thou been afraid . . .?--The question implies that Judah had been led by the fear of man to forsake the fear of Jehovah, and this had led her to what was, in the fullest sense of the word, the false step of an alliance with Assyria, which was an acted lie.

Have I not held my peace . . .?--The words suggest, half-pityingly, the cause of the people's little faith. From "of old," i.e., during the period that preceded the captivity, or perhaps in the dark time of Manasseh, Jehovah had been silent, and His long- suffering had been mistaken for apathy, and therefore the people had not feared Him.

Verse 11. - Of whom hast thou been afraid? Judah's abandonment of Jehovah and devotion to new deities was caused by fear - the fear of man, especially of Assyria. This induced them to seek for help in each new superstition that presented itself, and produced the enlarged syncretism which has been noticed in the comment on ver. 8. But how absurd to be driven by fear of man into offending God! That thou hast lied (see the last clause of ver. 4, with the comment). Have not I held my peace, etc.? i.e. "Is it not because I have for so long a time held my peace, that thou fearest me not?" God had for a long time suffered them to "go on still in their wickedness" - he had not interposed with any severe judgment; therefore they had ceased to fear him, and had feared men instead.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

have you dreaded
דָּאַ֤גְתְּ (dā·’aḡt)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 1672: To be anxious or concerned, to fear

and feared,
וַתִּֽירְאִי֙ (wat·tî·rə·’î)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

so that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you lied
תְכַזֵּ֔בִי (ṯə·ḵaz·zê·ḇî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3576: To lie, be a liar

and
וְאוֹתִי֙ (wə·’ō·w·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

failed
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to remember Me
זָכַ֔רְתְּ (zā·ḵart)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

or take this
שַׂ֖מְתְּ (śamt)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

heart?
לִבֵּ֑ךְ (lib·bêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

Have I
אֲנִ֤י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

held My peace
מַחְשֶׁה֙ (maḥ·šeh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2814: To be silent, inactive, or still

such a long time,
וּמֵ֣עֹלָ֔ם (ū·mê·‘ō·lām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

and still
וְאוֹתִ֖י (wə·’ō·w·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

you
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

do not
הֲלֹ֨א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fear Me?
תִירָֽאִי׃ (ṯî·rā·’î)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 57:11 Of whom have you been afraid (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 57:10
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