Isaiah 65:12
New International Version
I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

New Living Translation
now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword. All of you will bow down before the executioner. For when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned—before my very eyes— and chose to do what you know I despise.”

English Standard Version
I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.”

Berean Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

King James Bible
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

New King James Version
Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.”

New American Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not listen. Instead, you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”

NASB 1995
I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”

NASB 1977
I will destine you for the sword, And all of you shall bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight, And chose that in which I did not delight.”

Legacy Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter, Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did what was evil in My eyes And chose that in which I was not pleased.”

Amplified Bible
I will destine you for the sword, [says the LORD], And all of you will bow down to the slaughter, Because when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not listen or obey. But you did [what was] evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”

Christian Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear; you did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not delight in.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear; you did what was evil in My sight and chose what I did not delight in.

American Standard Version
I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

Contemporary English Version
Your luck will end! I will see to it that you are slaughtered with swords. You refused to answer when I called out; you paid no attention to my instructions. Instead, you did what I hated, knowing it was wrong.

English Revised Version
I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now I will destine you for death. All of you will bow to be slaughtered. I called, but you didn't answer. I spoke, but you didn't listen. You did what I consider evil. You chose what I don't like.

Good News Translation
It will be your fate to die a violent death, because you did not answer when I called you or listen when I spoke. You chose to disobey me and do evil.

International Standard Version
I'll consign you to the sword, and all of you will bend down for the slaughter— because when I called, you didn't answer, when I spoke, you didn't listen; but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what I took no pleasure in."

Majority Standard Bible
I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

NET Bible
I predestine you to die by the sword, all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, because I called to you, and you did not respond, I spoke and you did not listen. You did evil before me; you chose to do what displeases me."

New Heart English Bible
I will destine you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I did not delight."

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that in which I delighted not.

World English Bible
I will destine you to the sword, and you will all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you didn’t answer. When I spoke, you didn’t listen; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have numbered you for the sword, "" And all of you bow down for slaughter, "" Because I called, and you have not answered, "" I have spoken, and you have not listened, "" And you do evil in My eyes, "" And on that which I did not desire—fixed.”

Young's Literal Translation
And I have numbered you for the sword, And all of you for slaughter bow down, Because I called, and ye have not answered, I have spoken, and ye have not hearkened, And ye do the evil thing in Mine eyes, And on that which I desired not -- fixed.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I numbered you to the sword, and ye all shall bend to the slaughter, because I called, and ye answered not: I spake and ye heard not; and ye will do evil in mine eyes, and in what I delighted not, ye chose.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will number you in the sword, and you shall all fall by slaughter: because I called and you did not answer: I spoke, and you did not hear: and you did evil in my eyes, and you have chosen the things that displease me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will number you with the sword, and you will all fall by slaughter. For I called and you did not respond; I spoke, and you did not listen. And you did what is evil in my eyes; and what I did not will, you have chosen.

New American Bible
You I will destine for the sword; you shall all bow down for slaughter; Because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen, But did what is evil in my sight and things I do not delight in, you chose,

New Revised Standard Version
I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what I did not delight in.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will deliver you up to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen; and you did evil in my presence, and did choose the thing wherein I do not delight.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I shall number you for the sword and all of you shall be destroyed in slaughter, because I called and you did not answer, and I have spoken and you have not heard, and you did what is evil before me, and you have chosen what I do not wish
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will destine you to the sword, And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because when I called, ye did not answer, When I spoke, ye did not hear; But ye did that which was evil in Mine eyes, And chose that wherein I delighted not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will deliver you up to the sword, ye shall all fall by slaughter: for I called you, and ye hearkened not; I spoke, and ye refused to hear; and ye did evil in my sight, and chose the things wherein I delighted not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgments and Promises
11But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, 12I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.” 13Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:24-31
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, ...

Jeremiah 7:13-15
And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, / therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers. / And I will cast you out of My presence, just as I have cast out all your brothers, all the descendants of Ephraim.

Jeremiah 11:11
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 35:17
Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them but they have not answered.’”

Ezekiel 8:18
Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”

Ezekiel 14:12-23
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast, / then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Zechariah 7:11-13
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. / And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Deuteronomy 32:19-25
When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters. / He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation—children of unfaithfulness. / They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding. ...

1 Samuel 8:18
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

Matthew 22:2-7
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. / He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. / Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ ...

Matthew 23:37-38
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.

Luke 13:34-35
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. And 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 14:16-24
But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. / When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ / But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’ ...

John 5:40
yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore will I number you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

will I

Isaiah 3:25
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

Isaiah 10:4
Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Leviticus 26:25
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

because

Isaiah 50:2
Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

Isaiah 66:4
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.

2 Chronicles 36:15,16
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: …

did evil

Isaiah 65:3
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

Isaiah 1:16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Jeremiah 16:17
For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

and did

Isaiah 66:3,4
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations…

Proverbs 1:29
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

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Bend Bow Choose Chose Death Delight Delighted Evil Eyes Fate Hear Sight Slaughter Sword Voice Wherein
Isaiah 65
1. The calling of the Gentiles,
2. and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8. A remnant shall be saved
11. Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17. The blessed state of the new Jerusalem














I will destine you for the sword
This phrase indicates a divine decree of judgment. The Hebrew word for "destine" (מָנָה, manah) implies a deliberate allocation or appointment. Historically, the "sword" symbolizes warfare and destruction, a common consequence for nations that turned away from God. This reflects the seriousness of Israel's rebellion and the certainty of divine justice.

all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered
"Kneel down" (כָּרַע, kara) suggests submission or surrender, often used in contexts of defeat. The imagery of being "slaughtered" underscores the severity of the impending judgment. This phrase serves as a stark warning of the consequences of persistent disobedience, emphasizing the totality of the judgment that awaits those who reject God's call.

because I called and you did not answer
The act of calling (קָרָא, qara) signifies God's initiative in reaching out to His people. The lack of response highlights Israel's stubbornness and spiritual deafness. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where God seeks a relationship with His people, yet they often fail to respond, leading to judgment.

I spoke and you did not listen
Here, "spoke" (דָּבַר, dabar) indicates God's communication through prophets and His Word. The failure to "listen" (שָׁמַע, shama) suggests a willful disregard for divine instruction. This phrase underscores the importance of heeding God's voice, as ignoring it leads to dire consequences.

you did evil in My sight
"Evil" (רַע, ra) in this context refers to actions contrary to God's will. "In My sight" emphasizes God's omniscience and moral authority. This phrase serves as a reminder that all actions are visible to God and that He holds His people accountable for their deeds.

chose that in which I did not delight
The act of choosing (בָּחַר, bachar) reflects the exercise of free will. "In which I did not delight" indicates actions that are displeasing to God. This highlights the importance of aligning one's choices with God's desires, as choosing otherwise leads to separation from His favor and protection.

Verse 12. - Therefore will I number you; or, apportion you (maaithi) - a play upon the name of M'ni. The sword... slaughter. Not, perhaps, intended literally. Wicked men are God's sword (Psalm 17:13), and deliverance into their hand would be deliverance to the sword and slaughter. The exiles suffered grievously at the hands of their Babylonian masters (Isaiah 47:6; Isaiah 49:17, etc.). The character of their sufferings is given in the ensuing verses (vers. 13, 14). When I called, ye did not answer (see 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16; Proverbs 1:20-25; Isaiah 66:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will destine
וּמָנִ֨יתִי (ū·mā·nî·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4487: To weigh out, to allot, constitute officially, to enumerate, enroll

you
אֶתְכֶ֜ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

for the sword,
לַחֶ֗רֶב (la·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

and you will all
וְכֻלְּכֶם֙ (wə·ḵul·lə·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

kneel down
תִּכְרָ֔עוּ (tiḵ·rā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3766: To bend the knee, to sink, to prostrate

to be slaughtered,
לַטֶּ֣בַח (laṭ·ṭe·ḇaḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2874: Something slaughtered, a beast, butchery

because
יַ֤עַן (ya·‘an)
Adverb
Strong's 3282: Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, cause

I called
קָרָ֙אתִי֙ (qā·rā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

and you did not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer,
עֲנִיתֶ֔ם (‘ă·nî·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

I spoke
דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי (dib·bar·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

and you did not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen;
שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם (šə·ma‘·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

you did
וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ (wat·ta·‘ă·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַע֙ (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in My sight
בְּעֵינַ֔י (bə·‘ê·nay)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

and chose
בְּחַרְתֶּֽם׃ (bə·ḥar·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 977: To try, select

that in which
וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ū·ḇa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

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

delight.?
חָפַ֖צְתִּי (ḥā·p̄aṣ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2654: To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 65:12 I will destine you to the sword (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 65:11
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