King James Version

What Does Isaiah 63:17 Mean?

Isaiah 63:17 in the King James Version says “O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake,...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 63 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.”

Isaiah 63:17 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

15

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? the sounding: or, the multitude

16

Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. our redeemer: or, our redeemer from everlasting is thy name

17

O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

18

The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

19

We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name. they: Heb. thy name was not called upon them

Read Isaiah 63 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.' The bold question attributes their wandering to God - 'why hast thou made us to err?' This doesn't deny human responsibility but acknowledges divine sovereignty even over sin's effects. The prayer is for God to 'return.'

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This echoes the hardening theme of Isaiah 6:10 and anticipates Romans 9-11. The relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility remains mysterious yet real.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you understand the relationship between God's sovereignty and human sin?
  2. What does it mean to pray for God to 'return'?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
לָ֣מָּה1 of 12
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

תַתְעֵ֤נוּ2 of 12

“why hast thou made us to err”

H8582

to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both

יְהוָה֙3 of 12

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

מִדְּרָכֶ֔יךָ4 of 12

“from thy ways”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

תַּקְשִׁ֥יחַ5 of 12

“and hardened”

H7188

to be (causatively, make) unfeeling

לִבֵּ֖נוּ6 of 12

“our heart”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

מִיִּרְאָתֶ֑ךָ7 of 12

“from thy fear”

H3374

fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence

שׁ֚וּב8 of 12

“Return”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

לְמַ֣עַן9 of 12
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ10 of 12

“for thy servants”

H5650

a servant

שִׁבְטֵ֖י11 of 12

“sake the tribes”

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃12 of 12

“of thine inheritance”

H5159

properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 63:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 63:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 6:10Ezekiel 14:7-9Joshua 11:20Deuteronomy 2:30Isaiah 29:13John 12:40

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 63 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Isaiah 63 with CommentaryAll Isaiah ChaptersComplete Isaiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes