Iron sinews
Yahweh addresses Israel as the “house of Jacob” who is “named Israel” (Isaiah 48:1). They have Yahweh’s name in their mouths in oaths and commemorations (v. 1), but not in truth and righteousness. They have in fact become stiff-necked like the Hebrews who were brought from Egypt; they turn to their idols instead of Yahweh (v. 5).
They have become un-Jacob, a fact that is underlined in verse 4: “Your neck has an iron sinew (Heb. giyd ).” This alludes back to the Mosaic theme of “stiff-necked” Israel; it reaches further back to the story 0f Jacob’s wrestling with God, the very moment when Jacob was “named Israel.” Then, the Lord touched the sinew ( giyd ) and gave Jacob a permanent limp. Israel-of-the-iron-sinew, though, is impervious to Yahweh’s touch.
They don’t receive the healing wound; they don’t walk with the victorious limb. They are too stiff to bend to Him.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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