What Does Isaiah 30:9 Mean in the King James?
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Because “will not” comes from the root for willingness, the verse exposes rebellion as a chosen refusal to receive the LORD’s instruction.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks now where deception and refusal meet: the instruction is present, yet the will declines to receive and answer it. It names this resistance as rebellion, not an innocent gap in understanding.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that every failure to hear is innocent confusion: some refusals are chosen.
THE ROOT
אָבוּ
ʾāvû
GROWS FROM
אבה
ʾ-b-h
To be willing, consent, or desire; in this negated phrase, to be unwilling.
“will not hear” in this verse is ʾāvû. The phrase describes children who are unwilling to hear, so the barrier is a withheld yes, not a failed ear. The verse locates rebellion in the choice to refuse the instruction that reaches them.
ALSO GROWS
ʾāvâ: To be willing; to consent.
אָבָה
This base form names the willingness that is withheld in the verse.
tōʾbeh: Is or will be willing.
תֹאבֶה
This form keeps the focus on consent: the issue is willingness, not capacity.
כְּחָשִׁים
kĕḥāšîm
GROWS FROM
כחש
k-ḥ-sh
To deny, disown, deceive, or feign.
“lying” in this verse is kĕḥāšîm. This root can name denial as well as deceit. Beside the refusal to hear, the lie becomes more than a false sentence: it can be a posture that conceals refusal while appearing compliant.
ALSO GROWS
kāḥaš: To deny or disown.
כָּחַשׁ
The root reaches beyond spoken falsehood to rejecting what is true.
yəḵaḥăšû: They feign submission or deny.
יְכַחֲשׁוּ
This form is rendered “shall submit themselves” in Psalm 66:3, revealing how the root can describe outward deference that conceals denial.
תּוֹרַת
tōrat
GROWS FROM
ירה
y-r-h
To point out, direct, or instruct.
“law” in this verse is tōrat. This root carries the sense of pointing out a direction. The LORD’s instruction is living guidance, and the refusal closes the way to that direction.
ALSO GROWS
yārāh: To direct or instruct.
יָרָה
The verb shows instruction as the act of giving direction.
mōreh: A teacher or instructor.
מוֹרֶה
The same root names one who directs and teaches, linking instruction to a living source of guidance.
THE PATTERN
When instruction is rejected, scripture portrays blocked hearing as chosen closure rather than the absence of a message.
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.THE THREAD
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.The phrase “submit themselves” renders יְכַחֲשׁוּ (yəḵaḥăšû, feign or deny), from כחש (kāḥaš, deny or deceive), the same root behind Isaiah’s “lying” children. The shared root reveals how apparent submission can conceal an inward refusal.
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