What Does Isaiah 48:9 Mean in the King James?
For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
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
The speaker’s name (שֵׁם, shem: name as nature) becomes visible in the restraint that lengthens anger until the cut is withheld.
THE MEANING
This verse meets you at the edge of being cut off: anger is not denied, but is lengthened, slow to flare. The speaker’s name is the speaker’s nature, and that nature appears as restraint that preserves you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that anger must end in severance is undone here: restraint holds back the cut.
THE ROOT
אאריך אפי
ʾaʾarikh ʾappi
GROWS FROM
ארך
ʾ-r-k
To be long; to lengthen or extend.
“defer mine anger” in this verse is ʾaʾarikh ʾappi. English “defer” can sound like an abstract postponement; the Hebrew says “I lengthen,” echoing the phrase “slow to flare.” Anger is not absent, but its flare is held back so the addressed one is not cut off.
ALSO GROWS
ʾorekh: Length
אֹרֶךְ
The same root makes the restraint an extension of time before anger flares.
ʾerekh appayim: Slow to flare; literally, “long of nostrils”
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם
This established expression gives the verse’s lengthened anger a bodily image: the heat does not flare quickly.
הַכְרִיתֶךָ
hakhritekha
GROWS FROM
כרת
k-r-t
To cut or sever.
“cut thee not off” in this verse is hakhritekha. The root behind “cut off” also appears in the phrase “cut a covenant.” Here that cutting is withheld, so the verse presents restraint as a refusal to sever the one addressed.
ALSO GROWS
karat: Cut; cut off
כָּרַת
This is the action the verse says will not be done to you.
karat berit: Cut a covenant
כָּרַת בְּרִית
The same cutting verb can mark a binding relation; here the cut is held back instead of made.
תְּהִלָּתִי
tehillati
GROWS FROM
הלל
h-l-l
To praise or boast.
“my praise” in this verse is tehillati. The verse connects the speaker’s praise with the act of restraint. What is praised about the name is shown in what that nature does with anger: it holds back the severing cut.
ALSO GROWS
halal: Praise; boast
הָלַל
This verb is the root of the praise named as a reason for restraint.
hallelu-Yah: Praise Yah; Hallelujah
הַלְלוּ־יָהּ
The same root in a familiar praise-word links voiced praise to the character whose restraint this verse describes.
THE PATTERN
Anger is lengthened into restraint so that the one within its reach is preserved from being cut off.
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.THE THREAD
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,The phrase translated “longsuffering” uses the same ארך (ʾ-r-k, lengthen) root as Isaiah’s “defer.” Exodus names this lengthened anger as part of the LORD’s nature; Isaiah shows that nature holding back the cut from you.
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