Isaiah 48:3-4

48:3 “I announced events beforehand, ¹ 

I issued the decrees and made the predictions; ² 

suddenly I acted and they came to pass.

48:4 I did this ³  because I know how stubborn you are.

Your neck muscles are like iron

and your forehead like bronze. ⁴ 

[48:3]  ¹ tn Heb “the former things beforehand I declared.”

[48:3]  ² tn Heb “and from my mouth they came forth and I caused them to be heard.”

[48:4]  ³ tn The words “I did this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text v. 4 is subordinated to v. 3.

[48:4]  ⁴ sn The image is that of a person who has tensed the muscles of the face and neck as a sign of resolute refusal.