Isaiah 48:2 kjv — For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

King James Version

"For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name."

— Isaiah 48:2, King James Version

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Isaiah 48:2 in Other Translations

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Isaiah 48 — Context

1

Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

2

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

3

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

4

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

5

I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

Isaiah 48:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Isaiah 48:2 say?
Isaiah 48:2 in the King James Version reads: “For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.”
Where is Isaiah 48:2 in the Bible?
Isaiah 48:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 48, verse 2.
Who wrote Isaiah?
Isaiah is traditionally attributed to Isaiah son of Amoz. Many critical scholars propose multiple authors ("Deutero-" and "Trito-Isaiah") for chapters 40–66; conservative scholarship holds to single Isaianic authorship. It was written c. 740–680 BC.
What is the book of Isaiah about?
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament — a sweeping vision of God's holiness, Judah's sin, coming judgment, and a promised Servant who would bear the iniquity of many. From "Holy, holy, holy" to "by his stripes we are healed," Isaiah speaks the gospel before the gospel.
What are the major themes of Isaiah?
Isaiah explores themes including Holiness, Judgment, Servant of the LORD, Hope, Salvation, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Isaiah 48:2.
What translation should I read Isaiah 48:2 in?
Isaiah 48:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Isaiah 48:2?
Isaiah 48:2 reads (KJV): “For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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