John Gill Commentary Isaiah 48:4

"Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;" — Isaiah 48:4 (ASV)

Because I knew that you are obstinate
Or "hard" ^F1 , hard hearted, an obdurate and rebellious people, contradicting and gainsaying: and your neck is as an iron sinew ;
stiffnecked, inflexible, not compliant with the will of God, and his commands; unwilling to admit his yoke, and bear it: and your brow brass ;
impudent, not ashamed of sin, nor blushing at it, refusing to receive correction for it, having a whore's forehead. This the Lord knew and foreknew, and therefore declared before hand what would come to pass unto them; who otherwise would have had the assurance to have ascribed them to themselves, or their idols, and not to him.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F1: (hta hvq yk) "quod durus tu es", Pagninus, Montanus; "te durum esse", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vitringa.