Isaiah 22:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God calls His people to mourning and repentance, but they refuse to listen and instead pursue empty revelry.
The Context of Isaiah 22:12
God calls Jerusalem to repentance through traditional signs of mourning and humility.
What Does Isaiah 22:12 Mean?
The Lord summons Judah to outward signs of lamentation and contrition: weeping, mourning (formal grief), baldness (shaving the head as a sign of distress), and sackcloth (rough, uncomfortable cloth worn in repentance). These are calls to turn from pride and self-reliance, to acknowledge sin and seek mercy.
By calling to these acts of humility and sorrow, God offers a path—repentance that might yet change the outcome. Yet the people reject this summons, and the next verse reveals their response: celebration and indulgence rather than contrition. God's merciful call goes unheeded.
Isaiah 22:12 in the Original Language
konoah (קוֹנוֹאָה), 'baldness'—shaving or tearing out hair as a sign of extreme grief or distress.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 22:12
What does Isaiah 22:12 mean?
God calls His people to mourning and repentance, but they refuse to listen and instead pursue empty revelry.
What is the context of Isaiah 22:12?
God calls Jerusalem to repentance through traditional signs of mourning and humility.