Isaiah 48:11For my own sake, for my own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be profaned? and my glory I will not give to another.
The setting
Babylon, ~540 BC. Surrounding nations mock the Jewish God, saying He abandoned His people...
The emotion here: fiercely protective of his character and covenant promises
The original word
shem (שֵׁם) — name, reputation, character, everything that defines who someone is
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern gods were judged by their people's success — defeated people meant defeated gods
Read with care
What most readers miss in Isaiah 48:11
The phrase 'for my own sake' is repeated twice — God is emphasizing His motivation
Common misconceptionPeople think God is being selfish here. Actually, God's glory and our good are the same thing — when God acts for His reputation, it means He MUST keep His promises to us.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Isaiah 48:11
Bible Genome reading
Isaiah 48:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Isaiah 48:11 comes from the book of Isaiah, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include God's glory, divine sovereignty. Notable phrases: for my own sake; my glory I will not give to another. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Isaiah 48:11 mean to you, today?
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