Isaiah 66:4

I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Cross-reference

Isaiah 50:2 Parallel

Isaiah 50:2 echoes the complaint 'when I called, no one answered' — the same indictment of Israel's refusal to listen.

Isaiah 65:12 uses nearly identical language: 'when I called, you did not answer' — a parallel passage within the same context of judgment.

Isaiah 65:3 Historical context

Isaiah 65:3 describes the same people provoking God continually, illustrating the 'doing evil in my sight' mentioned here.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 explicitly states God sends a strong delusion on those who refuse truth — a direct NT parallel to the judgment here.

Psalm 81:12 Parallel

Psalm 81:12 describes God giving them over to their stubborn hearts — the same divine judgment of abandoning the rebellious to their own desires.

Proverbs 1:31 says they will eat the fruit of their way — this reinforces the principle that rejecting God leads to reaping consequences.

Proverbs 1:32 states the simple are killed by their turning away — similar judgment on those who reject wisdom and choose evil.

Proverbs 10:24 says the wicked's dread comes upon them — this directly matches 'bring their fears upon them' in Isaiah 66:4.

Jeremiah 7:13 uses the same complaint—God called, they did not answer—making the rejection pattern explicit in another prophet.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:11, God sends strong delusion so they believe a lie — almost identical to the delusion God chooses in Isaiah 66:4.

Acts 28:26 Parallel

In Acts 28:26, the hardened people hear but do not understand — matching the refusal to answer in Isaiah 66:4 and the resulting judgment.

Acts 7:42 Parallel

In Acts 7:42, God gave them up to worship the host of heaven — a direct parallel to God choosing their delusions because they would not listen.

In Ezekiel 20:25, God gave Israel harmful statutes as a penalty for rebellion — a parallel to choosing their delusions as a form of judgment.

In Ezekiel 14:9, God declares He Himself deceives a prophet who speaks falsely — echoing the theme of God actively sending delusion as judgment.

In Ezekiel 14:4, God similarly responds to idolaters by answering them according to their own idols — a parallel to giving them over to delusions.

Jeremiah 35:17 repeats the same phrasing—'I called and they did not answer'—directly linking the disaster to their refusal to listen.

In 1 Kings 22:19-23, God sends a lying spirit as judgment — this same pattern of divine deception for those who reject truth is echoed here.

In Matthew 22:2-7, the parable of the wedding feast mirrors the call-and-refusal theme, ending with judgment on those who ignored the king's invitation.

2 Kings 21:6 Historical context

2 Kings 21:6 adds specific abominations (child sacrifice, sorcery) that Manasseh did, showing the depth of the 'evil in my sight' here.

2 Kings 21:2 Historical context

2 Kings 21:2 records Manasseh doing evil in the Lord's sight—a concrete example of the evil Isaiah 66:4 condemns generically.