“Against whom do ye sport yourselves?”
The full verse · Isaiah 57:4 · KJV
Against whom do ye yourselves? against whom make ye a , and draw the ? are ye not of , a of ,
Asked by
Asked to
The idolatrous Israelites who mock the righteous and engage in pagan worship practices, with broader application to all who scorn God’s servants.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionGod employs these rhetorical questions to force the mockers to confront the object of their scorn, ultimately God Himself through His prophets. By asking rather than declaring, He presses them to recognize the severity of their offense and their spiritual identity as rebels.
The Response
What Scripture recordsNo verbal response is recorded. The text continues with God’s indictment, calling them ‘children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,’ and detailing their idolatrous practices in the following verses.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyGod’s double question cuts to the heart of the mockers’ delusion. They think they ridicule mere men, the prophets and faithful remnant, but their scorn actually targets the Almighty Himself. The Hebrew construction intensifies the challenge: ‘Against whom… against whom,’ forcing reflection on the true object of their contempt. The physical gestures of opening the mouth wide and protruding the tongue represent ancient expressions of extreme derision, not playful teasing but hostile rejection. By framing this as questions rather than accusations, God invites self-examination even in the midst of judgment. He identifies them by their spiritual parentage: children of transgression (פֶּשַׁע, pesha, rebellion) and offspring of falsehood (שֶׁקֶר, sheqer, deception). The questions expose not just behavior but identity; they are what they mock from.
When you feel mocked for following Christ, remember you stand with the righteous remnant across all ages. God sees every contemptuous gesture, every dismissive word aimed at His people. The same power that vindicated the persecuted prophets and raised Jesus from mockery to glory sustains you today. Respond to derision not with retaliation but with patient faithfulness, knowing God defends His own. As Peter writes, ‘If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you’ (1 Peter 4:14). Your mockery may be temporary, but your vindication is eternal.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
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