Commentaire sur Isaïe 48:4

Because of My knowledge that you are obstinate. Heb. מִדַּעְתִּי. Because I knew you, that you are obstinate, and if the miracle would come and I had not told of it before, you would say, “My idol performed them, and they were not from the Holy One, blessed be He.” Therefore, I told you from then; when it had not yet come to pass etc. מִדַּעְתִּי [although usually translated ‘from My knowledge,’ in this case,] ; the ‘mem’ denotes the giving of a reason, like ‘Because I knew.’ A similar form [is found in Deut. 7:8:], “For, because of the Lord’s love (מֵאַהֲבַת) for you, and because of His observing (וּמִשָּׁמְרוֹ) the oath.”

מדעתי I know.²A. V,, Because I knew. The literal translation according to I. E. is: It is by my knowledge. As I knew the former things, so I know also that thou art hardened in thy heart. The second person refers to those Israelites who do not believe in God. And thy neck is of iron. Thou dost not depart from thy way, as if thy neck were of iron. And thy brow brass. And thou dost not blush, as if thy forehead were brass.