Because I knew that thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
Ver. 4. Because I knew that thou art obstinate.] Heb., Hard, obdurate; therefore do I so inculcate these things, if by any means I may mollify thee. Hypocrites are harder to be wrought upon than other sinners.
And thy neck is an iron sinew.] Thou art utterly averse from, yea, adverse to any good; no more bended thereunto than if the body had for every sinew a plate of iron.
And thy brow brass.] Sinews of iron argue a natural impotence, and somewhat more; but brows of brass impudence in evil; quando pudet non esse impudentes, when men are shameless in sin, setting it "upon the cliff of the rock," Eze 24:7 and "declaring it as Sodom." Isa 3:9