Amplified Bible
Isaiah 1:23
23Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes And chases after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the widow’s cause come before them [instead they delay or turn a deaf ear].
Isaiah 1:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- New International Version (NIV)Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
Context of Isaiah 1:23
21How the faithful city has become a prostitute [idolatrous, despicable], She who was full of justice! Right standing with God once lodged in her, But now murderers. 22Your silver has turned to lead, Your wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes And chases after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the widow’s cause come before them [instead they delay or turn a deaf ear]. 24Therefore the Lord God of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be freed of My adversaries And avenge Myself on My enemies. 25And I will turn My hand against you, And will [thoroughly] purge away your dross as with lye And remove all your tin (impurity).
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 1:23 word by word
שָׂרַ֣יִךְ סוֹרְרִ֗ים וְחַבְרֵי֙ גַּנָּבִ֔ים כֻּלּוֹ֙ אֹהֵ֣ב שֹׁ֔חַד וְרֹדֵ֖ף שַׁלְמֹנִ֑ים יָתוֹם֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁפֹּ֔טוּ וְרִ֥יב אַלְמָנָ֖ה לֹֽא־יָב֥וֹא אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thy princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- rebelliousסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
- and companionsחָבֵרchâbêr · companionH2270
- of thievesגַּנָּבgannâb · thiefH1590
- every one lovethאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
- giftsשֹׁ֫חַדshachad · bribeH7810
- and followethרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
- after rewardsשַׁלְמֹןshalmôn · rewardH8021
- they judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- not the fatherlessיָתוֹםyâthôm · orphanH3490
- neither doth the causeרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
- of the widowאַלְמָנָה'almânâh · widowH490
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
Cross-references for Isaiah 1:23
- Isaiah 3:14The Lord enters into judgment with the elders of His people and their princes, “For it is you who have devoured the vineyard [with your oppression, you have robbed the people and ruined the country]; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17Now after the death of Jehoiada [the priest, who had hidden Joash], the officials of Judah came and bowed down to King Joash; then the king listened to them.
- 2 Chronicles 36:14Also, all the officials of the priests and the people were very unfaithful, following all the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations; and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had sanctified in Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 5:5I will go to the great [men] And speak to them, For they [must] know the way of the Lord, The ordinance of their God.” But [I found the reverse to be true, that] they too had all alike broken the yoke [of God’s law] And had burst the bonds [of obedience to Him].
- Ezekiel 22:6“Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his power, have been intending to shed blood in you.
- Daniel 9:5we have sinned and committed wrong, and have behaved wickedly and have rebelled, turning away from Your commandments and ordinances.
- Hosea 7:3They make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies.
- Hosea 9:15All their wickedness [says the Lord] is focused in Gilgal; Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their [idolatrous] practices I will drive them out of My house (the land of Israel)! I will love them no longer; All their princes are rebels.
- Micah 3:1And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know and administer justice?
- Acts 4:5On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem;
- Proverbs 29:24Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the curse [when swearing an oath to testify], but discloses nothing [and commits perjury by omission].
- Matthew 21:13Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”
- Mark 11:27They came again to Jerusalem. And as Jesus was walking in the [courts and porches of the] temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him,
- Luke 19:46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a robbers’ den.”
- Isaiah 33:15He who walks righteously and speaks with integrity, Who rejects gain from fraud and from oppression, Who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil;
- Exodus 23:8“You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the testimony and the cause of the righteous.
Commentaries on Isaiah 1:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Companions of thieves "Associates" - The Septuagint, Vulgate, and four MSS., read חברי chabrey without the conjunction ו vau .Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Thy princes - This is an explanation of the previous verse. Princes mean here those attached to the royal family; those who by rank, or office, had an influence over the people. Rebellious - Against God. The corruption of a nation commonly begins with the rulers. Companions of thieves - That is, they connive at the doings of robbers; they do not bring them to justice; they are their accomplices, and are easily bribed to acquit them. Every one loveth…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-31Verses 21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. companions of thieves--by connivance (Pr 29:24). gifts--(Eze 22:12). A nation's corruption begins with its rulers.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 1:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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