Isaiah 1:23

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

21Oh! Jerusalem! Once you loved the Lord, as a wife loves her husband. But now you have become like a prostitute! At one time, the city was full of justice, and honest people lived there. But now the city is full of murderers! 22Your pure silver has become dirt. You have mixed water with your best wine. Your rulers have turned against God. They are friends of robbers. They all accept bribes and they love to receive gifts. But they do not help widows or children who have no family. They do not make sure that they receive justice. 24So the Lord says this. He is the Lord Almighty, Israel's Mighty One. He says, ‘Oh! I will punish my enemies as they deserve. I will pay them back! 25I will turn against you, Jerusalem. I will make you pure again. But you will be like metal that burns in a very hot fire to remove all the dirt.

Isaiah 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 3:14He comes to judge the leaders and rulers of his people. He says to them, ‘You have destroyed my vineyard. You have robbed the poor people and you have stored their things in your own houses.
• 2 Chronicles 24:17After Jehoiada died, the important officers of Judah came to the king. They bent down low in front of him to give him honour. The king listened to their advice.
• 2 Chronicles 36:14All the leaders of the priests and the people also turned away from the Lord more and more. They did the same disgusting sins that the people in other nations did. They made the Lord's temple an unclean place. That was the place that the Lord himself had chosen as his special home in Jerusalem.
• Jeremiah 5:5So I will go to speak to the leaders. They will surely understand what the Lord wants. They will know his commands.’ But all of them have turned against the Lord too. They refuse to obey his authority.
• Ezekiel 22:6Each ruler of Israel that lives in you, Jerusalem, has been a murderer. Each one has used his power to kill people.
• Daniel 9:5We have done bad things that are wicked and evil. We have turned against you. We have not obeyed your laws and your teaching.
• Hosea 7:3The king is happy to see the evil things that his people do. The leaders are also happy when the people cheat and tell lies.
• Hosea 9:15The Lord says, ‘They started to do evil things at Gilgal. It was there that I began to hate them. Because they do evil things, I will chase them out of my land. I will not love them any more. Their leaders have all turned against me.
• Micah 3:1Then I spoke to the leaders: Listen to me, I said. You are the leaders of Jacob's people, you are the rulers of Israel. You ought to know what is right or wrong.
• Acts 4:5The next day, the Jewish rulers and other important Jews met together in Jerusalem. The teachers of God's Law met together with them.
• Proverbs 29:24If you help a robber, you are bringing punishment on yourself. If you tell the truth in court, or if you keep quiet, you will receive your punishment.
• Matthew 21:13Jesus spoke to them all. He said, ‘The Bible says, “God's house will be a place where people come together to pray.” But you have changed it into a place where robbers meet.’
• Mark 11:27Jesus and his disciples arrived again in Jerusalem. Jesus was walking about in the yard at the temple. The leaders of the priests, the teachers of God's Law and the important Jews came to him.
• Luke 19:46He said to them, ‘The Bible says, “God's house will be a place where people come to pray.” But you have changed it into a place where robbers meet.’
• Isaiah 33:15But some people can still live! Those who are honest in what they do and fair in what they say. Those who refuse to cheat other people so that they can become rich. Those who refuse to accept bribes. Those who will not listen to murderers, and who will not think about evil things.
• Exodus 23:8Do not accept a bribe. A bribe will hide the truth even from honest people. It can make good people tell lies.

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

• Bribery
• Church
• Company
• Court
• Covetousness
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Orphan
• Rulers
• Sin
• Widow

In the dictionaries

• Convert
• Crib
• Eat
• Fade
• Harlot
• Isaiah, The Book of
• Judgment
• Oblation
• Owner
• Purely

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