Isaiah 3:12

Isaiah 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
• New International Version (NIV)Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
• English Standard Version (ESV)My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”

Context of Isaiah 3:12

10Tell the righteous people that they are in a good place. They will enjoy the results of the good things that they have done. 11But it will be very bad for the wicked people. They will receive the punishment that they deserve. Now children are cruel to my people and women rule over them. My people, your leaders lead you in the wrong direction. They cannot show you what is right. 13The Lord stands up to judge his people. He will decide how to punish them. 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.

Isaiah 3:12 word by word

עַמִּי֙ נֹגְשָׂ֣יו מְעוֹלֵ֔ל וְנָשִׁ֖ים מָ֣שְׁלוּ ב֑וֹ עַמִּי֙ מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ מַתְעִ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ בִּלֵּֽעוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• childrenעָלַל‛âlal · act the childH5953
• their oppressorsנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• and womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• ruleמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• they which leadאָשַׁר'âshar 'âshêr · to blessH833
• to errתָּעָהtâ‛âh · to go astrayH8582
• and destroyבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
• the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of thy pathsאֹ֫רַח'ôrach · wayH734

Cross-references for Isaiah 3:12

• Isaiah 3:4The Lord says, ‘I will cause boys to become their leaders who will rule them badly.
• 2 Kings 11:1Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, heard the news that her son was dead. So she started to kill all the royal family.
• Nahum 3:13Look at your soldiers, they are all like women! Your enemies have burned your gates and they have pushed them wide open.
• Isaiah 9:15The head is their leaders and important people. The tail is the prophets who teach lies.
• Numbers 6:23‘Tell Aaron and his sons to use these words when they ask me to bless the Israelites.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets speak messages that are not true. The priests make their own rules for people to obey. And my people love to live like this! But when all this comes to an end, my people will be helpless!’
• Matthew 15:14Do not listen to what the Pharisees say. They are blind, but they try to show people which way to go. A blind person cannot lead another blind person. If he does, then both of them will fall into a deep hole.’
• Matthew 23:14[It will be very bad for you, teachers of God's Law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites! You take things away from women after their husbands have died. You pray for a long time so that other people will praise you. God will punish you much more than other people.]

Commentaries on Isaiah 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Err "Pervert" - בלעו billeu, "swallow." Among many unsatisfactory methods of accounting for the unusual meaning of this word in this place, I choose Jarchi's explication, as making the best sense. "Read בללו billalu, 'confound.' Syriac." - Dr. Judd. "Read בהלו beholu, 'disturb or trouble.'" - Secker. So Septuagint. This verse might be read, "The collectors of grapes shall be their oppressors; and usurers (noshim, instead of nashim, women) shall rule over…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12As for my people, children are their oppressors - This refers, doubtless, to their civil rulers. They who “ought” to have been their “protectors,” oppressed them by grievous taxes and burdens. But whether this means that the rulers of the people were “literally” minors, or that they were so in “disposition and character,” has been a question. The original word is in the singular number (מעולל me‛ôlēl ), and means a “child,” or an infant. It may…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 The rule was certain; however there might be national prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is sinful to disregard the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-12These verses continue discussing judgment against Israel's leaders (see Isaiah 1:23–25). Removing leaders at all levels would let the mob take over. Chaos and famine would turn Judah and Jerusalem into a social wasteland.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. (See Is 3:4). oppressors--literally, "exactors," that is, exacting princes (Is 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as "children," as effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court. lead--Hebrew, "call thee blessed"; namely, the false prophets, who flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political "rulers" are meant…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 3:12

• Minister, Christian
• Rulers
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Ancient
• Base
• Bravery
• Cunning
• Fruit
• Girding
• Grind
• Ornament
• Stay
• Stomacher

Commentaries on Isaiah 3

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings