English Standard Version
Isaiah 32:1
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
Isaiah 32:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him.
Context of Isaiah 32:1
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. 2Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. 3Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
Read all of Isaiah 32Isaiah 32:1 word by word
הֵ֥ן לְצֶ֖דֶק יִמְלָךְ־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּלְשָׂרִ֖ים לְמִשְׁפָּ֥ט יָשֹֽׂרוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 32:1
- Isaiah 9:6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 40:1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
- 2 Chronicles 31:20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.
- Psalms 45:1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
- Psalms 72:1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
- Psalms 99:4The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
- Jeremiah 23:5"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Jeremiah 33:15In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Hosea 3:5Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.
- Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Romans 5:21so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Hebrews 1:8But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
- Revelation 19:11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
- Isaiah 28:6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
- Revelation 17:14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."
Commentaries on Isaiah 32:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness - If King Hezekiah were a type of Christ, then this prophecy may refer to his time; but otherwise it seems to have Hezekiah primarily in view. It is evident, however, that in the fullest sense these words cannot be applied to any man; God alone can do all that is promised here. And princes - ושרים ve -sarim, without ל lamed, to; so the ancient Versions. An ancient MS. has ושריו vesaraiv, and his princes.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Behold, a king - That is, Hezekiah. That it refers to him is apparent from the connection. The reign of Ahaz had been one of oppression and idolatry. This was to be succeeded by the reign of one under whom the rights of the people would be secured, and under whom there would be a state of general prosperity. This may have been uttered while Ahaz was on the throne, or it may have been when Hezekiah began to reign. Perhaps the latter is the more probable…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Times of peace and happiness. (Is. 32:1-8) An interval of trouble, yet comfort and blessings in the end. (Is. 32:9-20) Verses 1-8 Christ our righteous King, and his true disciples, are evidently here intended. The consolations and graces of his Spirit are as rivers of water in this dry land; and as the overhanging rock affords refreshing shade and shelter to the weary traveller in the desert, so his power, truth, and love, yield the believer the only real…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1a king will reign in righteousness: This means the Messiah, God's chosen one (Isaiah 11:1). The focus is now on righteous and wise leadership (Proverbs 8:20). In Isaiah’s time, honest leaders were rare (see Isaiah 3:1–6; 28:7–19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-20The times of purity and happiness which shall follow the defeat of the enemies of Jehovah's people (Is 32:1-8). The period of wrath before that happy state (Is 32:9-14). The assurance of the final prosperity of the Church is repeated (Is 32:15-20). 1. king--not Hezekiah, who was already on the throne, whereas a future time is contemplated. If he be meant at all, it can only be as a type of Messiah the King, to whom alone the language is fully applicable…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 32:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 32
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries