New International Version
Isaiah 1:23
23Your 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows.
Context of Isaiah 1:23
21See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! 22Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. 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. 24Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. 25I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.
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 against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.
- 2 Chronicles 36:14Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 5:5So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.
- Ezekiel 22:6“ ‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.
- Daniel 9:5we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
- Hosea 7:3“They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
- Hosea 9:15“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
- Micah 3:1Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice,
- Acts 4:5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
- Proverbs 29:24The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
- Matthew 21:13“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- Mark 11:27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
- Luke 19:46“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- Isaiah 33:15Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—
- Exodus 23:8“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
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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