Isaiah 3:15

Isaiah 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.
• English Standard Version (ESV)What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord God of hosts.
• New King James Version (NKJV)What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord God of hosts.
• New Living Translation (NLT)How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Context of Isaiah 3:15

13The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. 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. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. 16The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. 17Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.”

Isaiah 3:15 word by word

מַה־לָּכֶם֙ תְּדַכְּא֣וּ עַמִּ֔י וּפְנֵ֥י עֲנִיִּ֖ים תִּטְחָ֑נוּ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ye beatדָּכָאdâkâ' · to crushH1792
• my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• and grindטָחַןţâchan · to grindH2912
• the facesפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• of the poorעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
• saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635

Cross-references for Isaiah 3:15

• Ezekiel 18:2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “ ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
• Jonah 1:6The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”
• Isaiah 58:4Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
• Exodus 5:14And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”
• Amos 2:6This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
• Amos 8:4Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
• Micah 3:2you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;

Commentaries on Isaiah 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And grind the faces - The expression and the image is strong, to denote grievous oppression but is exceeded by the prophet Micah, Micah 3:1-3; : - "Hear, I pray you, ye chiefs of Jacob, And ye princes of the house of Israel: Is it not yours to know what is right? Ye that hate good and love evil: Who tear their skins from off them, And their flesh from off their bones; Who devour the flesh of my people; And flay from off them their skin; And their bones…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15What mean ye - What is your object? Or, What advantage is it to you? Or, By what right or pretence do you do this? Beat my people to pieces - That is, that you trample on them; or cruelly oppress them; Psalm 94:5. And grind the faces of the poor - This is an expression also denoting great oppression. It is taken from the act of grinding a substance on a stone until it is worn away and nothing is left. So, by their cruel exactions, by their injustice to…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. 15The Lord cares for the poor. These were the marginalized and oppressed (people pushed aside and treated unfairly; see Isaiah 1:17). But God is their protector (see 25:4). God asked his people to share his concern for the poor. But instead of helping the poor, many Israelites exploited them to gain wealth (see Isaiah 3:14). They used their power to take advantage of those who could not defend themselves.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. What right have ye to beat, &c. (Psa 94:5; Mi 3:2, 3). grind--by exactions, so as to leave them nothing. faces--persons; with the additional idea of it being openly and palpably done. "Presence," equivalent to "face" (Hebrew).Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 3:15

• Poor
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• God
• Agriculture
• Ancient
• Base
• Bravery
• Cunning
• Fruit
• Girding
• Grind
• Ornament

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