New Living Translation
Isaiah 10:1
1What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws.
Isaiah 10:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
- New International Version (NIV)Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed
Context of Isaiah 10:1
What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. 2They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans. 3What will you do when I punish you, when I send disaster upon you from a distant land? To whom will you turn for help? Where will your treasures be safe?
Read all of Isaiah 10Isaiah 10:1 word by word
ה֥וֹי הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים עָמָ֖ל כִּתֵּֽבוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 10:1
- Isaiah 3:11But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.
- Isaiah 5:8What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field, until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.
- Jeremiah 22:13And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.
- Habakkuk 2:6“But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’
- Matthew 11:21“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.
- Matthew 23:13“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
- Matthew 26:24For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
- Luke 11:42“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
- Jude 1:11What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.
- 1 Kings 21:13Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, “He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.
- Esther 3:10The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
- Psalms 58:2No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land.
- Psalms 94:20Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice?
- Daniel 6:8And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
- Micah 3:1I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,
- Micah 6:16You keep only the laws of evil King Omri; you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab! Therefore, I will make an example of you, bringing you to complete ruin. You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.”
Commentaries on Isaiah 10:1
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees - To those who frame statutes that are oppressive and iniquitous. The prophet here refers, doubtless, to the rulers and judges of the land of Judea. A similar description he had before given; Isaiah 1:10, Isaiah 1:23, And that write - Hebrew, And to the writers who write violence.‘ The word translated “grievousness,” עמל ‛âmâl denotes properly “wearisome labor, trouble, oppression, injustice.” Here, it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Woes against proud oppressors. (Is. 10:1-4) The Assyrian but an instrument in the hand of God for the punishment of his people. (Is. 10:5-19) The deliverance from him. (Is. 10:20-34) Verses 1-4 These verses are to be joined with the foregoing chapter. Woe to the superior powers that devise and decree unrighteous decrees! And woe to the inferior officers that draw them up, and enter them on record! But what will sinners do? Whither will they flee?Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Woe: This introduces a threat of divine judgment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41. them that decree--namely, unrighteous judges. write grievousness, &c.--not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them (Is 65:6) [Maurer], (Is 1:10, 23).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 10:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 10
- 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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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