Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 1:23
23Your princes are rebellious and friends with thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does a widow’s case come to 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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- 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.
Context of Isaiah 1:23
21How the Faithful City became a harlot! She once was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her— but now murderers! 22Your silver has become dross, your wine diluted by water. Your princes are rebellious and friends with thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does a widow’s case come to them. 24Therefore says the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot, the Mighty One of Israel: “Oy ! I will get relief from My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies. 25Then I will turn My hand on you, purge away your dross, and remove all your alloy.
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 3:14Adonai will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and with the princes: “You have devoured the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17Now after the death of Jehoiada, the chiefs of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.
- 2 Chronicles 36:14Furthermore, all the leading kohanim and the people became very unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. They defiled the House of Adonai, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 5:5I will go to the distinguished and speak to them. Surely they know the way of Adonai, the ordinance of their God. But they too had broken the yoke and torn off the bonds.
- Ezekiel 22:6“Behold, each prince of Israel has used his own arm’s strength in you to shed blood.
- Daniel 9:5we have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have acted wickedly; we have rebelled; we have turned away from Your mitzvot and from Your rulings.
- Hosea 7:3They gladden the king with their evil and the princes with their lies.
- Hosea 9:15“All their wickedness is at Gilgal, for there I despised them. Because of their wicked practices, I will drive them out of My House. I will love them no more. All their princes are rebellious.
- Micah 3:1Then I said: “Hear, leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?
- Acts 4:5On the next day, the rulers and elders and Torah scholars were gathered together in Jerusalem.
- Proverbs 29:24An accomplice of a thief is his own enemy. He hears the oath but says nothing.
- Matthew 21:13And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of thieves’!”
- Mark 11:27Again they come to Jerusalem. While Yeshua was walking in the Temple, the ruling kohanim, Torah scholars, and elders come up to Him.
- Luke 19:46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
- Isaiah 33:15One who walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, who refuses unjust gain by extortion, who shakes his hands free of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking on evil.
- Exodus 23:8Take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight, and perverts the words of the righteous.
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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