Isaiah 3:12

Isaiah 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
• New International Version (NIV)Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
• English Standard Version (ESV)My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”

Context of Isaiah 3:12

10Say to the righteous, he will be well, eating the fruit of their deeds. 11Oy , the wicked! It will be bad for him, for the dealing of his hands will be done to him. My people! Children are their oppressors and women rule over them. My people! Your guides mislead you and destroy the way of your paths. 13Adonai arises to contend a case, and stands to judge the people. 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.

Isaiah 3:12 word by word

עַמִּי֙ נֹגְשָׂ֣יו מְעוֹלֵ֔ל וְנָשִׁ֖ים מָ֣שְׁלוּ ב֑וֹ עַמִּי֙ מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ מַתְעִ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ בִּלֵּֽעוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• childrenעָלַל‛âlal · act the childH5953
• their oppressorsנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• and womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• ruleמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• they which leadאָשַׁר'âshar 'âshêr · to blessH833
• to errתָּעָהtâ‛âh · to go astrayH8582
• and destroyבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
• the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of thy pathsאֹ֫רַח'ôrach · wayH734

Cross-references for Isaiah 3:12

• Isaiah 3:4I will set children as their rulers. Capricious ones will govern them.
• 2 Kings 11:1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
• Nahum 3:13See, your people within you are women. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies— fire has devoured your gate-bars.
• Isaiah 9:15The leaders of this people lead them astray. Those they mislead are swallowed up.
• Numbers 6:23“Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying: Thus you are to bless Bnei-Yisrael, by saying to them:
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, the kohanim rule by their own authority, and My people love it this way! But what will you do in the end?”
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Commentaries on Isaiah 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Err "Pervert" - בלעו billeu, "swallow." Among many unsatisfactory methods of accounting for the unusual meaning of this word in this place, I choose Jarchi's explication, as making the best sense. "Read בללו billalu, 'confound.' Syriac." - Dr. Judd. "Read בהלו beholu, 'disturb or trouble.'" - Secker. So Septuagint. This verse might be read, "The collectors of grapes shall be their oppressors; and usurers (noshim, instead of nashim, women) shall rule over…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12As for my people, children are their oppressors - This refers, doubtless, to their civil rulers. They who “ought” to have been their “protectors,” oppressed them by grievous taxes and burdens. But whether this means that the rulers of the people were “literally” minors, or that they were so in “disposition and character,” has been a question. The original word is in the singular number (מעולל me‛ôlēl ), and means a “child,” or an infant. It may…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. 1-12These verses continue discussing judgment against Israel's leaders (see Isaiah 1:23–25). Removing leaders at all levels would let the mob take over. Chaos and famine would turn Judah and Jerusalem into a social wasteland.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. (See Is 3:4). oppressors--literally, "exactors," that is, exacting princes (Is 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as "children," as effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court. lead--Hebrew, "call thee blessed"; namely, the false prophets, who flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political "rulers" are meant…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 3:12

• Minister, Christian
• Rulers
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Ancient
• Base
• Bravery
• Cunning
• Fruit
• Girding
• Grind
• Ornament
• Stay
• Stomacher

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