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.

ISAIAH 1:23KJV
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Isaiah 1:23 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 1:23 mean?

Isaiah 1:23 describes how the leaders of Jerusalem have become corrupt, associating with thieves, loving bribes, and seeking personal gain instead of justice. The verse points out that these leaders ignore the needs of orphans and widows, failing to protect the most vulnerable in society.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, specifically addressing their rulers and officials. Isaiah accuses them of being rebellious and dishonest, highlighting their greed and their neglect of justice for those who have no one else to defend them. The verse is part of a larger rebuke where Isaiah calls out the moral decay and injustice present in the nation.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 1:23

  • "Princes" (שָׂרַיךְ, sarayikh) refers to the rulers or officials, emphasizing that those in authority are the focus of this criticism.
  • "Rebellious" (סוֹרְרִים, sorerim) means stubborn or turning away, showing that the leaders are willfully rejecting what is right.
  • "Loveth gifts" (אֹהֵב, ohev + שֹׁחַד, shochad) means they have an affection for bribes, not just accepting them but actively desiring them.
  • "Judge" (שָׁפַט, shafat) is about making decisions or giving justice; the verse says the leaders do not judge the fatherless, meaning they fail to defend those without support.

Why Isaiah 1:23 matters

  • Isaiah 1:23 clarifies that the problem is not just personal sin but systemic corruption among those in power, making the injustice widespread.
  • The verse highlights how true justice is measured by how society treats its most vulnerable members, such as orphans and widows.
  • This verse connects to the broader message of Isaiah 1, where God calls out empty religious rituals and demands genuine righteousness and care for others.

Where else these words appear

“companions” Hebrew H2270 · used in 11 verses

  • Judges 20:11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
  • Proverbs 28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
  • Song of Solomon 8:13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.

“rebellious” Hebrew H5637 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
  • Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
  • Jeremiah 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

“thieves” Hebrew H1590 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 22:2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
  • Job 30:5 They were driven forth from among men,(they cried after them as after a thief;)
  • Jeremiah 48:27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.

“gifts” Hebrew H7810 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 23:8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
  • 2 Kings 16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
  • Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.