Isaiah 57:3 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 57:3 mean?

Isaiah 57:3 is a call from God, through the prophet Isaiah, to certain people described as "sons of the sorceress," "seed of the adulterer," and "whore," accusing them of spiritual unfaithfulness and wrongdoing. The verse is not about literal family background but uses strong language to confront people who have turned away from God and followed other practices.

In this verse, Isaiah is speaking on God's behalf to Israelites who have abandoned their covenant relationship with God and embraced idolatry and immoral practices. The terms used are meant to highlight how serious their betrayal is, comparing their actions to unfaithfulness in a family. This sets the stage for the following verses, where Isaiah will further describe their actions and the consequences.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 57:3

• "near" (קָרַב, qārav): This word means to come close or approach. Here, it is a summons, almost like calling someone to court to face charges.
• "sons" (בֵּן, ben): This word means children or descendants. In this context, it points to people who are characterized by the actions or qualities of those named (sorceress, adulterer, whore), not literal offspring.
• "sorceress" (עָנָן, ʿānan): This word refers to someone who practices occult or forbidden spiritual arts. Calling them "sons of the sorceress" accuses them of following forbidden spiritual paths.
• "seed" (זֶרַע, zeraʿ): This means offspring or descendants. It emphasizes that the people addressed are carrying on the legacy or behavior of unfaithfulness.
• "adulterer" (נָאַף, naʾaf): This word means someone who is unfaithful in marriage. Spiritually, it refers to being unfaithful to God by worshiping other gods.
• "whore" (זָנָה, zanah): This word means someone who is sexually unfaithful, but in prophetic language, it often points to spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry.

Why Isaiah 57:3 matters

• Isaiah 57:3 uses family and relationship language to make the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness clear, showing that turning from God is as serious as betraying one’s own family.
• The verse helps the reader understand that the accusations are not about literal ancestry but about the people’s choices and actions, which have broken their relationship with God.
• This verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Isaiah will explain the consequences of these actions and contrast them with the hope offered to those who remain faithful.