Isaiah 1:10 kjv

Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:10 nkjv

Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah:

Isaiah 1:10 niv

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Isaiah 1:10 esv

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Isaiah 1:10 nlt

Listen to the LORD, you leaders of "Sodom."
Listen to the law of our God, people of "Gomorrah."

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 10 Meaning

Isaiah 1:10 is a stark prophetic indictment delivered by the prophet Isaiah on behalf of God to the people of Judah, particularly its leaders and inhabitants of Jerusalem. It forcefully equates their moral and spiritual corruption to that of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, cities notorious for their wickedness and utter destruction. The verse is a direct command from the Sovereign God, demanding that both rulers and citizens pay serious attention to His divine message and instructions, given their egregious disobedience and spiritual rebellion.

Isaiah 1 10 Context

Isaiah 1:10 stands at a critical juncture in the opening chapter of the Book of Isaiah, often referred to as "The Great Summons" or "The Great Lawsuit." Prior to this verse, God has laid out a comprehensive indictment against Judah, describing their rebellion and spiritual sickness (Isa 1:2-9). He laments their defection, depicting them as rebellious children and a desolate land. The previous verses also hint at a small remnant, saving Jerusalem from utter destruction (Isa 1:9).

Verse 10 then delivers a powerful rhetorical shock by explicitly comparing Judah's leaders ("rulers of Sodom") and populace ("people of Gomorrah") to these legendary cities of profound depravity and divine wrath. This comparison shatters any illusion of moral superiority or special favor Judah might have felt due to its status as God's chosen nation. It sets a stark, urgent tone, establishing the severity of their transgressions and introducing the primary themes of the book: God's holiness, Israel's sin, impending judgment, and the ultimate promise of redemption. It prepares the way for the profound call to repentance and restoration that follows in Isaiah 1:16-20.

Isaiah 1 10 Word analysis

• Hear (שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u): An imperative verb, "hear!" or "listen!" It denotes more than passive audition; it implies attention, comprehension, and especially obedience. This term often appears in calls to covenant faithfulness, as in the Shema (Deut 6:4), indicating the seriousness of the command.
• the word (דְּבַר - devar): Refers to the authoritative pronouncement or message of God. It's His direct communication, carrying divine weight and demanding a response.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. Using Yahweh emphasizes His unique relationship with Israel, making their disobedience an even greater betrayal of their special bond.
• you rulers (קְצִינֵי - q'tzi-nei): Literally "officials," "chiefs," or "commanders." This specifically targets those in positions of power and influence in Judah, highlighting their responsibility for the nation's spiritual and moral decay.
• of Sodom (סְדֹם - Sedom): This is a direct, scathing accusation. Sodom symbolizes extreme moral corruption, idolatry, sexual perversion, arrogance, and disregard for the poor (as detailed in Ez 16:49). Comparing Jerusalem's leaders to those of Sodom is a severe polemic, shattering any pretense of righteousness and implying they are ripe for similar divine judgment.
• give ear (הַאֲזִינוּ - ha'azi-nu): A parallel imperative to "hear," but often conveys a more intense sense of attentive listening, inclining the ear to understand and respond. It deepens the command to pay close heed.
• to the teaching (תּוֹרַת - torat): The Hebrew "Torah" refers not just to legalistic laws, but to God's divine instruction, guidance, and covenantal truth. It encompasses the principles for life given by God. Ignoring this is to forsake the very blueprint for righteous living and blessed existence.
• of our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Eloheinu): While Yahweh emphasizes God's unique covenant, Eloheinu emphasizes "our God," the God to whom Israel uniquely belongs. This collective "our" heightens the tragedy of their apostasy; they have rebelled against the very God who redeemed them and bound Himself to them.
• you people (עַם - 'am): Refers to the entire populace, the general population. It includes not just the rulers but all citizens, indicating widespread corruption.
• of Gomorrah (עֲמֹרָה - Amorah): Paired with Sodom, Gomorrah likewise symbolizes profound and widespread wickedness leading to utter destruction. The dual mention underscores the universality and severity of the condemnation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Hear the word of the LORD": This phrase functions as a solemn, authoritative summons from the covenant God, demanding attention from His rebellious people. It implies that what follows is not human opinion but divine revelation, carrying eternal consequence. This mirrors common prophetic calls for divine authority.
• "you rulers of Sodom": This is a shocking and deeply offensive designation for Judah's leaders. It's an instance of powerful hyperbole, equating Jerusalem's political and religious elite to the archetypes of utter depravity, signifying the extent of their moral rot. It is a polemic against any notion of Judah's inherent superiority or divine immunity due to their lineage.
• "give ear to the teaching of our God": This phrase reiterates the command to listen with even greater intensity, directing them specifically to God's divine instruction (Torah). The emphasis on "our God" points to the unique and intimate relationship they had forfeited through their disobedience to His teaching. The parallelism underscores the gravity and breadth of the call for repentance – from simply "hearing" to actively "giving ear" and obeying "Torah."
• "you people of Gomorrah": This parallel designation extends the condemnation beyond the rulers to the entire populace. It signifies a society-wide corruption, a pervasive moral bankruptcy, making the nation ripe for a judgment akin to that which befell Sodom and Gomorrah. It demonstrates God's concern is with the spiritual state of the whole community, not just its leadership.

Isaiah 1 10 Bonus section

The hyperbole employed by Isaiah in calling Judah "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" serves a powerful rhetorical and theological purpose. It is a shock tactic, aiming to dismantle the false sense of security and self-righteousness prevalent among the Israelites. They likely considered themselves God's chosen, immune from such judgment, but Isaiah's pronouncement asserts that their spiritual decay has surpassed even those famously wicked cities. The "Torah" or "teaching" that they are commanded to heed (often understood as the entire body of divine instruction, not just ritual law) encompassed moral conduct, social justice, and true worship – all areas where Judah had catastrophically failed. This verse highlights a consistent biblical principle: God judges not merely external religious observance, but the heart condition and righteous behavior that should flow from a true relationship with Him. Their rejection of justice and mercy (a common prophetic theme against Judah, like in Isa 5:7) solidified their likeness to Sodom.

Isaiah 1 10 Commentary

Isaiah 1:10 is a masterful piece of prophetic communication, designed to shock the complacent and challenge the rebellious heart of Judah. It goes beyond merely listing transgressions, striking at the very identity of the nation. By equating Jerusalem with Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaiah shatters any sense of exceptionalism or unassailability the people might have felt. These were cities of unspeakable wickedness, obliterated by divine fire as an eternal warning. For Judah, God's covenant people, to be labeled as such signifies a profound spiritual degradation, an internal rot that made them no better, and perhaps worse, than the pagan societies they were commanded to avoid.

The twofold call, "Hear the word of the LORD" and "give ear to the teaching of our God," emphasizes the urgency and authority of the divine message. It's not a mere suggestion but an imperative for all – from the highest ruler to the common person – to cease their spiritual rebellion and heed God's established laws and instructions (Torah). The choice of "Yahweh" for the "word" highlights the sovereign, covenant-making God who speaks, and "Eloheinu" ("our God") for the "teaching" reminds them of the intimacy of the relationship they are betraying. The depth of their sin is measured against the love and faithfulness of the God they claim to worship. This verse functions as a spiritual "alarm clock," compelling immediate and total repentance, setting the stage for the dramatic contrast between judgment and potential redemption presented later in the chapter.