Isaiah 10:2 kjv
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
Isaiah 10:2 nkjv
To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.
Isaiah 10:2 niv
to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
Isaiah 10:2 esv
to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
Isaiah 10:2 nlt
They deprive the poor of justice
and deny the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows
and take advantage of orphans.
Isaiah 10 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 10:2 | That they may cast out the needy from judgment, and take away the right from... | Isa 3:14-15 (Accountability for exploiting the poor) |
| Jeremiah 5:28 | They grow fat, they shine. They speak not, speak not with justice to any... | Jer 5:28 (Similar theme of injustice and silence for the poor) |
| Amos 5:10-12 | They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks uprightly. | Amos 5:10-12 (Condemnation of those who pervert justice) |
| Micah 3:2-3 | You who hate good and love evil, who flay from them their skin, and their meat.. | Micah 3:2-3 (Prophet’s denunciation of corrupt rulers) |
| Psalm 10:2 | In the pride of his face the wicked shall not seek him; all his thoughts are.. | Psa 10:2 (Wickedness and pride blocking pursuit of God) |
| Psalm 73:8-9 | They scoff and speak with evil intent; they arrogantly threaten destruction. | Psa 73:8-9 (Description of the arrogant and their hurtful words) |
| Proverbs 22:16 | Whoever oppresses the poor adds to his own increase; whoever gives to the rich.. | Prov 22:16 (Consequences of oppressing the poor) |
| Proverbs 28:3 | A poor man who oppresses a poor man is like a driving rain which leaves no food. | Prov 28:3 (Metaphor for a destructive poor man’s oppression) |
| Ezekiel 18:12 | If he has oppressed the poor and needy, and has violently robbed, but has not.. | Ezek 18:12 (List of sins, including oppressing the poor) |
| Luke 1:53 | He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. | Luke 1:53 (Mary’s Magnificat, contrasting the rich and the poor) |
| Luke 6:20 | And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are.. | Luke 6:20 (Beatitude for the poor) |
| Luke 6:24 | “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation already. | Luke 6:24 (Woes to the rich, contrasting with the poor) |
| James 2:6 | But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who opress.. | James 2:6 (Exhortation against partiality towards the rich) |
| James 5:1-6 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. | James 5:1-6 (Strong condemnation of wealthy oppressors) |
| Revelation 18:7 | As much as she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so much torment and.. | Rev 18:7 (Judgment on a spiritually rich and oppressive entity) |
| Psalm 94:4 | They bluster, they speak arrogantly; all the evildoers boast of themselves. | Psa 94:4 (Boasting of evildoers, mirroring the arrogance of oppressors) |
| Zechariah 7:9-10 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show steadfast love.. | Zech 7:9-10 (Command for true judgment and compassion) |
| Malachi 3:5 | Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against.. | Mal 3:5 (God's judgment against oppressors) |
| Matthew 7:23 | And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers.. | Matt 7:23 (Those who do lawlessness will be rejected by Jesus) |
| Psalm 140:12 | I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will.. | Psa 140:12 (Assurance that God defends the afflicted) |
| Isaiah 5:23 | who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! | Isa 5:23 (Condemnation of judicial corruption) |
| Isaiah 10:1 | Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who write.. | Isa 10:1 (Contextual warning against those making unjust laws) |
Isaiah 10 verses
Isaiah 10 2 Meaning
The verse describes a stark consequence for the vulnerable, indicating they will be deprived of solace and a place of refuge by the oppressors. It speaks of the utter desolation and absence of any sanctuary for the weak.
Isaiah 10 2 Context
Isaiah chapter 10 begins with a "woe" pronounced against the powerful rulers and scribes who establish unjust laws and policies. These leaders are characterized by their greed and oppression, particularly targeting the vulnerable segments of society. Verse 1 specifically calls out their decreeing of "iniquitous decrees" and their writing of "perverse writings" aimed at twisting justice. Verse 2 then elaborates on the consequence of such actions: the needy are denied judgment, and the rights of the poor are stolen, leaving them without any recourse or sanctuary. This immediate context highlights the systemic corruption and exploitation prevalent among the elite, which God finds abhorrent.
Historically, this passage speaks to the reign of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the influential, wealthy elite who exploited the common people for personal gain. They had moved away from righteous judgment and compassion, becoming self-serving. The prophets frequently addressed such injustices, reminding the people and their leaders of God's expectations for fairness and righteousness, especially concerning the poor and defenseless. The spiritual state was one of apostasy, where adherence to God's law was abandoned for personal enrichment and power, creating a society where the "needy" and "poor" had no protection or access to justice.
Isaiah 10 2 Word Analysis
- Woe (הוֹי): A strong exclamation of grief, calamity, or judgment. It signifies a serious denunciation of a particular state or action.
- to those (לַמּוֹסְרִים): Denotes the agents or those who are enacting or delivering the decrees.
- decree (חֹק): Refers to a statute, ordinance, or law. In this context, it implies official pronouncements that are unjust.
- iniquitous (עַוְלָה): Meaning injustice, wrongdoing, iniquity. It signifies a deviation from righteousness and divine law.
- that (אֲשֶׁר): A relative pronoun introducing the description of the decrees.
- writers (כֹּתְבִים): Those who inscribe or record. Here, it points to those who drafted or formalized the unjust laws.
- who (הַ): The definite article, specifying the writers.
- write (כָּתְבוּ): The act of recording or writing.
- perverse (נִפְתּוּל): Meaning twisted, crooked, perverse, deceitful. It describes the nature of the writings as deviating from truth and justice.
- writings (עַוְלָה): Can also mean injustice or perverseness. Together with "perverse," it emphasizes the corrupt nature of the documents and decrees.
Words-group Analysis
- "decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who write perverse writings" ( Isaiah 10:1): This phrase highlights the active participation of leadership in creating and codifying injustice. It’s not merely an passive allowance of bad conditions, but a deliberate, systemic effort to craft unfair rules. The repetition of "decrees" and "writings" emphasizes the formal, legalistic nature of their sin.
- "That they may cast out the needy from judgment" (Isaiah 10:2): This indicates the purpose and effect of the unjust decrees. The "needy" (דַּלִּים - dallim) are the poor, the weak, and the oppressed. "From judgment" (מִמִּשְׁפָּט - mimmishpat) implies being excluded from fair legal proceedings or having justice denied. They are being pushed out, ostracized from the system meant to protect them.
- "and take away the right from the poor of my people" (Isaiah 10:2): This reinforces the previous clause. "Take away" (וּמִדַּת - u'midat, meaning "from the measure of" or "from the right of") signifies a stripping of their entitlements and due process. The "poor of my people" specifically links this oppression to God's chosen people, underscoring the spiritual gravity of their actions.
Isaiah 10 2 Bonus Section
The verse's condemnation of leaders who pervert justice is echoed throughout Scripture. God's concern for the poor and marginalized is a recurring theme, as demonstrated by the repeated emphasis on righteousness and justice in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 24:17, 27:19). The prophets frequently spoke against the powerful who exploited the weak, reminding them that their worship and religious observance were meaningless if not accompanied by acts of justice and mercy. Jesus himself, in the New Testament, denounced religious leaders for their hypocrisy and neglect of justice, citing their practices as burdens on the people. This principle of justice and the protection of the vulnerable continues to be a vital aspect of Christian discipleship and a measure of a truly righteous society.
Isaiah 10 2 Commentary
Isaiah 10:2 serves as a stark pronouncement of God’s judgment upon leaders who manipulate the legal system to oppress the vulnerable. The powerful create laws that effectively bar the poor and needy from seeking justice. This verse describes a society where fairness is systematically perverted. The rights and access to legal recourse for the poor are deliberately denied, leaving them exposed and defenseless. This reflects a deep moral decay, where those entrusted with leadership and justice instead become architects of oppression, motivated by self-interest. It’s a direct violation of covenant responsibilities, as God expects leaders to administer true judgment and protect the vulnerable. The prophet’s message serves as a severe warning about the spiritual consequences of such societal corruption, reminding that such actions incur God’s wrath and impending judgment.