Isaiah 10 2

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 verses

Isaiah 10 2 meaning

Isaiah 10:2 describes the specific and egregious forms of social injustice perpetuated by corrupt authorities, who pervert the legal system to oppress the most vulnerable in society. These unrighteous lawmakers, as condemned in the preceding verse, intentionally deny legal recourse to the needy and poor, effectively stripping them of their rights and leaving them susceptible to exploitation. The verse highlights the tragic outcome of such systemic corruption: widows and orphans, the most defenseless members of the community, become targets for plunder and despoliation, losing their homes, land, and possessions to those in power.

Isaiah 10 2 Context

Isaiah 10:2 is part of a larger indictment found in Isaiah 10:1-4, which opens with a "Woe" (Hebrew: Hoy) — a declaration of judgment against those who decree unrighteous decrees and register mischievous judgments. This specific verse elaborates on how those unrighteous laws are applied and who suffers most directly from them. The preceding chapter (Isa 9) looks forward to a divine ruler who would establish justice and righteousness, providing a stark contrast to the corrupt rulers condemned here. Historically, these prophecies were directed toward the kingdoms of Judah and Israel during the Assyrian period. Corrupt officials and judges would manipulate the legal system, which was meant to be a bulwark for justice (as prescribed in the Mosaic Law), to enrich themselves. The cultural context recognized the "widow, orphan, and sojourner" as the three most vulnerable groups in ancient Israelite society, explicitly protected by divine law. To pervert justice against them was not merely a social wrong but a direct transgression against God's covenant principles and character.

Isaiah 10 2 Word analysis

• To turn aside (לְהַטּוֹת lehṭōṭ): From the root meaning "to bend, incline, deviate." This implies a deliberate distortion or perversion of what is straight and right. It signifies active manipulation rather than passive neglect.
• the needy (דַל dal): Refers to the poor, the weak, those of low social standing. They are financially or socially vulnerable, often lacking influence or protection.
• from judgment (מִמִּשְׁפָּט mimmišpāṭ): "Judgment" (mišpāṭ) here refers to justice, legal rights, or due process. To turn the needy "from judgment" means to deny them fair legal proceedings, to prevent them from receiving a just ruling, or to actively deny them their legal entitlements.
• and to take away the right (וְלִגְזֹל מִצֶּדֶק wĕligzōl miṣṣedeq): "To take away" (ligzōl) means to rob, defraud, plunder, or strip away forcibly. "Right" (miṣṣedeq here means from righteousness/justice, their just claim). This emphasizes the active act of theft, not merely legal obstruction, but actually depriving them of what is rightfully theirs.
• from the poor (עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי ʿăniyyê ʿammî): "Poor" (ʿănî) similar to "needy" but often with an added nuance of affliction or humility. "My people" (ʿammî) underscores that these are God's chosen people being victimized, making the injustice particularly grievous to God.
• that widows (אַלְמָנוֹת ʾalmānôṯ): Women who have lost their husbands and typically their primary source of support and legal protection in ancient society. Highly vulnerable.
• may be their prey (שְׁלָלָם šĕlālām): "Prey" (šĕlāl) refers to plunder or spoils taken in battle or robbery. This vivid imagery depicts the widows as helpless victims hunted and taken for profit by the unjust.
• and that they may rob (וְאֶת יְתוֹמִים יִבְזֹזוּ wĕʾeṯ yĕtômîm yibzōzû): "To rob" (yibzōzû) is similar to ligzōl, meaning to plunder, despoil, or take spoil, reinforcing the aggressive exploitation.
• the fatherless (יְתוֹמִים yĕtômîm): Orphans; children who have lost their father, the primary protector and provider in ancient patriarchal society. Like widows, they were profoundly defenseless.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people": These parallel clauses describe judicial corruption and legal manipulation. They reveal a systemic perversion of justice where those with power actively prevent the disadvantaged from accessing legal protection and strip them of their rightful possessions or claims. It's a calculated, deliberate act of disenfranchisement.
• "that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless": This reveals the ultimate motivation and outcome of the judicial perversion. The aim is not merely to obstruct justice, but to gain from the resulting vulnerability. Widows and fatherless children, having lost their legal or familial protection, become easy targets for plunder, their assets—such as land, inheritance, or homes—being illegally seized by the powerful. This is the tragic and deeply offensive consequence of ignoring God's command to uphold justice for the most vulnerable.

Isaiah 10 2 Bonus section

The strong imagery of "prey" and "rob" underscores the predatory nature of the rulers' actions, moving beyond mere judicial oversight to active, rapacious exploitation. This prophecy finds echoes in the New Testament with Jesus's strong condemnation of religious leaders who "devour widows' houses" (Matt 23:14), illustrating that such forms of oppression persisted and remained an abomination in God's eyes across dispensations. The phrase "poor of my people" adds a theological layer, emphasizing that these vulnerable individuals are not merely societal outcasts but are precious in God's sight, making the injustice against them a direct offense against God's chosen people and His honor. The passage serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of systemic injustice, particularly when sanctioned by law or upheld by those in authority, and reminds believers of God's unyielding demand for righteousness and equity in society.

Isaiah 10 2 Commentary

Isaiah 10:2 expands on the preceding declaration of judgment, detailing the practical and devastating consequences of unrighteous legislation. The verse presents a powerful indictment of societal leaders who, instead of upholding justice for all, exploit their authority to legally oppress the poor, needy, widows, and fatherless. It highlights a deliberate perversion of the judicial system: turning the needy away from due process and stripping the poor of their entitlements. This legal injustice leads directly to the material exploitation of society's most defenseless. Widows, without a male protector, and orphans, without a father to secure their inheritance, become "prey" – objects to be plundered by those in power. This practice is not mere negligence but active malice, a stark violation of God's covenantal demands for social justice, and an affront to His own character as a defender of the vulnerable. It reflects a society where power is abused for personal gain, resulting in profound suffering and ultimately, divine judgment. For practical application, this verse calls believers to advocate for just laws, challenge systems that disadvantage the vulnerable, and actively support organizations and individuals who care for the fatherless and widows, mirroring God's heart.