Isaiah 29 21

Isaiah 29:21 kjv

That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

Isaiah 29:21 nkjv

Who make a man an offender by a word, And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, And turn aside the just by empty words.

Isaiah 29:21 niv

those who with a word make someone out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

Isaiah 29:21 esv

who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.

Isaiah 29:21 nlt

Those who convict the innocent
by their false testimony will disappear.
A similar fate awaits those who use trickery to pervert justice
and who tell lies to destroy the innocent.

Isaiah 29 verses

Isaiah 29 21 meaning

Isaiah 29:21 describes the pervasive corruption of justice and truth within society, specifically highlighting three manifestations: falsely condemning innocent people through manipulated testimony or mere words, setting traps for those who courageously speak truth and uphold justice in public forums (the gate), and subverting the rights of the righteous with baseless or trivial excuses. It paints a picture of systemic injustice where moral and legal integrity have disintegrated.

Isaiah 29 21 Context

Isaiah chapter 29 begins with a prophetic "Woe" directed at "Ariel," a symbolic name for Jerusalem, depicting her spiritual blindness, hardened heart, and hypocritical worship. The chapter speaks of an impending siege and God's judgment, reducing her proud speech to a mere whisper. Yet, amid this severe indictment, there is a glimmer of future hope for understanding and spiritual restoration. Verse 21 fits squarely within the description of Jerusalem's current moral decay and spiritual darkness. It illustrates the systemic injustice that pervades society, explaining why judgment is imminent. It immediately follows Isaiah's denunciation of those whose worship is merely ritualistic and whose knowledge of God's law is superficial (Isa 29:13-16). This verse acts as a vivid example of their practical ungodliness and moral corruption before the promise of the deaf hearing and the blind seeing (Isa 29:18).

Isaiah 29 21 Word analysis

• who make a person guilty: Hebrew machªṭiʾê (מַחֲטִיאֵי). This verb form means "those who cause to sin" or "declare guilty." It signifies an active role in wrongfully condemning, not merely accusing. It implies a perversion of the judicial process where innocence is deliberately turned into guilt.
• by a word: Hebrew ba-dāvār (בַּדָּבָר). The "by a word" highlights the power of speech manipulated for wicked purposes. This refers to false testimony, subtle legalistic twists, or fabricated charges based on mere verbal claims rather than evidence or truth. It points to a profound moral failing where words, meant for communication and truth, become instruments of injustice.
• and lay a snare: Hebrew wəlaqôshê (וְלָקֹשׁוּ). Means "to snare" or "to trap." It denotes deliberate, deceitful plotting and entrapment. The intent is not fair trial but predetermined conviction through cunning means.
• for him who rebukes: Hebrew lĕmôkîach (לַמּוֹכִיחַ). Refers to one who adjudicates, argues a case, reproves, or points out wrongdoing. In biblical context, this often describes a prophet, a righteous judge, or anyone speaking truth against injustice. They are targets because their words expose corruption.
• in the gate: Hebrew bash-shaʿar (בַּשַּׁעַר). In ancient Near Eastern culture, the city gate was the primary place for public life, legal proceedings, business, and societal leadership. To "rebuke in the gate" meant speaking out against injustice publicly, often as an official capacity. Laying a snare "in the gate" signifies the corruption of the very seat of justice and public order, undermining law and truth where it should be most upheld.
• and turn aside: Hebrew wayyaṭṭû (וַיַּטּוּ). Means "to turn aside," "to deflect," or "to pervert." It indicates an active distortion of justice, diverting it from its rightful course.
• the just: Hebrew tsaddîq (צַדִּיק). Refers to a righteous person, one who adheres to God's law and principles of justice, and is morally upright. They are specifically targeted because of their righteousness.
• with a worthless thing: Hebrew ba-tōhû (בַּתֹּהוּ). The term tōhû often appears with bōhû ("formless and void") in Gen 1:2, signifying chaos, emptiness, and nothingness. Here, it denotes something inconsequential, a baseless charge, an absurd pretense, or even a bribe (though "worthless" suggests more of an empty excuse or argument). It emphasizes the utter lack of substance or validity in the reasons used to pervert justice against the righteous.

Word-groups by word-groups analysis:

• who make a person guilty by a word: This phrase underscores the power of corrupt testimony and the ease with which innocence is condemned when justice is perverted. It is the verbal equivalent of legal fraud, turning mere speech into a tool of destruction for the upright.
• lay a snare for him who rebukes in the gate: This highlights the deliberate and malicious targeting of those who champion truth and justice. The "gate" contextualizes this oppression to the public square and legal institutions, indicating that societal leaders and institutions themselves have become corrupt instruments of oppression against those who uphold God's standards.
• turn aside the just with a worthless thing: This refers to the active subversion of justice against the righteous. The "worthless thing" indicates that trivial, fabricated, or baseless excuses and accusations are used to deny justice, revealing the sheer contempt for truth and the arbitrary nature of their corrupted judicial system.

Isaiah 29 21 Bonus section

The specific targeting of "him who rebukes in the gate" highlights a pervasive hostility towards prophetic ministry and the wisdom tradition in ancient Israel. Prophets and wise counselors often "stood in the gate" to deliver God's message, counsel, and judge matters according to the divine law. Therefore, to ensnare them there means to silence God's voice and His righteous standards in the very place where they should govern society. This active rejection of truth and the targeting of its proponents indicates a deep-seated spiritual rebellion, where society prefers its own moral darkness over the illuminating light of God's Word. The concept of tōhû as a "worthless thing" implies not just triviality, but a sense of profound spiritual emptiness that characterizes their justifications. The lack of substance for their judgments mirrors the formless void, indicative of a society devolving into chaos without God's guiding light and law.

Isaiah 29 21 Commentary

Isaiah 29:21 offers a scathing critique of a society in deep moral decay, where justice is not only flawed but systematically perverted. The three clauses cumulatively paint a grim picture: first, the ease of condemning the innocent through manipulated words; second, the deliberate targeting of those brave enough to speak truth and hold power accountable in the very venues meant for justice (the gate); and third, the complete dismissal of righteousness through baseless and meaningless accusations. This verse underscores the complete reversal of ethical order – the truth-tellers are trapped, and the righteous are cast aside on flimsy pretexts, while the corrupt wield power unchallenged. It demonstrates the consequences of spiritual blindness (Isa 29:9-10) manifesting as practical unrighteousness, where the very foundations of civil society have crumbled. The Lord's judgment upon Jerusalem, articulated throughout this chapter, is therefore a righteous response to such profound moral depravity and institutional corruption. It calls to mind the prophetic condemnation against Israel and Judah found throughout the Old Testament for their failure to "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). This warning echoes into all generations, cautioning against the corruption of truth and justice within any societal or spiritual context.