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 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 29:21 | "They also accuse the innocent and take bribes, and by violence they oust the just." | Is. 29:21 |
| Psalm 94:4 | "How long will the wicked, how long will the wicked, exult?" | Ps. 94:4 |
| Psalm 5:6 | "You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men." | Ps. 5:6 |
| Proverbs 17:15 | "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the LORD." | Prov. 17:15 |
| Proverbs 6:16-19 | "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to do evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." | Prov. 6:16-19 |
| Jeremiah 5:26-27 | "In my house they found wicked men, often catching them, as a trapper puts a snare in a bush. As a cage full of birds, so their houses are full of iniquity; and so they have become great and grown rich, they have become fat and sleek. They have transgressed in every sort of evil; they have not defended the rights of the fatherless, but they have prospered, and they have not defended the rights of the needy." | Jer. 5:26-27 |
| Amos 5:12 | "For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great; you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the gate." | Amos 5:12 |
| Micah 3:9-11 | "Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Her heads give judgment for a bribe; her priests teach for a price; her prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, 'Is not the LORD in the midst of us? Calamity shall not come upon us.' Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house a văn of the forest." | Mic. 3:9-11 |
| Matthew 7:2 | "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." | Matt. 7:2 |
| Acts 4:17 | "But so that it may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, to stop their mouths with threatening before it happens again to them with this name.”" | Acts 4:17 |
| 1 Peter 3:13 | "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?" | 1 Peter 3:13 |
| John 10:1 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber." | John 10:1 |
| Romans 2:21 | "You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you are proclaiming, 'Do not steal,' do you steal?" | Rom. 2:21 |
| Romans 1:29-30 | "having been filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, maliciousness. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." | Rom. 1:29-30 |
| 2 Timothy 3:3 | "for they will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy," | 2 Tim. 3:3 |
| Revelation 18:5 | "because her sins are heaped high and have reached the heavens, and God has remembered her iniquities." | Rev. 18:5 |
| Luke 11:52 | "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.”" | Luke 11:52 |
Isaiah 29 verses
Isaiah 29 21 Meaning
This verse describes those who act wickedly by devising iniquity, distorting justice, and falsely accusing the righteous. The consequence of their actions is that they will be cast out and silenced.
Isaiah 29 21 Context
Isaiah 29 prophesies judgment upon Jerusalem, referred to as Ariel (meaning "lion of God" or "hearth of God"). This chapter vividly describes how God will bring distress upon the city, which is perceived as proud and defiant. The people have become complacent, relying on their own wisdom and practices rather than on the Lord. The prophecy outlines a period of overwhelming judgment, where the people will be silenced and humbled. Verse 21 specifically details the nature of some within the community who are actively engaged in corrupt practices, manipulating justice, and oppressing the righteous. This verse highlights the internal decay and unrighteousness prevalent in Jerusalem that provokes God's judgment.
Isaiah 29 21 Word Analysis
- Waw (וְ) - And. A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding description of judgment.
- Gama` (גַּם) - Also; even; they too. Indicates that, in addition to other judgments, these specific individuals will face consequences.
- huw' (הוּא) - They. Refers to a specific group within the people being addressed.
- `ish (אִישׁ) - Man; person. Can also refer to men in general.
- `amal (עָמָל) - Toil, trouble, iniquity, wickedness. Here, it refers to the acts of wickedness they perpetrate.
- yee
etsu (יְעוֹצּוּ) - They counsel; devise; plan. Implies deliberate scheming and formation of wicked plans. This verb is in the Qal imperfect, third person masculine plural. - `aven (אָוֶן) - Iniquity, wrongdoing, injustice. The object of their counseling and devising.
- yaphreh (יַפְרּוּ) - They distort; pervert; break. This verb (from פּרר – pārā) in the Hiphil conjugation indicates actively causing something to break or fail, thus perverting justice.
- sha'ad (שָׁאַד) - To uphold; to make crooked. Can also mean to injure or push down. In this context, it refers to the violent perversion of what is right.
- haqediym (הַקֵּדִים) - Those who lead astray; instigate. Can also refer to Easterners or former things. Here, it likely means those who instigate or cause others to stumble through their unjust actions.
- kohlah (כֹּלָּה) - To consume; destroy; afflict. Here, it means to utterly destroy or cast out. This word likely comes from the root כּלה – kālāh meaning to finish or consume.
- `iqqiyr (עִקָּר) - Root; foundation. Figuratively, it refers to the main body or substance. The text suggests they will be utterly consumed, leaving no root or foundation.
- koha (כֹּה) - Thus; so. Indicates the manner or extent of their casting out.
- yaqlu` (יַקְלוּ) - They are accounted; considered lightly; contemptible. This verb (from קַל – qāl) in the Niphal conjugation means to be made light of, treated with contempt, or cast out as insignificant.
Words-group analysis:
- "They also devise iniquity": This phrase signifies active participation in planning and bringing about wickedness, not just accidental wrongdoings. It emphasizes malice aforethought.
- "and they pervert all that is right": This highlights the systematic undermining of justice and truth. It implies a deliberate effort to twist and manipulate the legal and moral framework.
- "they take bribes": This points to corruption within the system of justice, where decisions are bought and sold, demonstrating a blatant disregard for fairness.
- "they oust the just": This refers to the aggressive and violent expulsion or condemnation of those who are righteous and uphold justice.
Isaiah 29 21 Bonus Section
The Hebrew term "Ariel" in the broader context of Isaiah 29 is significant. While it refers to Jerusalem, the name itself carries layers of meaning, being interpreted as "Lion of God." This dual nature, both powerful and divinely connected, makes Jerusalem's fall a stark testament to how corrupted leadership can turn a city's supposed divine strength into its ultimate vulnerability when its actions betray its calling. The verse's condemnation of bribetakers and those who oppress the righteous reflects a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament prophets, who repeatedly rebuked Israel and its leaders for social injustice and religious hypocrisy, underscoring that genuine worship must be accompanied by ethical behavior. The principle of "what goes around comes around" is implicitly present, as those who unjustly oust others will themselves be cast out.
Isaiah 29 21 Commentary
The verse depicts a pattern of profound injustice and corruption that permeates a community. Individuals who are meant to uphold righteousness are instead actively devising schemes to create iniquity. They don't just passively tolerate wrongdoing; they are the instigators and perpetuators of it. This active perversion of justice, manifested through taking bribes and violently suppressing the innocent, is presented as a direct cause for divine judgment. The outcome is not merely temporary setbacks but a complete removal and dismissal, where they will be cast out and utterly forgotten or disregarded. It serves as a stern warning against those who twist the scales of justice for personal gain, assured that God sees their deeds and will ultimately hold them accountable by rendering them insignificant.