Isaiah 3:13 kjv
The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
Isaiah 3:13 nkjv
The LORD stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people.
Isaiah 3:13 niv
The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
Isaiah 3:13 esv
The LORD has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.
Isaiah 3:13 nlt
The LORD takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people.
Isaiah 3 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 7:11 | God is a righteous judge... | God's role as a just judge |
| Psa 9:8 | He will judge the world in righteousness... | Universal judgment of God |
| Psa 50:6 | And the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. | God as the ultimate judge |
| Psa 96:13 | ...for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness... | God's coming judgment on the earth |
| Gen 18:25 | Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right? | God as supreme and righteous arbiter |
| Heb 12:23 | ...to God, the Judge of all... | God as the judge over all |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works... | God's righteous retribution |
| Acts 17:31 | ...He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness... | Appointed day of judgment |
| Rev 20:12 | And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... | Final judgment scene |
| Isa 1:2 | Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: "Children have I reared..." | God's divine lawsuit against Israel |
| Isa 5:7 | For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel... | God's people as His vineyard, facing judgment |
| Mic 3:1-4 | ...hear, O heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel... | Indictment against corrupt leaders |
| Jer 22:3-5 | Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness... | Call for justice among leaders |
| Zec 7:9-10 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and compassion... | Command to administer true justice |
| Psa 82:1-4 | God stands in the divine assembly; He judges in the midst of the gods... | God judging corrupt human authorities |
| Eze 34:1-10 | ...Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: Ah, shepherds of Israel... | Condemnation of negligent shepherds (leaders) |
| Mat 23:25-36 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! | Jesus' indictment of corrupt religious leaders |
| Psa 12:5 | "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise..." | God rising for the oppressed |
| Psa 74:22 | Arise, O God, plead Your own cause... | Prayer for God to rise and defend |
| Lam 3:59 | You have seen my wrong, O LORD; judge my cause. | Plea for divine judgment in one's favor |
| Hos 4:1 | Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants... | God's controversy (lawsuit) |
Isaiah 3 verses
Isaiah 3 13 Meaning
The Lord rises to contend; He stands to judge the peoples. This verse marks the beginning of a divine courtroom scene, portraying God, Yahweh, taking an active and decisive stance as both prosecutor and judge against His covenant people. It signals His imminent and direct intervention to bring about judgment concerning the widespread injustice and societal corruption prevalent in Judah.
Isaiah 3 13 Context
Isaiah 3 describes the impending societal collapse of Judah and Jerusalem due to their widespread moral corruption and abandonment of the Lord's ways. The chapter begins by detailing the removal of all societal pillars and competent leadership (vv. 1-7), leading to chaos and childish rule. Verses 8-12 articulate Judah's overt rebellion and God's resultant anger, declaring that their words and deeds are against the Lord. Verse 13 transitions from this general societal decay to God's direct legal action against the specific agents of injustice. It introduces God Himself stepping into the courtroom, poised to present a formidable case against the very leaders—the elders and princes—who have actively exploited the vulnerable, a detailed indictment elaborated in the subsequent verses (14-15). This portrays God not merely observing, but actively intervening in the social and political sphere of His people.
Isaiah 3 13 Word analysis
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): "The Lord," the covenant name of God, indicating His personal relationship and faithfulness to Israel. Here, it underscores His sovereign authority and righteous character as the one initiating and presiding over this divine lawsuit.
- קָ֤ם (qam): "Rises," "arises," "stands up." A Qal perfect verb, signifying a decisive and active movement. It denotes God taking initiative, specifically an energetic movement to confront and act. This is not a passive observation but a vigorous engagement.
- לָרִ֣יב (la-riv): "To contend," "to plead," "to bring a charge," "to quarrel." Derived from the root רִיב (riv), this term refers to a legal dispute, controversy, or lawsuit. God is entering a judicial process, presenting His case and indictment against His people, particularly their leadership. It's a "divine lawsuit" motif common in prophecy.
- וְנִצָּ֥ב (wenitzav): "And He stands," "He takes a stand," "He presents Himself." A Niphal participle with a vav conjunctive. It implies a firm, established, and authoritative position. God is not simply passing by; He is stationed firmly in His role, ready to execute a duty, emphasizing His presence and fixed intention to judge.
- לִשְׁפּ֣וֹט (lishpot): "To judge," "to execute judgment." From the root שׁפט (shaphat). This encompasses not only arbitrating a legal case but also enforcing the sentence and establishing justice through active ruling. God assumes the role of ultimate arbiter and sovereign dispenser of justice.
- עַמִּֽים (ammim): "Peoples" or "nations." While sometimes referring to foreign nations, in this immediate context, followed by the specific accusation against the "elders and princes of His people" (Isa 3:14), it likely refers to the inhabitants or populace of Judah, perhaps emphasizing the universal nature of His rule over even His own "peoples" in a general sense, or more precisely, the various "peoples" within Judah itself who suffer under corrupt leadership. It underscores the scope of His jurisdiction over the entire society He governs.
- "The Lord rises to contend": This phrase portrays Yahweh as the divine prosecutor, taking action to initiate a formal legal challenge. It conveys an immediate and serious posture, emphasizing God's active involvement in confronting the injustices committed by His own people. His "rising" signifies the end of forbearance and the beginning of confrontation.
- "He stands to judge the peoples": This complements the first phrase, specifying the ultimate purpose of God's contention. "He stands" highlights His firm, authoritative position as the presiding judge. The "peoples" He judges, in context, are the inhabitants of Judah and particularly their leaders, upon whom the focus shifts immediately in the next verse, highlighting His sovereign jurisdiction over His chosen nation and all its societal layers.
Isaiah 3 13 Bonus section
- This verse employs judicial metaphors to communicate God's unwavering justice, portraying the Lord as entering a divine courtroom. This "divine lawsuit" (riv) motif is a significant theme in prophetic literature, depicting God's legal case against His disobedient people for covenant violations.
- The progression from "rises" (qam) to "stands" (nitzav) indicates a shift from initial activation to a fixed, authoritative posture for judgment, conveying purpose and finality.
- The immediate transition from "the peoples" in verse 13 to "the elders of His people and the princes thereof" in verse 14 clarifies that the primary focus of God's contention and judgment is Judah's corrupt leadership, who are held particularly accountable for the nation's spiritual and social decline.
- This passage powerfully asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and moral governance over human societies and their rulers, providing a prophetic standard for leadership accountability.
Isaiah 3 13 Commentary
Isaiah 3:13 establishes the dramatic legal scene where God Himself initiates proceedings against His people. Yahweh, the covenant Lord, is no longer passively observing the decay but actively "rises to contend" and "stands to judge." This immediate and authoritative intervention highlights His righteous indignation at the profound societal injustices perpetrated, particularly by Judah's leadership, which will be specified in the subsequent verses. This verse emphasizes God's dual role as both the Plaintiff bringing the charges and the supreme Judge administering justice. It reveals His unwavering commitment to righteousness, particularly concerning the oppression of the poor and vulnerable within society, setting the stage for a divine verdict that targets those who abuse power and distort justice.