Isaiah 3 15

Isaiah 3:15 kjv

What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 3:15 nkjv

What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?" Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 3:15 niv

What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Isaiah 3:15 esv

What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 3:15 nlt

How dare you crush my people,
grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?"
demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 15 Meaning

Isaiah 3:15 is a forceful declaration by the Lord GOD of hosts, expressing His indignant accusation against the oppressive leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. It condemns their systematic, cruel, and thorough exploitation of the most vulnerable members of His covenant people. The verse vividly portrays their actions as violently "crushing" and completely "grinding" the dignity and livelihood of the poor, metaphorically consuming them, thereby challenging God's authority and compassion. It underscores God's personal offense at such injustice, signifying impending divine judgment for their flagrant disregard of the poor.

Isaiah 3 15 Context

Isaiah 3 describes a series of impending judgments upon Judah and Jerusalem due to their profound moral decay and social corruption. Following the pronouncement of divine withdrawal of competent leadership and general societal breakdown (Isa 3:1-7), the prophet shifts to identifying the root cause: the people's rebellion against the Lord (Isa 3:8-9), followed by specific condemnation of the leaders (Isa 3:12-15).Verse 15 immediately follows God's confrontation with the "elders of His people and their princes" (Isa 3:14), whom He holds accountable for devastating the vineyard of the Lord (Israel/Judah) and storing up plunder from the poor. Thus, Isaiah 3:15 is the direct accusation from the Lord, detailing the specific manner of their oppression—the "crushing" and "grinding" of the poor. The historical context is 8th-century BC Judah, a period characterized by increasing wealth disparity, a decline in righteous leadership, and a societal disregard for the covenant principles, especially those safeguarding the vulnerable and needy. The nation’s spiritual and ethical fabric was unraveling, manifesting in systematic social injustice.

Isaiah 3 15 Word analysis

• What do you mean by? (מַה לָּכֶם, mah lakem): This is a rhetorical question expressing profound shock, outrage, and severe condemnation. It indicates divine indignation, akin to "What is the meaning of this behavior?" or "How dare you?". It signifies that the actions described are utterly contrary to God’s nature and His covenant expectations.

• crushing (תְּדַכְּאוּ, t'daka'u from Hebrew root daka): This verb means to bruise, break in pieces, crush, oppress, or oppress severely. It suggests a relentless and systematic assault that wears down and breaks the spirit and means of subsistence of the oppressed. It implies reducing something to a state of complete subjugation or ruin, similar to trampling.

• my people (עַמִּי, ammi): The possessive pronoun "my" is highly significant. God refers to the oppressed as His own covenant people. This emphasizes that the injustice is perpetrated not merely against a generic group of people, but against those whom God has chosen, redeemed, and covenanted with. This intensifies the sin of the oppressors, as they are harming God's cherished possession and violating the sacred covenant.

• grinding (תְּטַחֲנוּ, titchanu from Hebrew root tachan): This verb means to grind, to mill, typically used for grain. It evokes the image of a millstone that grinds grain into flour, reducing it to powder. Metaphorically, it implies total ruination, pulverization, or complete consumption. It suggests that the oppressors are exploiting the poor's resources and labor to the point of utter depletion, leaving them with absolutely nothing.

• the faces (פְּנֵי, pney): "Face" often represents the whole person, their dignity, identity, honor, and very presence. To "grind the faces" is a graphic, violent image of extreme humiliation, dehumanization, and utter destruction of an individual's worth and existence. It implies stripping them of their identity, breaking their spirit, and leaving them utterly destitute and unrecognizable, far beyond mere financial hardship.

• of the poor? (עֲנִיִּים, aniyim): This term refers to those who are lowly, afflicted, humble, helpless, and needy. It encompasses not only economic poverty but also a lack of power, influence, or means of defense against oppression. These are the vulnerable members of society whom the Law commanded God's people to protect and provide for.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?": This phrase serves as a direct, confrontational indictment. The rhetorical question demands an explanation from the offenders, implying there is no justification for their heinous acts. The parallelism between "crushing my people" and "grinding the faces of the poor" intensifies the portrayal of extreme, systematic oppression. It highlights both the object of oppression ("my people," "the poor") and the severe manner of it ("crushing," "grinding"), emphasizing the totality of the abuse.
  • "declares the Lord GOD of hosts": This divine epithet conveys supreme authority, power, and judicial oversight. Adonai signifies mastership; Yahweh signifies God's covenant relationship and personal involvement; and Tzva'ot (hosts or armies) signifies His omnipotent control over all forces in creation and heaven. The phrase underlines that this is not just a human observation or lament, but a direct, authoritative, and irrefutable accusation from the Almighty Commander who will bring forth swift judgment.

Isaiah 3 15 Bonus section

• The language in Isaiah 3:15 uses vivid agricultural metaphors—crushing and grinding—to describe human suffering. Grain, a basic necessity for life, is ground down. Similarly, the oppressors are grinding the poor into utter desolation, consuming their very livelihood and existence.
• This verse can be understood as Yahweh acting as the divine Prosecutor, directly leveling charges against the unjust judges and rulers, indicating a divine lawsuit (rib) against His people for their unrighteousness.
• The emphasis on "my people" and "the poor" signifies that the leadership’s sin was a double transgression: against their fellow countrymen and against God’s own treasured possession, violating both human justice and divine covenant.
• Isaiah, throughout his prophecy, consistently calls out injustice and the abuse of power, making this verse a cornerstone of his social commentary and prophetic message, affirming that true worship requires justice.

Isaiah 3 15 Commentary

Isaiah 3:15 reveals God’s deep abhorrence of social injustice, particularly when perpetrated by the powerful within His own covenant community. The verse highlights that the systematic exploitation of the vulnerable, reducing them to nothing (crushing and grinding), is a direct affront to God Himself because the poor are "His people." The graphic imagery paints a picture of complete economic, social, and psychological ruin inflicted upon the innocent, for the benefit of the corrupt elite. This verse underscores that God, as "the Lord GOD of hosts," is not a distant deity but an omnipotent and righteous Judge who takes personal offense at the oppression of the weak. Such injustice represents a fundamental breach of the covenant, which explicitly called for care and protection of the needy, widows, and orphans. Consequently, divine wrath and judgment are inevitable outcomes. This prophecy served as a dire warning that religious rituals were meaningless without righteous conduct, and that accountability for leaders was paramount.