Isaiah 3 5

Isaiah 3:5 kjv

And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Isaiah 3:5 nkjv

The people will be oppressed, Every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable."

Isaiah 3:5 niv

People will oppress each other? man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.

Isaiah 3:5 esv

And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.

Isaiah 3:5 nlt

People will oppress each other ?
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 5 Meaning

Isaiah 3:5 describes the societal decay and oppressive anarchy that would follow God's judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. It depicts a state where common people oppress one another, social bonds unravel, and the established order of respect is completely inverted. The youth would arrogantly disrespect the elders, and those of low status and contemptible character would defy and dominate those who were honored and respected in society. This verse portrays the profound breakdown of civility and the reign of chaos as a consequence of national sin and the removal of true leadership.

Isaiah 3 5 Context

Isaiah chapter 3 initiates a lament over Jerusalem and Judah, detailing the severity of God's impending judgment upon them. Prior verses (Isa 3:1-3) speak of the removal of essential provisions and competent leadership – both military and civil – leading to instability. The subsequent verse (Isa 3:4) prophesies that unskilled "boys" and "children" will become their oppressive rulers. Isaiah 3:5 then describes the immediate and chaotic consequences of such unqualified leadership and the pervasive spiritual corruption: a complete breakdown of social order, marked by widespread internal oppression, insolence from the young towards the old, and contempt for the honorable by the base. This verse underscores the pervasive moral decline that results in societal collapse from within, reflecting the extent of God's disciplinary hand due to their persistent sin and rejection of divine authority.

Isaiah 3 5 Word analysis

• And the people shall be oppressed (וְנִגַּשׁ הָעָם - wǝniggaš hāʿām):
  • wǝniggaš: Qal passive form of the verb "nagas" (נגש), meaning "to press," "to drive," "to oppress," "to exact." The passive voice signifies that the people will be made to suffer oppression. It points to being hard-pressed, subjected to burden, and driven by harsh treatment.
  • hāʿām: "The people." This term denotes the general populace, indicating that this oppression will be widespread and affect everyone. It suggests the collective experience of hardship.
• every one by another (אִישׁ בְּאִישׁ - ʾîš bəʾîš):
  • ʾîš: "Man," "each person."
  • bəʾîš: "By man," "by a person." The repetition emphasizes a reciprocal or pervasive nature of oppression. It means "man by man," signifying internal strife and mutual harm, rather than external enemies.
• and every one by his neighbor (וְאִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ - wəʾîš bərēʿēhū):
  • wəʾîš: "And each person."
  • bərēʿēhū: "By his companion," "by his friend," "by his neighbor." Rēʿa (רֵעַ) denotes someone close, a familiar acquaintance. This further intensifies the depiction of internal strife, suggesting that even those with whom one shares close relationships will become sources of oppression, reflecting a complete disintegration of trust and social bonds.
• the child shall behave himself proudly (יַרְהִיב הַנַּעַר - yarhîb hannaʿar):
  • yarhîb: Hiphil form of the verb "rahab" (רהב), meaning "to act insolently," "to be defiant," "to behave arrogantly," "to be presumptuous." This conveys a deliberate, haughty, and rebellious attitude.
  • hannaʿar: "The young man," "the youth," "the child." Naʿar often refers to an adolescent or young adult, emphasizing a lack of experience and wisdom contrasted with their presumptuous behavior.
• against the ancient (בַּזָּקֵן - bazzāqēn):
  • bazzāqēn: "Against the elder," "against the old man." Zaqen (זָקֵן) signifies one who is aged and, in Israelite culture, traditionally a figure of wisdom, respect, and authority. This opposition signifies a reversal of deeply ingrained social and cultural values, where the young no longer respect their elders.
• and the base (וְהַנִּקְלֶה - wəhanniqleh):
  • wəhanniqleh: Niphil passive participle of "qalah" (קלה), meaning "to be despised," "to be held in contempt," "to be disgraced." This describes someone of low esteem, ignoble, or considered worthless by societal standards.
• against the honorable (בַּנִּכְבָּד - bannikhbād):
  • bannikhbād: Niphil passive participle of "kabad" (כבד), meaning "to be heavy," "to be honored," "to be weighty," "to be esteemed." This refers to someone of high social standing, character, or influence, held in high regard. The opposition here illustrates a complete reversal of hierarchy, where those deserving contempt challenge and demean those who deserve honor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor": This phrase paints a grim picture of horizontal oppression. It is not an external enemy or merely a tyrannical government oppressing the people. Instead, the judgment causes such breakdown that individuals turn against each other, highlighting pervasive internal exploitation and mistrust within the very fabric of society. The repetition of "every one by another" and "every one by his neighbor" strongly emphasizes the widespread and personal nature of this internal strife, signifying a state of social self-destruction.
• "the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable": This second phrase elaborates on the complete collapse of traditional societal order and moral authority. It illustrates a complete inversion of the respected social hierarchy. In ancient Israelite culture, reverence for elders (zaqen) was a cornerstone of society, rooted in wisdom and divine commandment (Exod 20:12, Lev 19:32). The "child" or "youth" (naʿar) acting insolently against the elder signifies a radical departure from this respect, demonstrating widespread defiance of authority. Similarly, "the base" (niqleh), meaning the despised or contemptible, rising up "against the honorable" (nikhbad), meaning the esteemed and influential, represents a state where virtue and merit are scorned, and societal roles are upended, reflecting divine judgment where wickedness is allowed to usurp righteousness.

Isaiah 3 5 Bonus section

This prophesied social chaos in Isaiah 3:5 serves as a potent illustration of what happens when a society abandons its covenant relationship with God. When divine order and righteousness are rejected, God, in His judgment, allows the natural consequences of sin to manifest fully, leading to self-inflicted harm and internal discord. The specific detail of the young dishonoring the old and the base confronting the honorable highlights a direct violation of commands concerning honoring elders and respecting authority (Lev 19:32; Exod 20:12). This breakdown mirrors the spiritual blindness and moral depravity prevalent in their time, where truth and justice were already being trampled. The scenario depicted here finds echoes in warnings about the characteristics of people in the last days (2 Tim 3:1-4), suggesting a recurring pattern of societal disintegration when divine standards are abandoned. It emphasizes that societal health is intrinsically linked to adherence to God's ways; neglecting this leads inevitably to internal strife and social decay.

Isaiah 3 5 Commentary

Isaiah 3:5 prophesies a severe consequence of God's judgment: the utter breakdown of Judahite society from within. It vividly portrays a descent into anarchy and mutual oppression, not by foreign invaders, but by fellow citizens, neighbors, and even family. This internal self-destruction is a hallmark of a people who have forsaken God's laws, as it implies a loss of mutual respect, trust, and compassion that righteous governance would normally foster. The most striking aspect is the inversion of social order: the insolent young would scorn the wise elders, and those deemed worthless or contemptible would defiantly challenge the honorable. This signifies a societal condition where foundational moral and ethical principles are dissolved, replaced by a chaotic environment where insolence triumphs over respect, and the ignoble subjugate the worthy. It is a divine punishment that strips away the very civility that holds a community together, leaving them vulnerable and suffering from their own internal corruptions, showcasing the profound impact of spiritual decay on a nation's structure.