Isaiah 3 9

Isaiah 3:9 kjv

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Isaiah 3:9 nkjv

The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.

Isaiah 3:9 niv

The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

Isaiah 3:9 esv

For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Isaiah 3:9 nlt

The very look on their faces gives them away.
They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don't even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 9 Meaning

Isaiah 3:9 reveals the severe spiritual condition of Judah and Jerusalem, asserting that their unmasked sin stands as undeniable proof against them. Their impudence is likened to Sodom's brazen defiance, as they openly declare their transgressions without shame or concealment. The verse culminates in a prophetic lament, "Woe to them!", signifying divine judgment and highlighting that they themselves are the authors of their own impending ruin and suffering. It underscores the concept of self-inflicted evil resulting from a deliberate and unrepentant life of sin.

Isaiah 3 9 Context

Isaiah 3 opens with a declaration of God removing leadership, support, and essentials from Judah and Jerusalem, plunging society into chaos and disorder. It depicts a state of moral decay, social injustice, and widespread spiritual blindness, leading to the humiliation of leaders and the oppression of the weak. Children and women would rule due to the lack of proper, righteous authority. The people are characterized by their arrogance and defiance. Verse 9 specifically intensifies this portrayal by stating that their sin is so blatant and unashamed that it is visibly evident on their faces and openly declared, paralleling the notorious wickedness of Sodom. This chapter establishes the basis for the impending divine judgment, portraying a society that has reached a point of no return due to its pervasive and public rebellion against the divine.

Isaiah 3 9 Word analysis

• וְהַכָּרַת (v'hakkarat) – "And the look/expression/discernment of":
  • From the root נכר (nakar), meaning "to discern, recognize, regard, know."
  • Signifies a distinct, perceptible manifestation or impression on their countenances.
  • Implies that their inner state of moral corruption is not hidden but openly visible on their faces, serving as a silent, yet powerful, witness against them.
• פְּנֵיהֶם (p'nehem) – "their faces/countenance":
  • "Faces" often represent one's very being, identity, and inner disposition in biblical thought.
  • The "look of their faces" means their expressions, their entire demeanor, betray their wickedness. There is no attempt to hide, no sign of remorse or shame.
• עָנְתָה (anetah) – "testifies/answers/responds":
  • From the root ענה (anah), meaning "to answer, respond, testify, accuse."
  • Carries a strong judicial connotation, like bearing witness in a legal proceeding.
  • Their physical appearance provides evidence of their guilt, serving as a self-indictment.
• בָּם (bam) – "in them/against them":
  • Indicates that the testimony of their faces is directly directed at or inherent in themselves, pointing to their guilt.
• וְחַטָּאתָם (v'chattatam) – "And their sin":
  • חטאה (chattah) refers to sin, often missing the mark or wrongdoing against God's standards.
  • The use of "their" emphasizes that the sin is inherent to and produced by them.
• כְּסָדֹם (kesadom) – "as Sodom":
  • "Sodom" is a powerful biblical archetype for extreme moral depravity, arrogance, injustice, and blatant rebellion against God. Its judgment was total destruction.
  • This comparison emphasizes the grave extent and unashamed nature of Judah's sin, placing them on par with a society renowned for its wickedness and divine wrath.
• הִגִּידוּ (higgidu) – "they declared/proclaimed/told":
  • From the root נגד (nagad), meaning "to declare, make known, tell."
  • This implies a public, open announcement or display of their sin, rather than mere practice of it.
• לֹא כִחֲדוּ (lo chichadu) – "they did not conceal/hide/deny":
  • כחד (kachad) means "to hide, conceal, deny." The negation emphasizes their lack of shame or penitence.
  • They not only practiced sin, but they openly flaunted it, with no desire to conceal their wrongdoing, demonstrating deep spiritual callousness.
• ה֣וֹי (hoy) – "Woe!":
  • A prophetic exclamation of lament, grief, or warning. It signifies impending judgment, condemnation, or sorrow.
  • It's a declaration of divine sorrow over their plight and a pronouncement of their dire future due to their choices.
• לְנַפְשָׁם (l'nafshem) – "to their soul/to themselves":
  • "Soul" (נפש - nefesh) often refers to the entire person, the essence of being.
  • The judgment and negative consequences are self-inflicted; they bring the woe upon themselves.
• כִּי גָמְלוּ (ki gamlu) – "for they have brought/dealt with/requited":
  • גמל (gamal) means "to deal with, repay, recompense, bring upon oneself."
  • Highlights the principle of divine justice where actions have corresponding consequences, emphasizing their agency in their own downfall.
• לָהֶם (lahem) – "to themselves":
  • Reinforces that the "evil" is not an external infliction but a direct result of their own choices and actions.
• רָעָה (ra'ah) – "evil/harm/wickedness":
  • Refers to misfortune, calamity, or destructive wickedness.
  • They have dealt evil to themselves, indicating that their sin results in self-harm and destruction, both physically, socially, and spiritually.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The look of their countenance witnesses against them": This phrase speaks to the inescapable visibility of their spiritual decay. Their very presence serves as irrefutable evidence of their guilt. It signifies an external manifestation of an internal corruption that is so profound it cannot be masked. It acts like a public confession.
• "they proclaim their sin as Sodom; they do not conceal it": This strong parallel with Sodom underlines not only the gravity of their sin but, crucially, their brazenness in sinning. Sodom was known for its public and unrepentant wickedness. To "proclaim their sin" implies open indulgence and perhaps even boasting in it, coupled with an utter absence of shame ("they do not conceal it"). This indicates a moral compass so distorted that societal and divine boundaries are openly mocked.
• "Woe to them! For they have brought evil upon themselves.": This powerful declaration functions as both a lament and a judgment. "Woe" pronouncements in prophecy indicate divine sorrow and severe condemnation. The follow-up clause, "For they have brought evil upon themselves," places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the people. It’s a direct consequence of their actions, an intrinsic working of spiritual law, where unrepentant sin inherently leads to ruin. This isn't merely external punishment, but the bitter fruit of their own deeds.

Isaiah 3 9 Bonus section

• The imagery of the "countenance witnessing" relates to the Old Testament concept of the "glory of the Lord" reflecting on one's face (Exod 34:29-35). Here, the opposite occurs; sin manifests itself visually, testifying to internal corruption rather than divine presence.
• The phrase "they have brought evil upon themselves" highlights the internal consistency of God's justice. Sin isn't just about breaking a rule; it creates an internal disfigurement that draws calamitous outcomes. This concept echoes throughout the prophetic books and wisdom literature.
• The comparison to Sodom served as a powerful, inescapable indictment for an ancient Israelite audience. Sodom represented the pinnacle of defiant human wickedness met with unequivocal divine destruction. To be equated with Sodom was to be marked for imminent and total ruin.
• This verse can be seen as a counter-polemic to any contemporary belief that outward religious observance could cover inward corruption. Isaiah vehemently argues that true character is revealed, not hidden, by behavior and attitude.

Isaiah 3 9 Commentary

Isaiah 3:9 cuts to the heart of Judah's spiritual malady: unrepentant, unashamed sin. The verse employs vivid imagery, presenting the very countenances of the people as testifying witnesses against their own guilt, much like a confession offered unwittingly. Their blatant display of wickedness, specifically compared to Sodom's notorious depravity, signifies an extreme level of moral abandonment. Unlike those who hide their transgressions or experience shame, the people of Judah not only commit sin but openly parade it, signaling a complete desensitization to divine standards and social disgrace. The pronouncement "Woe to them!" is a lamentation mixed with a severe warning of impending judgment. It underlines a core biblical truth: persistent, unrepentant sin is self-destructive. The "evil" they receive is not merely an external punishment but the direct and inevitable consequence of their own deliberate choices, revealing God's justice in allowing them to reap what they sow. This passage underscores that spiritual decline manifests visibly and leads directly to self-inflicted calamity.