Isaiah 32:1 kjv
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
Isaiah 32:1 nkjv
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.
Isaiah 32:1 niv
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
Isaiah 32:1 esv
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
Isaiah 32:1 nlt
Look, a righteous king is coming!
And honest princes will rule under him.
Isaiah 32 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 1:26 | "And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." | Echoes the ideal of righteous rulers. |
| Isaiah 4:2 | "In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel." | Points to a future righteous king. |
| Isaiah 9:6-7 | "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." | Clearly identifies the righteous king. |
| Isaiah 11:4-5 | "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." | Describes the king's righteous judgment. |
| Jeremiah 23:5 | "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." | Repeats the prophecy of a righteous king. |
| Jeremiah 33:15 | "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land." | Similar prophecy of righteous rule. |
| Zechariah 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." | Prophesies the Messiah's humble arrival. |
| Luke 1:32-33 | "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." | New Testament fulfillment of royal lineage. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." | Emphasizes universal righteousness. |
| Romans 14:17 | "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." | Describes the nature of God's kingdom. |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:8 | "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" | Contrast with the wicked adversary. |
| Hebrews 1:8 | "But of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." | Refers to Christ's eternal reign. |
| 1 Peter 2:13-14 | "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." | God's provision for governance. |
| Revelation 3:21 | "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." | Promise of shared rule with Christ. |
| Revelation 19:11 | "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." | Christ as the righteous Judge. |
| Revelation 20:4 | "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his images, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." | Those who reign with Christ. |
| Psalm 110:3 | "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast a dew of thy youth." | A Messianic psalm pointing to leadership. |
| Proverbs 8:15 | "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice." | Wisdom as the source of good rule. |
| Psalm 72:1-4 | "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." | Idealized rule of a king. |
| John 18:36 | "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." | The spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom. |
Isaiah 32 verses
Isaiah 32 1 Meaning
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule with justice.
Isaiah 32 1 Context
Isaiah 32 serves as a transition chapter. Chapters 28-31 focused on the impending judgment upon Israel and its surrounding nations due to their pride and reliance on foreign alliances rather than on God. Chapter 32, however, shifts to a vision of future restoration and blessing. It begins by describing a stark contrast: the coming judgment will purge the corrupt leadership and usher in an era where a king reigns in righteousness and princes rule with justice. This is not merely a political reform, but a spiritual and societal transformation directly linked to God's intervention and the presence of His Spirit. The imagery suggests a profound and lasting peace, unlike the fleeting alliances and conditional treaties of the past. This section provides a glimpse of the ideal kingdom that God intends to establish through His chosen servant, culminating in the reign of the Messiah.
Isaiah 32 1 Word Analysis
הִנֵּה (hinneh): "Behold," "Lo," "See." An interjection used to draw attention, often to something significant or a new development. It signals the presentation of a new, important truth or event.
מֶלֶךְ (melekh): "King." Refers to a supreme ruler or sovereign. In the context of Isaiah, this is understood to refer to the Davidic king, and ultimately, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
בְּצֶדֶק (beTsedeq): "in righteousness." This is a prepositional phrase.
- בְּ (be): "in," "with," "by." Indicates manner or accompaniment.
- צֶדֶק (tseDeq): "righteousness," "justice," "uprightness." Denotes adherence to what is right and just, conformity to divine standards. This righteousness is active, not just an attribute, involving proper conduct and equity in ruling.
יִמְלֹךְ (yimlokh): "shall reign," "shall rule." The Hiphil or Qal imperfect verb from מָלַךְ (malakh), indicating future action. It denotes the exercise of sovereign authority.
וּשָׂרִים (usarim): "and princes," "and rulers."
- וּ (u): "and." Conjunction.
- שָׂרִים (sarim): Plural of שַׂר (sar), meaning "prince," "leader," "chief," "captain." It signifies those who hold positions of authority and responsibility, subordinate to the king.
בְּמִשְׁפָּט (bemishpaT): "with judgment," "with justice." This is another prepositional phrase.
- בְּ (be): "in," "with."
- מִשְׁפָּט (mishpaT): "judgment," "justice," "law," "right." Refers to the administration of justice, legal decisions, and equitable treatment according to established norms and fairness. It complements "righteousness" by specifying the manner of rule.
יִשְׂרוּ (yishru): "shall rule," "shall guide," "shall be upright." From the root יָשַׁר (yashar), meaning "to be straight," "to be right," "to be upright," "to lead straight." When used transitively in the Niphal or Qal stem, it can mean to lead, direct, or rule rightly. In this context, it conveys the idea of ruling uprightly and justly, ensuring that their governance is straight and true. Some interpret it as "to rule justly" or "to deal equitably."
Words-Group Analysis
"a king shall reign in righteousness": This phrase establishes the primary characteristic of the future leadership. It’s not just about occupying a throne, but about the quality of the rule, defined by righteousness. This righteousness is the active principle of divine governance, ensuring fairness and equity.
"and princes shall rule with justice": This complements the first part by extending the principle of upright leadership to those who support the king. Their ruling is not arbitrary but governed by justice, which aligns with righteousness. The term "rule" (יִשְׂרוּ) implies leading in a correct, straightforward manner.
Isaiah 32 1 Bonus Section
The entire chapter 32 of Isaiah describes the blessed state of God’s people when He renews His covenant and establishes His kingdom on earth. Verse 1 is the pivotal introduction to this vision. The concepts of "righteousness" (tseDAQ) and "justice/judgment" (mishpaT) are central to the prophetic understanding of God's character and the desired governance. The specific verb יִשְׂרוּ (yishru) for the princes is notable. Unlike the typical verb for ruling (מָלַךְ, malakh), יָשַׁר (yashar) means "to be straight" or "upright." This implies that these princes will govern not merely with correct procedure but with integrity, leading their people in a straightforward, honest path. This specific word choice emphasizes a moral dimension to their leadership. This vision sets a high standard for kingship and governance that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the reign of Jesus Christ, who is both King of Kings and Lord of Lords, perfectly embodying righteousness and justice in His eternal kingdom.
Isaiah 32 1 Commentary
Isaiah 32:1 paints a vivid picture of an ideal messianic kingdom. The declaration, "Behold," immediately captures attention for a pivotal prophecy. The core message is the establishment of righteous leadership: a king who embodies righteousness and princes who govern with justice. This contrasts sharply with the corrupt, self-serving rulers that preceded this prophecy. The "king" here is understood to be Jesus Christ, the ultimate descendant of David, whose reign is characterized by perfect adherence to God's will and an unwavering commitment to equity. The "princes" are his disciples and those who serve in his kingdom, tasked with administering justice. The passage assures the people that an era of true peace and stability is coming, directly a result of divine intervention and the installation of rulers who fear and honor God. This isn't just about earthly governance; it signifies a spiritual transformation that underpins societal well-being. The prophecy highlights that true justice and righteousness are not mere human aspirations but divinely established principles for effective and benevolent rule.