Isaiah 32:9 kjv
Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
Isaiah 32:9 nkjv
Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech.
Isaiah 32:9 niv
You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
Isaiah 32:9 esv
Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
Isaiah 32:9 nlt
Listen, you women who lie around in ease.
Listen to me, you who are so smug.
Isaiah 32 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 32:9 | "Rise up, you women who are at ease, you complacent ones, listen to my words! | Prophet's call to the complacent |
| Jeremiah 48:11 | "Moab has been at ease since his youth; he has settled on his dregs and has not been emptied from one vessel to another; therefore his taste remains, and his scent is unchanged. | Parallel description of complacency |
| Amos 6:1 | "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the prominent men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! | Similar denunciation of ease in Zion |
| Amos 6:4-7 | "You who lie on beds of ivory and sprawl on your couches... You drink wine from bowls... But they are unconcerned about the ruin of Joseph." | Detailing the excesses of the complacent |
| Luke 12:47 | "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or do what his master asks will be beaten with many blows." | Warning against complacency and disobedience |
| Proverbs 6:6 | "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways, and be wise!" | Call to action against sloth |
| Ezekiel 16:49 | "Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of food, abundant idleness, and she and her daughters did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." | Connects pride and idleness to judgment |
| Hosea 7:9 | "Strangers devour his strength, but he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he knows it not." | Complacency in the face of decline |
| James 4:9 | "Grieve, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom." | Call to repent and mourn over sin |
| Jeremiah 22:21 | "I warned you in your prosperity, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed my voice." | Complacency and refusal to listen |
| Song of Solomon 5:2 | "I sleep, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my beloved knocking..." | Metaphor of awakening from slumber |
| Psalm 76:2 | "In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion." | Zion as a place of God's dwelling |
| Matthew 11:20 | "Then he began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent: ..." | Denunciation of cities that ignore repentance |
| Revelation 3:17 | "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." | Warning to the self-satisfied |
| Zephaniah 1:12 | "At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will do nothing, good or bad.’" | Similar condemnation of complacency |
| Psalm 95:7 | "For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. If only you would listen today to his voice!" | Plea to listen to God's voice |
| Jeremiah 5:4 | "So I said, 'Surely these are only the poor; they are foolish, for they have not known the way of the LORD, the law of their God.'" | Complacency born of ignorance |
| Isaiah 22:12-13 | "The Lord GOD Almighty called you on that day to weep and to mourn, to shave your heads and to wear sackcloth. But see how you rejoice and celebrate, sacrificing slaughtering lambs and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine!" | Contrast between call to sorrow and celebration |
| Isaiah 3:16 | "The LORD said, 'The women of Zion are haughty, walking with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, walking with delicate steps, tinkling bangles on their feet.'" | Description of haughty women in Zion |
| Luke 21:34 | "‘Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will fall on you like a trap." | Warning against being weighed down by worldly pleasures |
Isaiah 32 verses
Isaiah 32 9 Meaning
The women who are at ease and complacent in Zion are being called to attention and to feel alarm. They are told to rise up, listen to the message, and hear the Lord's voice with their ears. This is a summons to face a grave reality and to heed divine counsel in a time of crisis.
Isaiah 32 9 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 32, which describes a future righteous kingdom under a king who will reign with justice. However, before this glorious future, there are pronouncements of judgment against unrighteousness. Chapter 32 begins by detailing the consequences of sin and unfaithfulness, highlighting a time of national distress. This particular verse directly addresses the women of Zion, particularly those who are enjoying a false sense of security and comfort. Their complacency is a stark contrast to the impending national danger and the need for spiritual alertness and repentance. The prophecy is given during a time when Judah faces external threats, and internal corruption and a lack of spiritual sensitivity prevail. The call to these women to "rise up" and "listen" is a call to wake from their slumber and acknowledge the gravity of the situation and God's impending actions.
Isaiah 32 9 Word Analysis
Rise up (Hebrew: קוּמוּ, qumu): Imperative, plural form of the verb "to stand." It signifies to get on one's feet, to awaken, to come into being. It implies moving from a state of inactivity or passivity to one of action and engagement.
you women (Hebrew: בְּנוֹת, banot): Daughters, often used to refer to the women collectively, especially the inhabitants of a city or nation.
who are at ease (Hebrew: שַׁאֲנַנּוֹת, sha'anannot): Feminine plural adjective from the root "to be careless, to be secure, to be at ease." It describes those who are tranquil, quiet, and unconcerned, often in a negative sense of being indolent or neglectful of responsibilities, especially spiritual ones.
you complacent ones (Hebrew: בַּטְחוֹת, batkhoh): Feminine plural participle from the root "to trust, to feel secure, to be confident." Here, it signifies those who are secure, confident, or resting in their own ease and prosperity, often without true reliance on God or proper regard for His word. It highlights a false security.
listen (Hebrew: שְׁמַעְנָה, shem'nah): Imperative, feminine plural form of the verb "to hear, to listen, to obey." It’s a command to pay close attention and heed.
my words (Hebrew: דְּבָרַי, dibray): My sayings, my utterances, my commands. It refers to the prophetic message being delivered.
you daughters (Hebrew: בְּנוֹת, banot): Again, referring to the women.
give ear (Hebrew: הַטֵּתֶּן, haten ten): An imperative, feminine plural construction often translated as "bend the ear" or "give heed." It’s a more intensive form of listening, signifying paying serious attention and understanding.
to my instruction (Hebrew: לְמַרְאִי, le-mar'i): Literally "to my vision" or "to my seeing." In this context, it refers to the prophetic revelation or insight given to the prophet. It implies listening to the divinely inspired message he conveys.
Words indicating complacency and ease: The terms "sha'anannot" and "batkhoh" are crucial. They describe a state of willful ignorance or lack of concern despite potential dangers. This isn't mere relaxation but a settled disposition of self-satisfaction that leads to spiritual deafness.
The command to listen: The imperatives "qumu" (rise up), "shem'nah" (listen), and "haten ten" (give ear) all emphasize the urgent need for these women to change their state from passive complacency to active engagement with God's message.
Isaiah 32 9 Bonus Section
This verse is a vivid illustration of how societal comfort and privilege can foster spiritual apathy. The women of Zion, representing those in positions of less immediate hardship, are called out for failing to discern the times and heed prophetic warnings. This echoes throughout Scripture, where those who are most comfortable are often the last to recognize or respond to spiritual decay. The Hebrew terms convey a deep-seated carelessness that is almost inherent, rather than a temporary lapse. The emphasis on "listening" and "giving ear" to "my words" and "my vision" highlights the paramount importance of God's prophetic message in times of crisis. Their rise is not just physical but a mental and spiritual awakening to hear and process divine instruction, essential for any hope of escaping the coming judgment.
Isaiah 32 9 Commentary
The women of Zion are being sharply rebuked for their casual and unconcerned attitude amidst what should be a time of spiritual vigilance. Their "ease" and "complacency" suggest a state where they are shielded from the immediate hardships, perhaps through their status or societal role, leading them to ignore the deeper spiritual sickness and approaching judgment that affects the entire nation. The prophet’s direct address to them, demanding they "rise up" and "listen," underscores that their spiritual inactivity is a choice and carries severe consequences. This is not just a general announcement but a targeted call to action, urging them to abandon their self-induced tranquility and seriously attend to God's revealed word, which carries both warning and the potential for discernment. This implies that their lack of attention is contributing to the national malaise and making them vulnerable to judgment.