Isaiah 57 3

Isaiah 57:3 kjv

But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

Isaiah 57:3 nkjv

"But come here, You sons of the sorceress, You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

Isaiah 57:3 niv

"But you?come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

Isaiah 57:3 esv

But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.

Isaiah 57:3 nlt

"But you ? come here, you witches' children,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 3 meaning

Isaiah 57:3 is a stark and confrontational accusation leveled by the Lord against the apostate Israelites. It directly challenges them, inviting them, albeit ironically, to draw near for a divine indictment. The verse explicitly defines their spiritual identity and lineage not as children of the covenant with Yahweh, but as children of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer, and a prostitute. These terms represent their profound spiritual unfaithfulness, deep-seated idolatry, and their engagement in practices explicitly forbidden by God's law, effectively declaring them to be spiritually illegitimate and completely severed from their true heritage.

Isaiah 57 3 Context

Isaiah 57 opens by lamenting the perishing of the righteous while the wicked continue in their sin, unaware or uncaring of the departure of Godly individuals. This verse (57:3) initiates a direct confrontation with these wicked and apostate people, serving as a scathing indictment. The preceding verses lament the loss of the righteous, who find peace in death (v. 1-2). In sharp contrast, verse 3 begins a detailed enumeration of the wicked practices and spiritual defilement prevalent among those who remain. Historically, this prophecy likely speaks to the widespread syncretism and idolatry in Judah, particularly evident before the Babylonian exile, but potentially also applicable to post-exilic tendencies. The people were abandoning the covenant with Yahweh and adopting Canaanite religious practices, which included fertility cults, child sacrifice (mentioned in v. 5), divination, and various forms of cultic prostitution, all deemed anathema by Mosaic Law. The verse's accusations are thus rooted in Israel's consistent pattern of covenant unfaithfulness throughout its history.

Isaiah 57 3 Word analysis

• וְאַתֶּם֙ (wə'attem): "But you." This is a strong contrastive conjunction "and" or "but" (wə) combined with the second person masculine plural pronoun "you" (attem). It emphatically sets the addressees apart from the righteous described in verses 1-2, directly confronting them.
• קִרְבוּ־הֵ֔נָּה (qirbu-hēnnāh): "Draw near here." An imperative verb from the root קרב (qarav), meaning "to come near, approach," coupled with the adverb "here" (hēnnāh). This is an ironic summons, not for intimacy or blessing, but for accusation and judgment, akin to summoning an accused party before a judicial court.
• בְּנֵי֙ (bənēy): "Children of." This is the construct plural form of בֵּן (bēn), meaning "son" or "child." In Hebrew, "children of X" often describes one's essential nature, character, or lineage, suggesting their defining traits are derived from X.
• עוֹנְנָה֙ ('ōwnənāh): "Sorceress." The feminine singular noun from עָנַן ('ānān), meaning "to practice soothsaying, divine, practice magic, conjure." It refers to divination or omen-seeking, specifically forbidden by God's law as relying on powers other than Him. It denotes spiritual apostasy and a reliance on forbidden knowledge.
• זֶ֣רַע (zeraʿ): "Offspring of." This masculine singular noun means "seed" or "offspring." It further emphasizes the generative source or origin of their nature, reinforcing the idea of a corrupt spiritual heritage, similar to "children of."
• מְנָאֵ֔ף (məna'ēf): "Adulterer." This is the masculine singular active participle of the verb נָאַף (nā'af), meaning "to commit adultery." It refers to sexual unfaithfulness but is frequently used metaphorically in prophetic texts to describe Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to God, who is portrayed as her husband.
• וְזוֹנָֽה׃ (wəzōnāh): "And a prostitute." This is the feminine singular noun זֹנָה (zōnāh), meaning "harlot, prostitute," from the verb זָנָה (zānāh) "to be a harlot, to commit fornication." This term implies open and indiscriminate sexual unfaithfulness, often for gain, and in a spiritual sense, represents the nation's widespread abandonment of God for multiple idols.

• "But you, draw near here": This phrase serves as a challenging and accusatory summons. It's a divine confrontation, inviting the unfaithful not to fellowship but to face the stark reality of their sins and their consequent judgment.
• "children of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute": This composite description vividly articulates the profound corruption and illegitimacy of their spiritual identity. "Children of a sorceress": Identifies their origin and character as being steeped in illicit, pagan practices, rejected by Yahweh. It suggests a spiritual heritage not from God, but from deceptive, demonic sources. "Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute": Expands on the theme of spiritual illegitimacy and covenant betrayal. Their spiritual "parents" are characterized by breaking sacred bonds (adultery) and promiscuous unfaithfulness (prostitution). This trio of accusations leaves no room for their claim to be faithful covenant children; instead, their very spiritual DNA is depicted as perverse and defiled, originating from an ancestry steeped in betrayal and paganism against their true Husband, God.

Isaiah 57 3 Bonus section

The strong feminine forms used for "sorceress" and "prostitute" (ʿōwnənāh, zōnāh) could subtly allude to specific female practitioners involved in cultic rituals of Canaanite fertility worship, which often included sexual rites and divination. More broadly, the nation of Israel itself is often personified as a woman in a marital relationship with God; thus, these feminine nouns emphasize Israel's direct and personal culpability in her spiritual defection. This highly offensive language highlights the extent of their spiritual degeneration, effectively telling them they have inherited the moral corruption of the very pagan cults they have embraced, rather than the holiness of God. The accusations are not merely about specific sinful acts but about an entire redefinition of their spiritual heritage and identity in opposition to the covenant with Yahweh.

Isaiah 57 3 Commentary

Isaiah 57:3 presents a scathing and deeply ironic divine address to the unfaithful segment of Israel. Far from being God's treasured children, they are identified by a lineage rooted in abominable pagan practices and profound covenant disloyalty. The "sorceress" highlights their involvement in forbidden divination and occult arts, while the "adulterer" and "prostitute" underscore their systematic spiritual unfaithfulness, portraying their turning to other gods as betrayal of the marital covenant with Yahweh. This verse shatters any illusion of piety, exposing the true, defiled nature of those who profess to know God yet indulge in practices that negate His exclusivity and holiness. It is a pronouncement that their spiritual identity has become wholly intertwined with rebellion and defilement, justifying God's coming judgment.Example: Much like a child who constantly disobeys and aligns themselves with their parent's worst enemy, these individuals are not only disobedient but have fundamentally altered their allegiance, thereby renouncing their true heritage and embracing an identity contrary to their original covenant.