Isaiah 57 4

Isaiah 57:4 kjv

Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood.

Isaiah 57:4 nkjv

Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,

Isaiah 57:4 niv

Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?

Isaiah 57:4 esv

Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,

Isaiah 57:4 nlt

Whom do you mock,
making faces and sticking out your tongues?
You children of sinners and liars!

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 4 meaning

Isaiah 57:4 delivers a powerful rhetorical challenge and condemnation, confronting the unfaithful in Israel who indulged in idolatrous practices and scornful mockery. The verse asks, "Against whom do you direct your contemptuous actions and defiant speech?" The implicit answer is against God Himself or His righteous representatives. It identifies these mockers as "children of transgression" and "a seed of falsehood," revealing their inherent rebellion against God's law and their character defined by deceit and unfaithfulness. The imagery of opening the mouth wide and drawing out the tongue vividly portrays extreme scorn and insolence.

Isaiah 57 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 57 follows a strong condemnation of Israel's spiritual decay and idolatry, which often involved child sacrifice and worship in groves. The chapter begins by contrasting the lack of care for the righteous who perish (v. 1-2) with the active pursuit of perverse spiritual practices by the wicked. Verse 4 stands as a direct accusation and rhetorical question leveled against those engaging in such illicit and idolatrous activities. It challenges their scornful attitude towards the prophets or God-fearing individuals who stood against their apostasy. This immediate context paints a picture of a people steeped in spiritual adultery, whose mocking gestures reveal their hardened hearts and utter disdain for divine truth. The verse is a severe rebuke, setting the stage for further descriptions of their abominable practices in the subsequent verses (57:5-10) and God's eventual promise of healing for the contrite (57:15-19).

Isaiah 57 4 Word analysis

• Against whom (על־מי – ‘al-mi): A sharp rhetorical question, emphasizing that their actions are fundamentally misdirected. The implied answer points to God, His true worshipers, or His covenant.

• do you sport yourselves (תתענגוּ – tithʿanāgu): From the root ʿanag (ענג), usually meaning "to delight" or "take pleasure." Here, it's used sarcastically and critically, implying a perverse, scornful, or malicious enjoyment derived from mocking. It suggests an insolent revelry or taunting.

• open wide your mouth (תרחיבוּ פֶה – tarchībû peh): This is a direct physical gesture of derision, scorn, and contempt. It's an act of public mockery, indicating a lack of respect and an intention to insult or shame. It's often associated with adversaries triumphing or reveling in someone's downfall.

• and draw out your tongue (תוֹצִיאּוּ לָשׁוֹן – totṣīʾū lāšôn): A common and graphic gesture of insult, disdain, and scorn, often seen in ancient Near Eastern cultures and universally understood as a sign of extreme contempt or derision. It emphasizes open insolence and taunting.

• Words-group analysis:

  • Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and draw out your tongue?: This repeated "Against whom" amplifies the gravity of their actions, forcing a recognition that their mockery is aimed at something sacred or divine. The combination of "sport yourselves," "open wide your mouth," and "draw out your tongue" vividly describes a spectrum of defiant, scornful, and highly disrespectful behavior, revealing deep-seated rebellion.
  • you children of transgression (ילְדֵי־פֶשַׁע – yelādê-pešaʿ): "Children of" is an idiom denoting a strong characteristic or lineage. Pešaʿ (פֶשַׁע) means a willful revolt, rebellion, or breaking of a covenant, specifically against God. Thus, they are not just engaging in transgression, but are inherently defined by it—their very nature is rebellious against God.
  • a seed of falsehood (זֶרַע שֶׁקֶר – zeraʿ šeqer): "Seed" (זֶרַע) can mean offspring or the origin/essence of something. Šeqer (שֶׁקֶר) refers to a lie, deception, or anything untrue, often implying treachery or idolatry (false gods). This phrase indicates that their very essence or origin is rooted in deceit and unfaithfulness to God, contrasting with those who are "children of truth." This suggests their entire being, their lineage, or their fundamental character is corrupt.

Isaiah 57 4 Bonus section

The mocking actions described in Isa 57:4, particularly drawing out the tongue, held profound significance in the ancient Near East as a public declaration of contempt and a challenge to the honor of the targeted individual or deity. Such gestures were not merely playful but were deeply insulting, akin to curses or blasphemy when directed against a divine entity. The accusation of being "children of transgression" (Ps 51:5 also notes being "born in iniquity") suggests not merely individual acts of sin, but an ingrained character or even a societal lineage prone to rebellion, indicating a systemic rejection of covenant responsibilities. The "seed of falsehood" connects directly to idolatry, where idols are "falsehoods" (šeqer) or lies, deceiving the worshipper from the truth of God. This term underscores that their very spiritual "parentage" and nature are rooted in what is untrue and unfaithful to the Lord.

Isaiah 57 4 Commentary

Isaiah 57:4 sharply rebukes the defiant and scornful attitude of an idolatrous Israel. The prophet uses powerful rhetorical questions to expose the depth of their rebellion, illustrating their mocking gestures against God's divine authority or His faithful ones. Their "sporting themselves" reveals a perverse pleasure in their apostasy, while their wide mouths and extended tongues signify blatant, insolent disrespect. Identifying them as "children of transgression" highlights their inherent and deliberate departure from God's law. Calling them "a seed of falsehood" underscores their fundamental nature as deceitful and spiritually unfaithful, particularly in their devotion to idols over the one true God. This verse vividly portrays spiritual adultery and contempt, serving as a solemn warning against such impudence.

• Example: Modern contexts may include open scorn towards Christian values or blatant disregard for moral truth in public discourse. Another is the mocking of those who hold fast to biblical teaching amidst societal pressures to conform to ungodly standards.