Isaiah 59:13 kjv
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Isaiah 59:13 nkjv
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Isaiah 59:13 niv
rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
Isaiah 59:13 esv
transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.
Isaiah 59:13 nlt
We know we have rebelled and have denied the LORD.
We have turned our backs on our God.
We know how unfair and oppressive we have been,
carefully planning our deceitful lies.
Isaiah 59 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 59:13a | "but you have gone away from me." | spiritual departure from God |
| Jer 2:5 | "What injustice did your fathers find in me that they have strayed so far from me?" | abandonment of God's ways |
| Eze 14:10 | "They must bear their iniquity; the punishment shall be the same for the one who inquires as for the one who consults." | consequence of seeking false ways |
| Mic 7:19 | "He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." | divine forgiveness after sin |
| Luke 11:52 | "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, nor did you allow those who were entering to go in." | perversion of truth and knowledge |
| 1 Tim 4:1-2 | "Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars..." | departure from faith due to lies |
| 2 Tim 3:13 | "while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." | progression of deceit |
| John 8:44 | "You are of your father the devil, and your desires are to do your father's will. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." | the nature of lying |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their ungodliness suppress the truth." | suppression of truth |
| Rom 1:21 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." | knowing God but not honoring Him |
| 2 Thess 2:9-10 | "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing..." | deceptive workings of evil |
| Rev 12:9 | "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." | Satan as deceiver |
| Isa 30:10 | "who say to the seers, 'Do not see,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions;'" | rejecting truth for comfort |
| Jer 6:14 | "They have healed a wound in my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." | false assurances of peace |
| Ezek 13:10 | "Because, yes because they have led my people astray by saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace..." | leading astray with false peace |
| Ps 50:16-18 | "But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to recount my statutes, or to take my covenant on your lips, since you hate my instruction and cast my words behind you? When you see a thief, you consent with him, and you share with adulterers.'" | professing God but living in sin |
| Hosea 4:1 | "Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. For there is no faithfulness, no loyalty, no knowledge of God in the land." | absence of knowledge of God |
| Ps 5:8 | "Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me." | plea for righteous guidance |
| 1 John 1:6 | "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." | professing faith while living in sin |
| John 15:22 | "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." | rejecting divine truth |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 13 Meaning
This verse describes the consequence of turning away from God, highlighting the alienation and deception that result. It speaks of being estranged from God, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual relationship marked by disobedience. The turning away leads to spoken falsehoods, not just a general mistruth but specific lies that have entered into public discourse. The inward reflection then leads to these spoken falsehoods becoming established, signifying a normalization of deceit and a perversion of justice within the community.
Isaiah 59 13 Context
Isaiah chapter 59 portrays a deep spiritual crisis within Israel. The prophet laments the people's sins and the resulting separation from God. The nation has deviated from God's path, leading to injustice and suffering. Specific sins like violence, falsehood, and corruption are highlighted as evidence of this estrangement. The chapter acts as a diagnostic, revealing the root cause of their national troubles—their turning away from the Lord and embracing deceit. This sets the stage for God's righteous judgment but also points towards future redemption and restoration when God's Spirit will be upon His people.
Isaiah 59 13 Word Analysis
תָּ֫מֶּ֫נוּ (tammnu): From the root מָּ֫נוּ (manah). Here it signifies turning away or departing, indicating a deliberate turning aside from a prescribed path or relationship. It implies a forsaking of allegiance.
וְאַחֲרֶיךָ (v'achareycha): "and after you" or "and following you." This links the turning away to leaving God's presence or counsel and choosing to walk in a different direction, a path contrary to God's will.
נִתְרַחֲקוּ (nitrachaqoo): "they became distant" or "they alienated themselves." This Hebrew verb in the Niphal stem implies active self-estrangement. It's not just God distancing Himself, but the people initiating the separation by their actions.
שׁוֹבֵב (shovav): "turning back" or "apostate." This adjective derived from the verb "to return" or "to turn back" is used here to describe the people's character and habitual actions. It highlights a pattern of rebellion and repeated turning away.
אֱמֶת (emet): "truth." This fundamental Hebrew word refers to reality, faithfulness, and certainty. Its absence signifies a pervasive corruption and distortion of reality.
נָפְלָה (noflah): "fell." In this context, it suggests that truth "fell" into disrepute or was discarded. It conveys the idea of something valuable being lost or ceasing to function properly.
בִּקְצוֹצָה (biktzotzah): "in the squares" or "in the public places/streets." This refers to the common gathering places where public life and discourse took place. The location emphasizes that the falsehood permeated society at its core.
גַּם (gam): "also" or "even." This conjunction underscores that the presence of falsehood was widespread and inescapable in the public sphere.
יַחְדָּו (yachdav): "together" or "united." This word highlights the collective nature of this sin and its pervasiveness. The community, as a whole, was affected.
וְקִפֵּד (v'qipped): From the root קָפַד (qapad). It can mean to strike through, destroy, or hinder. Here, it suggests that truth was not merely absent but actively suppressed or annihilated from public life.
Separation from God and the consequence: The initial phrase "turned away from me" establishes the root cause: a spiritual estrangement from God. This forsaking leads to a societal breakdown.
Pervasiveness of Falsehood: The verse emphasizes that falsehood is not confined to isolated individuals but has fallen into the public domain ("in the squares") and has become a communal characteristic ("together").
Active Suppression of Truth: The phrase "truth has fallen in the squares, also there is no uprightness" suggests more than mere absence. The wording implies that truth was actively opposed and destroyed, preventing righteousness from prevailing.
Internalizing Deception: The sequence implies an inward corruption ("turning away") leading to outward deception ("falsehood") which then becomes entrenched in the public realm.
Isaiah 59 13 Bonus Section
This verse can be seen as an indictment of the religious and political leadership of Isaiah's time, who were responsible for upholding truth and justice. Their apostasy and endorsement of falsehood created an environment where deceit flourished. The description of truth falling in the public square also foreshadows the rejection of divine truth throughout history, even in the New Testament era, where many "loved the darkness rather than the light" (John 3:19). The contrast with the coming Messiah, who is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), highlights the hope of restoration where truth will ultimately prevail. The prophet's lament underscores the indispensable role of truth in any healthy relationship, whether with God or within human society. Without truth, the foundations of trust and righteousness crumble, leading to a perverted sense of reality and justice.
Isaiah 59 13 Commentary
Isaiah 59:13 powerfully captures the spiral of sin that corrupts both individuals and societies. The people, having abandoned God's guiding principles, found themselves not only alienated from Him but also actively perpetuating falsehood. The Hebrew term "shovav" implies a habitual turning back, suggesting that this rejection of truth was not a one-time event but a deeply ingrained behavior. The phrase "truth has fallen in the squares" paints a vivid picture of public discourse corrupted by lies and deceit. This means that the very places where justice, accountability, and honest communication should have thrived became corrupted. The word "biktzotzah" (squares or public places) highlights the pervasive nature of this unfaithfulness; it wasn't a private failing but a public epidemic. Furthermore, "also there is no uprightness" indicates the resultant absence of integrity and righteousness. When truth is absent, righteousness cannot stand. This verse serves as a stark warning that abandoning God inevitably leads to the erosion of truth and justice within the community. The collective "together" signifies that this corruption affected the entire nation, impacting every aspect of public life. The consequences of turning from God are far-reaching, affecting moral integrity and social order.