Isaiah 59 15

Isaiah 59:15 kjv

Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Isaiah 59:15 nkjv

So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice.

Isaiah 59:15 niv

Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

Isaiah 59:15 esv

Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.

Isaiah 59:15 nlt

Yes, truth is gone,
and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.
The LORD looked and was displeased
to find there was no justice.

Isaiah 59 verses

Isaiah 59 15 Meaning

Isaiah 59:15 describes a profound spiritual and moral collapse within society. It highlights that truth (justice, faithfulness, integrity) is conspicuously absent from public life, leaving people morally adrift. Consequently, individuals who genuinely endeavor to deviate from widespread evil are not honored or protected, but rather become isolated, vulnerable targets for exploitation and mistreatment by the dominant corrupt culture. This verse paints a bleak picture of societal depravity where virtue is punished and vice reigns.

Isaiah 59 15 Context

Isaiah chapter 59 primarily serves as a powerful indictment of Israel's widespread sin, which has created a chasm between them and God. The chapter begins by clarifying that God's power is not diminished (v. 1-2); rather, their transgressions and iniquities have caused His separation from them. Verses 3-8 graphically detail the people's pervasive evil, describing hands stained with blood, lying lips, unjust acts, and minds set on iniquity, producing destruction. There is no justice, no truth, and no peace in their paths.

Verse 15a acts as a poignant summary of this moral decay, articulating that truth itself has vanished. This deep despair over the state of affairs then shifts in the latter half of verse 15, and importantly in verse 16, where God sees this deplorable condition, acknowledges the absence of human intercession, and resolves to intervene Himself. Historically, this describes the spiritual decline and social injustice prevalent either during the pre-exilic period of Judah, leading to divine judgment, or in the post-exilic period, where religious formalism often masked a continuing lack of genuine righteousness and justice among the people. It directly challenges any notion that their outward religious observance could compensate for inner moral corruption.

Isaiah 59 15 Word analysis

• "Truth" (Hebrew: אֱמֶת, 'emet)
  • Word: 'Emet signifies more than mere factual correctness; it embodies reliability, faithfulness, integrity, covenant loyalty, and justice. In biblical thought, it relates to the very character of God.
  • Significance: Its absence here points to a deep moral and ethical decay, where honesty, loyalty, and justice are no longer foundational pillars of society or relationships. It's a statement about a profound lack of moral fiber and genuine righteous living.
• "is nowhere to be found" / "has failed" (Hebrew: נֶעְדְּרָה, neʿederah)
  • Word: This verb implies a state of being absent, withdrawn, or gone. It's used to convey that something desirable is lacking or has ceased to exist in a particular place.
  • Significance: It emphasizes the completeness of truth's disappearance. It's not just rare; it's practically non-existent. The societal structure is devoid of foundational honesty and integrity.
• "whoever shuns evil" / "departs from evil" (Hebrew: סָר מֵרָע, sar me-ra')
  • Word: Sar (departed, turned away) from ra' (evil, wickedness, mischief). It denotes a deliberate action to turn away from pervasive corruption and adhere to righteousness.
  • Significance: This describes the rare individual who, against the tide of prevalent wickedness, chooses to live righteously. It highlights a conscious ethical choice in a morally compromised environment. This individual stands in contrast to the majority.
• "is robbed" / "makes himself a prey" (Hebrew: מִתְבּוֹסֵס, mitbôses – root bûs)
  • Word: The root bûs means to tread down, trample, defile. The Hithpael form, mitbôses, often suggests being trodden down or becoming exposed and defenseless. It can be rendered "becomes prey," "is made a spoil," or "is utterly ravaged/exposed." It's stronger than mere financial robbery.
  • Significance: This powerfully illustrates the tragic consequence for the righteous in a wicked society. Far from being protected or celebrated, those who seek to do good are trampled upon, exploited, and left vulnerable. Their virtue makes them an easy target for the unprincipled. This depicts a reversal of natural order, where evil rewards itself and goodness is penalized.

Words-group analysis:

• "Truth is nowhere to be found": This phrase succinctly encapsulates the complete moral bankruptcy of the nation. It points to a systemic breakdown of ethical principles, justice, and covenant faithfulness, leading to spiritual darkness and widespread deceit in every facet of public and private life.
• "whoever shuns evil is robbed": This highlights the dangerous reality for the righteous in a thoroughly corrupt society. It underscores the isolation and vulnerability of those who genuinely strive for goodness, making them not only unappreciated but actively targeted and exploited by the prevailing wickedness. Virtue is not merely unrewarded; it becomes a liability.

Isaiah 59 15 Bonus section

This verse's profound sense of abandonment of righteousness foreshadows the necessity of divine intervention. It isn't just a critique of human behavior but implicitly emphasizes the incomparable nature of God's truth and righteousness against human failure. The situation described (the righteous becoming prey) serves to highlight that justice and deliverance cannot come from within a self-corrupted system; it must come from without, from God Himself, as depicted in the very next verses (Is 59:16-17). The verse reveals the complete impotency of human effort to correct widespread moral decay without divine power. The Hebrew phrase sar me-ra' has deep spiritual significance, denoting a true turning from evil, a genuine act of repentance. However, even this sincere action, in a deeply depraved context, leads to vulnerability rather than peace or safety. This paradox underscores the absolute requirement for God's redemption in such a fallen world.

Isaiah 59 15 Commentary

Isaiah 59:15 delivers a devastating verdict on the state of the covenant people. It is a bleak portrayal of a society so steeped in sin that its fundamental moral fabric has unraveled. 'Emet—truth, integrity, and faithfulness—has not merely diminished; it has disappeared, leaving a vacuum of moral leadership and common decency. This moral desert is so pervasive that those few who still attempt to depart from evil are not seen as exemplary but are instead left exposed, vulnerable, and ultimately become prey to the corrupt system they oppose. Their decision to pursue righteousness is met with exploitation and hardship rather than affirmation. This dire situation is not merely a social observation but a theological crisis; it is precisely at this point of absolute human failure, where justice is unattainable and the righteous are victimized, that the subsequent verses reveal God Himself observing this moral void and preparing to intervene, recognizing there is "no man" to intercede. It sets the stage for divine action when human society has reached its moral nadir.