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 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 59:14 | Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off... | OT Justice Theme |
| Jeremiah 5:31 | The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own means... | OT False Leadership |
| Amos 5:10 | They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks truly. | OT Opposition to Truth |
| Micah 3:8 | But I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD... | OT Spirit & Justice |
| Luke 1:52 | He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. | NT God's Reversal |
| Romans 3:11 | No one understands; no one seeks for God. | NT Universal Sin |
| Romans 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | NT Universal Sin |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... | NT Character of Righteousness |
| Ephesians 5:9 | (for the fruit of the Spirit is found in all that is good and right and true) | NT Fruit of the Spirit |
| 1 Peter 3:11 | Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. | NT Living Righteously |
| 1 John 3:10 | By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil... | NT Identification of God's children |
| Isaiah 61:8 | For I the LORD love justice... | OT God's Love for Justice |
| Psalm 11:7 | For the LORD is righteous and loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. | OT God's Nature |
| Psalm 37:30 | The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. | OT Righteous Speech |
| Proverbs 2:8 | Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. | OT Wisdom & Justice |
| Zechariah 7:9 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgment, show steadfast love and compassion to one another. | OT True Judgment |
| Matthew 5:6 | "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. | NT Beatitude of Righteousness |
| 1 Corinthians 6:7 | To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather let yourselves be defrauded? | NT Avoiding Disputes |
| Hebrews 12:11 | For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than joyful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. | NT Fruit of Righteousness |
| 1 John 1:8 | If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. | NT Self-Deception |
| Genesis 6:5 | The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. | OT God's Sorrow Over Wickedness |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 15 Meaning
Truth is absent, and he who departs from evil is plundered. The LORD saw it, and it was evil in his sight that there was no justice.
Isaiah 59 15 Context
Isaiah chapter 59 vividly describes the profound spiritual and moral decay within Israel. The people had turned away from God's commands, leading to widespread injustice, deceit, and violence. This verse specifically highlights the utter absence of truth and justice in society, portraying a state where those who attempt to live righteously are themselves victimized. It emphasizes God's observation of this pervasive evil and his deep displeasure with the lack of righteousness. The preceding verses detail the societal breakdown, and the subsequent verses will describe God's response to this corruption, which is the coming of a Redeemer.
Isaiah 59 15 Word Analysis
- wə (wə)- "and." A common conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
- ēyn (en)- "there is not," "is absent." Indicates a complete lack.
- mîšpāṭ (mišpāt)- "justice," "judgment," "righteousness." Refers to upholding what is right and fair according to God's law.
- śāwûa‘ (sawu’a) - "turned back," "recoiled," "repulsed." Suggests that justice is actively pushed away.
- wə (wə)- "and."
- šām (sham) - "there." Refers to the place or sphere of judgment.
- ṣedeq (tsedeq) - "righteousness," "justice," "integrity." Similar to mišpāṭ, emphasizing uprightness and moral rightness.
- yāqûm (yaqum) - "stands up," "arises," "takes its stand." Implies an active presence or assertion.
- meRōHaQ (meRohaQ) - "from afar," "from a distance." Suggests that righteousness is not near or accessible.
- wə (wə)- "and."
- hir’āh (hir’ah) - "he saw," "He perceived," "He observed." God's direct awareness.
- yəhowāh (yehowah) - "LORD." The covenant name of God.
- hinnēh (hinneh) - "behold," "look," "see." Draws attention to something significant.
- ra‘ (ra’) - "evil," "wickedness," "harm." Pervasive moral and spiritual corruption.
- bə‘êynēy (be’ēynei) - "in his eyes," "in his sight." God's perspective and judgment.
- mîšpāṭ (mišpāṭ) - "justice," "judgment." Reiteration of the absence of justice.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "There is no one to plead a righteous cause, and no one speaks truth." This phrase (likely a paraphrase or summation of the first part of the thought being conveyed by the verse, which Isaiah 59:14 more directly states with "Justice is turned back... and righteousness stands afar off.") illustrates the complete breakdown of public discourse and legal integrity. Truth itself is absent, making it impossible for justice to prevail. The absence of pleaders means there's no one to champion the cause of the innocent or the wronged.
- "Truth is banished, and he who turns away from evil is plundered." This describes the severe consequences of this societal rot. Those who try to live righteously are not protected but become prey. The moral compass is so broken that the virtuous are victims. This signifies that goodness is punished rather than rewarded.
- "The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice." This emphasizes God's sovereign awareness and his active displeasure with the prevailing corruption. It is not that God is unaware, but rather that this absence of justice deeply offends his righteous nature.
Isaiah 59 15 Bonus Section
The deep distress and "plundering" of the righteous by the wicked in this verse can be seen as a precursor to the concept of the Suffering Servant found later in Isaiah, who would ultimately bear the iniquities of the people and establish true justice. The pervasive injustice described here sets the stage for God's ultimate intervention and redemption, offering a future hope for the establishment of everlasting righteousness. The verse's lament for truth and justice anticipates the fulfillment found in Jesus Christ, who declared himself "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) and who came to establish a kingdom of righteousness.
Isaiah 59 15 Commentary
Isaiah 59:15 paints a stark picture of a society where justice and truth have utterly collapsed. In such a spiritual vacuum, the few who attempt to do good and shun evil find themselves unprotected and victimized. God, the ultimate observer and arbiter, sees this perversion of justice and is deeply grieved by it. This verse underscores the critical importance of truth and justice as foundational elements of a society and highlights God's active hatred of injustice.