Isaiah 59 4

Isaiah 59:4 kjv

None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah 59:4 nkjv

No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah 59:4 niv

No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Isaiah 59:4 esv

No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Isaiah 59:4 nlt

No one cares about being fair and honest.
The people's lawsuits are based on lies.
They conceive evil deeds
and then give birth to sin.

Isaiah 59 verses

Isaiah 59 4 Meaning

Isaiah 59:4 vividly portrays a society steeped in moral and spiritual corruption. It laments the utter absence of individuals who uphold justice or faithfully represent truth in legal or public discourse. Instead, the people are characterized by reliance on hollow arguments, deliberate deceit, and a continuous cycle of inward malice leading to outward sinful actions, signifying a complete perversion of God's righteous standards.

Isaiah 59 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 59 serves as a lament and an indictment against the people of Israel for their pervasive sin. Verse 4 appears early in the chapter, immediately after the prophet declares that God's hand is not short, nor His ear heavy, but rather their own sins have separated them from Him (vv. 1-2). This verse particularizes the nature of their transgression: a complete breakdown of justice and truth in their society. The preceding verses described their bloodstained hands and lying lips (v. 3), and verse 4 elaborates on the absence of rectitude in their public and legal dealings. This societal decay is portrayed as internal corruption—from conceiving mischief to giving birth to iniquity. Historically, this prophecy likely speaks to a post-exilic community or refers to the ongoing moral decline that necessitated the exile, reflecting a nation that had forsaken its covenant obligations, failing to live out the ethical standards prescribed by the Lord, distinguishing themselves not from surrounding nations but mirroring their iniquity.

Isaiah 59 4 Word analysis

• No one calls for justice:

  • No one (אֵין - ʾên): A strong negation, indicating a complete absence. Not merely a few, but a societal dearth.
  • calls (קֹרֵא - qōrēʾ): From the root qaraʾ, meaning "to call, summon, proclaim." Here, it signifies calling for fair legal judgment, demanding what is right, or advocating for righteousness.
  • for justice (בְצֶדֶק - be-tzedeq): Tzedeq is righteousness, moral rectitude, conformity to divine law. The prefix be- implies "in," "with," or "according to." There is no demand or pursuit of righteousness in legal or social spheres. This stands in stark contrast to God, who does call for justice (Isa 1:17).

• no one pleads their case with integrity:

  • no one (וְאֵין - we-ʾên): Again, a stark negation, reinforcing the pervasive nature of the problem.
  • pleads their case (נִשְׁפָּט - nishpaṭ): Niph'al participle of shaphat, "to judge, rule, or plead." Refers to participating in a judicial process, making a defense or claim. It denotes that even in legal proceedings, no one engages truthfully.
  • with integrity (בֶּאֱמוּנָה - be-ʾemûnāh): Emunah means faithfulness, reliability, truth, trustworthiness. It's a key attribute of God and a required characteristic of covenant people. Its absence indicates deceit, untruth, and lack of fidelity in their dealings.

• They rely on empty pleas and speak lies;

  • rely on (בָּטוֹחַ - bāṭôaḥ): Participle of bāṭaḥ, "to trust, to be confident in." It points to what they place their confidence or assurance in.
  • on empty pleas (עַל־תֹּהוּ - ʿal-tōhû): Tohû (formlessness, chaos, futility, emptiness) is used here metaphorically. Their arguments, defenses, or promises are without substance, built on falsehood or vanity, yielding nothing worthwhile or truthful.
  • and speak lies (וְדַבֵּר־שָׁוְא - we-dabēr-šāwʾ): Dābār (to speak), and šāwʾ (emptiness, falsehood, worthlessness). It denotes the act of uttering what is false, deceiving deliberately. This connects to bearing false witness (Ex 20:16) and contrasts with speaking truth.

• they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

  • conceive (הָרוֹ - hārô): From harah, "to become pregnant, conceive." This is a powerful metaphor for the internal plotting, planning, and forming of evil thoughts.
  • mischief (יַעְמָל - yaʿmāl): From āmāl, meaning toil, trouble, wickedness, injustice. It refers to the destructive or hurtful intent, the plan for doing evil.
  • and give birth to (וְהוֹלִיד - we-hôlîd): From yālad, "to bear, bring forth, give birth." The culmination of the internal process; the evil thought manifests in harmful action.
  • iniquity (עָוֶן - ʿāwen): Moral perversity, wickedness, guilt, actual sin, and its consequences. It signifies the evil deed itself, the product of the conceived mischief.

Isaiah 59 4 Bonus section

• The chiastic structure often observed in Hebrew poetry (e.g., A-B-B'-A') isn't prominent here, but a clear progression is seen: absence of public justice -> active private deception -> internal evil leading to external sin.
• The repetition of the negative particle "no one" (ein) emphasizes the pervasive nature of the corruption. It's not a localized issue but a widespread societal malady affecting everyone's conduct.
• The terms tohu (emptiness/chaos) and shav (falsehood/vanity) are sometimes used in conjunction in biblical literature, often conveying the idea of futility or idol worship. Here, they highlight the inherent worthlessness and deceptive nature of the people's legal and ethical stances.
• The phrase "conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity" connects the human heart as the incubator of sin, echoing principles later found in the New Testament about the origin of temptation and sin from within (Mk 7:21-23, Jam 1:14-15).
• This verse contributes to a broader prophetic theme: human failure leads to separation from God, necessitating divine action for restoration and righteousness. Isaiah often highlights humanity's moral bankruptcy to underscore the absolute need for the coming righteous King/Servant.

Isaiah 59 4 Commentary

Isaiah 59:4 serves as a searing indictment of Judah's spiritual and moral degradation, portraying a complete erosion of justice and integrity in their public life. The verse outlines not merely an occasional lapse but a systemic breakdown: righteousness is neither sought nor spoken, and faithfulness has vanished from legal proceedings. Instead, people actively employ deceit, grounding their actions and words in "empty pleas" and "lies," rather than on divine truth. This moral collapse is traced back to its root: evil thoughts ("conceiving mischief") are nurtured and inevitably ripen into sinful deeds ("giving birth to iniquity"). The imagery of conception and birth graphically illustrates the deliberate, internal genesis and external manifestation of sin, highlighting that their transgression is not accidental but cultivated within the heart. This profound diagnosis reveals humanity's utter incapacity to live righteously without divine intervention, setting the stage for the desperate need of a Redeemer.