Isaiah 59:7 kjv
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Isaiah 59:7 nkjv
Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Isaiah 59:7 niv
Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.
Isaiah 59:7 esv
Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.
Isaiah 59:7 nlt
Their feet run to do evil,
and they rush to commit murder.
They think only about sinning.
Misery and destruction always follow them.
Isaiah 59 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 59:7 | "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood;" | Theme: Rashness to evil, Violence |
| Proverbs 1:16 | "For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood." | Parallelism in phrasing |
| Romans 3:15 | "Their feet are swift to shed blood," | NT Echo of theme |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | "do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor..." | Contrast: Justice vs. Oppression |
| Psalm 14:3 | "they have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;" | Unity in sin |
| Micah 3:2 | "Who hate the good and love the evil," | Opposition to good |
| Hosea 4:2 | "perjury and lying and murder and stealing and adultery..." | Catalogue of sins |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these..." | NT parallels to destructive actions |
| Matthew 5:21-22 | "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder’..." | Jesus on murder |
| 1 John 3:15 | "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer..." | Broader definition of murder |
| Ephesians 4:26 | "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger," | Control of anger |
| 2 Samuel 1:15 | "And David said to him, ‘How did you not fear to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?’" | Divine protection over anointed ones |
| Psalm 36:4 | "He does not restrain himself from evil" | Unchecked inclination to sin |
| Proverbs 6:32-33 | "But whoever commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself." | Self-destruction through sin |
| Revelation 18:6 | "Pay her back as she also has paid, and for her deeds return to her double;" | Retribution for wicked deeds |
| James 4:1-2 | "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" | Source of conflict |
| 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." | Pervasive human evil |
| Acts 16:19-25 | Imprisonment for causing financial loss through sorcery, contrasted with liberation by righteous act | Consequences of disruptive behavior |
| Zechariah 7:10 | "do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor..." | Command to prevent oppression |
| Proverbs 4:16 | "For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;" | Habitual wickedness |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 7 Meaning
The verse describes a people whose actions are inherently violent and destructive, leading them to ruin. Their steps hasten them toward devastation, demonstrating a deliberate and swift path to their own downfall.
Isaiah 59 7 Context
Isaiah 59 vividly portrays the deep sinfulness and corruption of the people of Judah. The chapter begins with the people acknowledging that their sins have separated them from God, hindering His responsiveness to their cries. The prophet enumerates the specific sins that have caused this spiritual alienation. Verse 7 specifically highlights their swiftness and eagerness to engage in violence, particularly shedding innocent blood, emphasizing the destructive nature of their choices and their uninhibited pursuit of evil. This paints a picture of a society spiraling into ruin due to its moral decay.
Isaiah 59 7 Word Analysis
- feet (רַגְלֵיהֶם - ragleyhem): Refers literally to their physical feet, but metaphorically to their actions, movements, and overall conduct.
- In Hebrew thought, feet are often associated with the direction and pace of one's life and journey.
- The "feet" of the wicked are characterized as swift or quick, implying an eagerness and haste.
- run (רָצָה - ratzah): Means to run, to hasten, to move swiftly.
- Implies a willing and eager participation in evil. It's not accidental, but by choice and desire.
- to evil (לְרָעָה - lera'ah): Towards evil, to do harm, mischief, or wickedness.
- This indicates the direction and purpose of their hurried movements.
- and (וְ - v'e): A conjunction connecting two clauses, showing a parallel and compounding action.
- they make haste (אָצַץ - atzatz): To rush, be hurried, or prompt.
- Suggests an eagerness and promptness in their actions, indicating a lack of deliberation or restraint.
- to shed (לִשְׁפּךְ - lishpokh): To pour out, spill.
- Used here specifically for shedding blood, which is a strong and violent image.
- innocent (נָקִי - naqi): Innocent, guiltless, clean.
- Highlights the unjust nature of the bloodshed; it is the blood of those who have done no wrong.
- blood (דָּם - dam): Blood, a common symbol for life and often associated with violence, sacrifice, and death.
- The shedding of innocent blood is one of the most grievous sins in the Old Testament law.
Isaiah 59 7 Bonus Section
The concept of "feet running to evil" can be understood through the lens of ingrained habits and unbridled passions. When individuals or communities consistently choose sin over righteousness, these actions become habitual, as noted in Proverbs 4:16 ("For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong"). This creates a momentum that pulls them further away from God, making the return to Him more difficult. The swiftness implied suggests a lack of conscience or a dulled sense of right and wrong. The shedding of innocent blood, a specific example of extreme evil, underscores the severity of societal corruption depicted by Isaiah. The parallel found in Proverbs 1:16 shows this is a recurring theme throughout Israelite wisdom literature and prophetic warnings. The New Testament echoes this sentiment in Romans 3:15, underscoring the universality of sin's destructive pathway.
Isaiah 59 7 Commentary
Isaiah 59:7 paints a stark picture of humanity’s inclination toward sin and its destructive consequences. The verse emphasizes not just the commission of evil but the eagerness and speed with which it is pursued. The feet running to evil and making haste to shed innocent blood speak to a corrupt nature that actively seeks out opportunities for wickedness and violence. This imagery resonates throughout Scripture, highlighting the human tendency to stray from righteousness and the rapid descent into moral ruin when left unchecked by divine principles. It serves as a solemn warning about the seductive nature of sin and the personal responsibility involved in every choice.