Isaiah 3:9

9 The look on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom, they flaunt their sin. They do not conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Isaiah 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:9

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them,
&c.] The word translated "shew" is only used in this place. Some derive it from (rkn) , "to know", in the conjugations Piel and Hiphil; and render it, "the knowledge of their countenance" ^F6; that is, that which may be known by their countenances; the countenance oftentimes shows what is in the heart, the cruel disposition of the mind, the pride and vanity of it, the uncleanness and lasciviousness that is in it; to this our version agrees, and which is confirmed by the Chaldee paraphrase,

``the knowledge of their countenance in judgment doth testify against them;''

as they appear there, so it may be judged of them; their guilt flies in their face, and fills them with shame and confusion; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "the shame of their face"; but others derive it from (rkh) , which has the signification of hardness in the Arabic language, and as it is thought by some to have in ( Job 19:3 ) and render it, "the hardness of their countenance"; so R. Joseph Kimchi, and others ^F7, meaning their impudence ^F8; not only their words and actions, but their impudent looks, show what they are; which agrees with what follows: and they declare their sin as Sodom,
and hide [it] not;
commit it openly, without fear or shame; glory in it, and boast of it, as the Jews did in their crucifixion of Christ, and their evil treatment of him: woe to their soul, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves;
they have brought upon themselves, soul and body, the just recompence of reward; they have been the cause of their own ruin, and have wronged their own souls.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Myhynp trkh) "cognitio vultus eorum", Munster, Vatablus, V. L.
F7 "Obfermatio", Janius & Tremellius; "durities", Piscator.
F8 So Schindler renders the Arabic word <arabic>, "hacar", impudence. Vid. Castel. Lexic. col. 846.

Isaiah 3:9 In-Context

7 On that day he will cry out, saying: "I'm not a healer. I don't even have food or clothing in my house. Don't make me the leader of the people!"

8 For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they have spoken and acted against the Lord, defying His glorious presence.

9 The look on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom, they flaunt their sin. They do not conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

10 Tell the righteous that it will go well [for them], for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.

11 Woe to the wicked-[it will go] badly [for them], for what they have done will be done to them.