Isaiah 3:11

11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

Isaiah 3:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
ESV
11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
NLT
11 But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.
MSG
11 But doom to the wicked! Disaster! Everything they did will be done to them.
CSB
11 Woe to the wicked-[it will go] badly [for them], for what they have done will be done to them.

Isaiah 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:11

Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]
In time, and to eternity, in times of public calamity, and under all afflictions, and adverse dispensations of Providence; he has no God to go to; all that befalls him is in wrath; at death he is driven away in his wickedness; at judgment he will be bid to depart as cursed, and his portion will be in the lake of fire, with devils and damned spirits for ever. Some F12 render it, "woe to the wicked, evil"; or who is evil, who is exceedingly bad, a very great sinner, the chief of sinners, such as the Sodomites were, sinners before the Lord exceedingly, ( Genesis 13:13 ) to whom these men are compared, ( Isaiah 3:9 ) . So the Targum,

``woe to the ungodly, whose works are evil:''
the Jews, as they distinguish between a good man and a righteous man, so between a wicked man and an evil man; there are, say they F13, a righteous good man, and a righteous man that is not good; but he that is good to God, and good to men, he is a righteous good man; he that is good to God, and not good to men, he is a righteous man, that is not good; and there are a wicked evil man, and a wicked man that is not evil; he that is evil to God, and evil to men, he is a wicked evil man; he that is evil to God, and not evil to men, he is a wicked man that is not evil. See ( Romans 5:7 Romans 5:8 ) for the reward of his hands shall be given him;
in righteous judgment, in strict justice, as a just recompense of reward; nor shall he have reason to complain of unrighteousness in God.
FOOTNOTES:

F12 (er evrl ywa) "vae impio malo", Munster, Vatablus; so Ben Melech.
F13 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 40. 1.

Isaiah 3:11 In-Context

9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Job 9:13; Isaiah 57:20
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:15-68
  • 3. S 2 Chronicles 6:23
  • 4. Jeremiah 21:14; Lamentations 5:16; Ezekiel 24:14
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