Isaiah 5:23

23 who spare the guilty for bribes, and rob the innocent of their rights.

Isaiah 5:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 5:23

Which justify the wicked for reward
This is either spoken of judges, and civil magistrates, who gave the cause in favour of the wicked, that bribed them, contrary to law, ( Deuteronomy 16:19 ) or rather of the Scribes and Pharisees, who pronounced the wicked righteous men, provided they kept the traditions of the elders, and paid tithes of all they possessed, and gave them money for their long prayers, ( Matthew 23:14 Matthew 23:23 ) : and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him;
by condemning them as unrighteous persons: so the Jews did Christ and his apostles; they pronounced them wicked, and condemned them to death; and as much as in them lay took away their righteousness from them, by taking away their character from them as righteous persons among men; though their righteousness itself could not be taken away, it being an everlasting one.

Isaiah 5:23 In-Context

21 Doom to those who consider themselves wise, who think of themselves as clever.

22 Doom to the wine-swigging warriors, mighty at mixing drinks,

23 who spare the guilty for bribes, and rob the innocent of their rights.

24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire devours stubble, and as hay shrivels in a flame, so their roots will rot, and their blossoms turn to dust, for they have rejected the teaching of the LORD of heavenly forces, and have despised the word of Israel's holy one.

25 This is why the LORD's anger burned against the people: he extended his hand to strike them, the mountains trembled, and their corpses lay in the middle of the streets like dung. Even then God's anger didn't turn away; God's hand was still extended.