Isaiah 3:9

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.

Isaiah 3:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 Brazen in their depravity, they flout their sins like degenerate Sodom. Doom to their eternal souls! They've made their bed; now they'll sleep in it.
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 The look on their faces will be held against them. They boast about their sins, which are like [those of the people of] Sodom. They don't even bother to hide them. How horrible it will be for these people, because they have brought disaster on themselves.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 The look on their faces is a witness against them. They show off their sin, just as the people of Sodom did. They don't even try to hide it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought trouble 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.
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 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”
8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.
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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Numbers 32:23; Isaiah 59:12; Jeremiah 14:7; Hosea 5:5
  • 2. S Genesis 13:13
  • 3. S 2 Chronicles 34:24; S Proverbs 8:36; Romans 6:23
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