Isaiah 1:23

23 Your ¹rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone ²loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They ³do not ^[a]defend the ^[b]orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.

Isaiah 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 1:23

Thy princes [are] rebellious
Stubborn and obstinate, refused to receive and acknowledge the Messiah; such were the Jewish rulers, civil and ecclesiastical, in the times of Christ. And companions of thieves:
who devoured widows' houses; made the temple, which was a house of prayer, a den of thieves; and took away the key of knowledge from the people, and would not suffer them to attend the ministry of the Gospel, ( Matthew 21:13 ) ( Matthew 23:13 Matthew 23:14 ) ( Luke 11:52 ) everyone loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards.
The Targum paraphrases it,

``everyone says to his neighbour, do me a favour in my cause, I will return "it" to thee in thy cause;''

and so justice was perverted: they judge not the fatherless;
that is, either they do not take their cause in hand at all, or, if they do, do not do them justice, but wrong them of their goods and estates, which, of right, belong to them: neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them;
there being no money to be got by undertaking it; see the case of the unjust judge, a picture of judges in those times, ( Luke 18:2 Luke 18:3 ) .

Isaiah 1:23 In-Context

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries And avenge Myself on My foes.

25 "I will also turn My hand against you, And will smelt away your dross as with lye And will remove all your alloy.

Cross References

• 1. Hosea 5:10; Micah 7:3
• 2. Exodus 23:8; Micah 7:3
• 3. Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "vindicate"
• [b]. Or "fatherless"