Isaiah 3:15

15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Isaiah 3:15 in Other Translations

15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

15 What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

15 How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

15 What is this anyway? Stomping on my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?" That's what the Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, says.

15 Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?" says the Lord God of Hosts.

Isaiah 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:15

What mean ye, [that] ye beat my people to pieces
Reduce them to the utmost poverty; so the Targum,

``wherefore do ye impoverish my people?''

as they did by exacting tithes of all that they possessed; by requiring large sums for their long prayers; and by various traditions they enjoined them to observe: and grind the faces of the poor?
either by smiting them on the cheek, as Christ, who became poor for our sakes, was smitten by them; or by bringing them into such low circumstances, by their exorbitant demands, that they had not sufficiency of food to eat; by which means their faces became pale, thin, and meagre: saith the Lord God of Hosts:
who saw all their actions, and was able to plead his people's cause, and take vengeance on their oppressors.

Isaiah 3:15 In-Context

13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.

14 The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

16 The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.

17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.”

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 94:5
• 2. S Job 24:14
• 3. Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 26:6; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 32:6; Isaiah 51:23
• 4. Isaiah 5:7