Isaiah 5:23

23 qui iustificatis impium pro muneribus et iustitiam iusti aufertis ab eo

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 vae qui sapientes estis in oculis vestris et coram vobismet ipsis prudentes

22 vae qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum et viri fortes ad miscendam ebrietatem

23 qui iustificatis impium pro muneribus et iustitiam iusti aufertis ab eo

24 propter hoc sicut devorat stipulam lingua ignis et calor flammae exurit sic radix eorum quasi favilla erit et germen eorum ut pulvis ascendet abiecerunt enim legem Domini exercituum et eloquium Sancti Israhel blasphemaverunt

25 ideo iratus est furor Domini in populo suo et extendit manum suam super eum et percussit eum et conturbati sunt montes et facta sunt morticina eorum quasi stercus in medio platearum in omnibus his non est aversus furor eius sed adhuc manus eius extenta