Isaiah 10
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The Jews, about to be carried into captivity, are here warned against the superstition and idolatry of that country to which they were going. Chaldea was greatly addicted to astrology, and therefore the prophet begins with warning them against it, Jer 10:1, Jer 10:2. He then exposes the absurdity of idolatry in short but elegant satire; in the midst of which he turns, in a beautiful apostrophe, to the one true God, whose adorable attributes repeatedly strike in view, as he goes along, and lead him to contrast his infinite perfections with those despicable inanities which the blinded nations fear, Jer 10:3-16. The prophet again denounces the Divine judgments, Jer 10:17, Jer 10:18; upon which Jerusalem laments her fate, and supplicates the Divine compassion in her favor, Jer 10:19-25.
Open source ↗Fourth strophe. (Isa 10:1-4) them that decree--namely, unrighteous judges. write grievousness, &c.--not the scribes, but the magistrates who caused unjust decisions (literally, "injustice" or "grievousness") to be recorded by them (Isa 65:6) [MAURER], (Isa 1:10, Isa 1:23).
Open source ↗Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees,.... Or, "O ye that decree", &c. being a sign of the vocative case, and an interjection of calling, as Aben Ezra observes; though the Targum and other versions understand it of a threatening denounced; and is to be understood as lying against lawgivers and judges, political rulers and governors of the people, that made unrighteous laws; laws which were not agreeable to the law of God, nor right reason; and were injurious to the persons and properties of men; and which were calculated for the oppression of good men, especially the poor, and for the protection of wicked men, who made no conscience of spoiling them: and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; laws grievous and intolerable being made by them, they wrote them, or ordered them to be written, to be engrossed and promulgated, published them, and obliged the people to be subject to them. This some understand of the scribes of judges, who sat in court, and wrote out the decrees and sentences made by them; but it rather intends the same persons as before; and not ecclesiastical but political governors are meant, and such as lived before the Babylonish captivity; or otherwise the whole is applicable to the Scribes and Pharisees, to the Misnic doctors, the authors of the oral law, the fathers of tradition, whose decisions and decrees were unrighteous and injurious, and contrary to the commands of God; heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and very oppressive of the poor, the fatherless, and the widow; for which they are reproved by Christ, Mat 15:3 Jarchi says it is an Arabic (g) word, which signifies scribes. (g) So and Scriba, Golius, col. 1999; so the word is used in the Chaldee and Syriac languages. See Castel. col. 1828, 1829.
Open source ↗Strophe 4. "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who prepare trouble to force away the needy from demanding justice, and to rob the suffering of my people of their rightful claims, that widows may become their prey, and they plunder orphans! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the storm that cometh from afar? To whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye deposit your glory? There is nothing left but to bow down under prisoners, and they fall under the slain. With all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still." This last strophe is directed against the unjust authorities and judges. The woe pronounced upon them is, as we have already frequently seen, Isaiah's Ceterum censeo. Châkak is their decisive decree (not, however, in a denominative sense, but in the primary sense of hewing in, recording in official documents, Isa 30:8; Job 19:23); and Cittēb (piel only occurring here, and a perfect, according to Gesenius, 126, 3) their official signing and writing. Their decrees are Chikekē 'aven (an open plural, as in Jdg 5:15, for Chukkē, after the analogy of גללי, עממי, with an absolute Chăkâkim underlying it: Ewald, 186-7), inasmuch as their contents were worthlessness, i.e., the direct opposite of morality; and what they wrote out was ‛âmâl, trouble, i.e., an unjust oppression of the people (compare πόνος and πονηρός). (Note: The current accentuation, ומכתבים mercha, עמל tiphchah, is wrong. The true accentuation would be the former with tiphchah (and metheg), the latter with mercha; for ‛âmâl cittēbu is an attributive (an elliptical relative) clause. According to its etymon, ‛âmâl seems to stand by the side of μῶλος, moles, molestus (see Pott in Kuhn's Zeitschrift, ix. 202); but with…
Open source ↗Whether they were the princes and judges of Israel of Judah, or both, that the prophet denounced this woe against, is not certain: if those of Israel, these verses are to be joined with the close of the foregoing chapter, which is probable enough, because the burden of that prophecy (for all this his anger is not turned away) is repeated here (Isa 10:4); if those of Judah, they then show what was the particular design with which God brought the Assyrian army upon them - to punish their magistrates for mal-administration, which they could not legally be called to account for. To them he speaks woes before he speaks comfort to God's own people. Here is, I. The indictment drawn up against these oppressors, Isa 10:1, Isa 10:2. They are charged, 1. With making wicked laws and edicts: They decree unrighteous decrees, contrary to natural equity and the law of God: and what mischief they prescribe those under them write it, enrol it, and put it into the formality of a law. "Woe to the superior powers that devise and decree these decrees! they are not too high to be under the divine check. And woe to the inferior officers that draw them up, and enter them upon record - the writers that write the grievousness, they are not too mean to be within the divine cognizance. Principal and accessaries shall fall under the same woe." Note, It is bad to do hurt, but it is worse to do it with design and deliberation, to do wrong to many, and to involve many in the guilt of doing wrong. 2. With perverting justice in the execution of the laws that were made. No people had statutes and judgments to righteous as they had, and yet corrupt judges found ways to turn aside the needy from judgment, to hinder them from coming at their right and recovering what was their due, because they were needy an…
Open source ↗10:1-4 This prophecy was directed against Judah’s leaders, who used their positions to enrich themselves at the people’s expense. 10:1 What sorrow introduces a threat of divine judgment.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
הוֹי (hôwy, H1945) — oh! חָקַק (châqaq, H2710) — properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to… אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol חֵקֶק (chêqeq, H2711) — an enactment, a resolution כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) עָמָל (ʻâmâl, H5999) — toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
Open source ↗נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… דַּל (dal, H1800) — properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin דִּין (dîyn, H1779) — judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife גָּזַל (gâzal, H1497) — to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… עָנִי (ʻânîy, H6041) — depressed, in mind or circumstances עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אַלְמָנָה (ʼalmânâh, H490) — a widow; also a desolate place שָׁלָל (shâlâl, H7998) — booty בָּזַז (bâzaz, H962) — to plunder יָתוֹם (yâthôwm, H3490) — a bereaved person
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddâh, H6486) — visitation (in many senses, chiefly official) שׁוֹא (shôwʼ, H7722) — a tempest; by implication, devastation בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מֶרְחָק (merchâq, H4801) — remoteness, i.e. (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) עֶזְרָה (ʻezrâh, H5833) — aid עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
Open source ↗בִּלְתִּי (biltîy, H1115) — properly, a failure of, i.e. (used only as a negative particle, usually with a… כָּרַע (kâraʻ, H3766) — to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate אַסִּיר (ʼaççîyr, H616) — {bound, i.e. a captive} נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used…
Open source ↗הוֹי (hôwy, H1945) — oh! אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), זַעַם (zaʻam, H2195) — strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure…
Open source ↗שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) חָנֵף (chânêph, H2611) — soiled (i.e. with sin), impious גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… עֶבְרָה (ʻebrâh, H5678) — an outburst of passion צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin שָׁלַל (shâlal, H7997) — to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder שָׁלָל (shâlâl, H7998) — booty בָּזַז (bâzaz, H962) — to plunder בַּז (baz, H957) — plunder שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… מִרְמָס (mirmâç, H4823) — abasement (the act or the thing) חֹמֶר (chômer, H2563) — properly, a bubbling up, i.e. of water, a wave; of earth, mire or clay (cement); also a… חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors
Open source ↗דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1819) — to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king
Open source ↗כַּלְנֶה (Kalneh, H3641) — Calneh or Calno, a place in the Assyrian empire כַּרְכְּמִישׁ (Karkᵉmîysh, H3751) — Karkemish, a place in Syria חֲמָת (Chămâth, H2574) — Chamath, a place in Syria אַרְפָּד (ʼArpâd, H774) — Arpad, a place in Syria שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Dammeseq, H1834) — Damascus, a city of Syria
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh, H4467) — dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm) אֱלִיל (ʼĕlîyl, H457) — good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol פְּסִיל (pᵉçîyl, H6456) — an idol יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine אֱלִיל (ʼĕlîyl, H457) — good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine עָצָב (ʻâtsâb, H6091) — an (idolatrous) image
Open source ↗אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) בָּצַע (bâtsaʻ, H1214) — figuratively, to finish, or (intransitively) stop מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) גֹּדֶל (gôdel, H1433) — magnitude (literally or figuratively) לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) רוּם (rûwm, H7312) — (literally) elevation or (figuratively) elation
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) גְּבוּלָה (gᵉbûwlâh, H1367) — a boundary, region עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁסָה (shâçâh, H8154) — to plunder עָתוּד (ʻâthûwd, H6259) — prepared עָתִיד (ʻâthîyd, H6264) — prepared; by implication, skilful; feminine plural the future; also treasure יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to…
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… קֵן (qên, H7064) — a nest (as fixed), sometimes including the nestlings; figuratively, a chamber or dwelling חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) — to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave… בֵּיצָה (bêytsâh, H1000) — an egg (from its whiteness) עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָדַד (nâdad, H5074) — properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee,… כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… פָּצָה (pâtsâh, H6475) — to rend, i.e. open (especially the mouth) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… צָפַף (tsâphaph, H6850) — to coo or chirp (as a bird)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.
Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,
Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!