Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

◄ Isaiah 1:23 ►

New International Version
Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

New Living Translation
Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows.

English Standard Version
Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

Berean Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

King James Bible
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

New King James Version
Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

New American Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They do not obtain justice for the orphan, Nor does the widow’s case come before them.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And pursues rewards. They do not execute justice for the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

Amplified Bible
Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes And chases after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the widow’s cause come before them [instead they delay or turn a deaf ear].

Christian Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow’s case never comes before them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow’s case never comes before them.

American Standard Version
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Contemporary English Version
Your leaders have rejected me to become friends of crooks; your rulers are looking for gifts and bribes. Widows and orphans never get a fair trial.

English Revised Version
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves. They all love bribes and run after gifts. They never defend orphans. They don't notice the widows' pleas.

Good News Translation
Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.

International Standard Version
Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. All of them are lovers of bribes and are runners after gifts. They don't bring justice to orphans, and the widow's case never comes up for review in their court."

Majority Standard Bible
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

NET Bible
Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.

New Heart English Bible
Your rulers are rebellious, companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe, chasing after payoffs. They do not judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come to them.

World English Bible
Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Your princes [are] apostates, and companions of thieves, "" Everyone loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, "" They do not judge the fatherless, "" And the plea of the widow does not come to them.

Young's Literal Translation
Thy princes are apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy chiefs turning away, and associates of thieves: every one loving a gift and following recompenses: the orphan they will not judge, and the cause of the widow will not come to them.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love bribes, the run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and the widow's cometh not in to them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Your leaders are unfaithful, the associates of thieves. They all love gifts; they pursue rewards. They do not judge for orphans, and the widow’s case is not brought before them.

New American Bible
Your princes are rebels and comrades of thieves; Each one of them loves a bribe and looks for gifts. The fatherless they do not defend, the widow’s plea does not reach them.

New Revised Standard Version
Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow’s cause does not come before them.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves; every one of them loves a bribe and runs after rewards; they plead not the cause of the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come before them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your Princes are rebellious and are partners of thieves; all of them love a bribe and they hurry to reward corruptions; for the orphans they do not execute justice, and the justice of the widow does not come into them

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Thy princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Every one loveth bribes, And followeth after rewards; They judge not the fatherless, Neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thy princes are rebellious, companions of thieves, loving bribes, seeking after rewards; not pleading for orphans, and not heeding the cause of widows.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Corruption of Zion
…22Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water. 23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them. 24Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Zephaniah 3:3-4
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. / Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

Hosea 9:15
All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

Psalm 82:2-4
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah / Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Jeremiah 22:17
“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”

Matthew 23:23
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.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

James 2:6
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

Matthew 21:13
And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Treasury of Scripture

Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

princes

Isaiah 3:14
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

2 Chronicles 24:17-21
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them…

2 Chronicles 36:14
Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

companions

Proverbs 29:24
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

Matthew 21:13
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:27
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

every

Isaiah 33:15
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

they judge

Isaiah 10:1,2
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; …

Jeremiah 5:28,29
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge…

Zechariah 7:10
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Jump to Previous

Bribe Bribes Case Cause Chase Chases Chiefs Companions Decisions Defend Fatherless Followeth Follows Friends Gifts Judge Loves Orphan Plea Princes Profit Rebellious Rebels Rewards Right Rulers Runs Thieves Widow Widow's

Jump to Next

Isaiah 1

1. Isaiah complains of Judah for her rebellion
5. He laments her judgments
10. He upbraids their whole service
16. He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
21. Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God's judgments
25. He promises grace
28. And threatens destruction to the wicked

Berean Study Bible

Your rulers are rebels
The Hebrew word for "rulers" here is "שָׂרַיִךְ" (sarayikh), which refers to leaders or princes. In the context of ancient Israel, these were individuals entrusted with governance and justice. The term "rebels" is translated from "סוֹרְרִים" (sorerim), indicating a turning away or defiance against God’s laws. Historically, this reflects a period when leaders were not adhering to the covenantal responsibilities, leading to societal decay. The rebellion of rulers signifies a broader spiritual apostasy, where those in power have forsaken their divine mandate to lead with righteousness.

friends of thieves
The phrase "friends of thieves" suggests a close association or complicity with those who commit theft. The Hebrew word "חֲבֵרֵי" (chaveri) implies companionship or alliance. This indicates a corruption where leaders are not only tolerating but are in league with those who exploit and steal. In a historical context, this paints a picture of a society where justice is perverted, and those in power are more concerned with personal gain than with upholding the law.

They all love bribes
The Hebrew word for "love" here is "אֹהֲבֵי" (ohavei), which conveys a deep affection or desire. "Bribes" is translated from "שֹׁחַד" (shochad), referring to illicit payments intended to influence judgment. This phrase highlights a systemic issue where justice is for sale, and leaders are motivated by greed rather than integrity. Biblically, this is a direct violation of God’s commandments, which call for impartiality and fairness in judgment.

and chase after gifts
The term "chase after" is derived from "רֹדְפֵי" (rodefei), meaning to pursue or run after with intent. "Gifts" here, "מִנְחָה" (minchah), can refer to offerings or presents, often given to curry favor. This pursuit of gifts indicates a prioritization of personal enrichment over public service. Historically, this reflects a culture where leaders are more interested in what they can gain personally rather than serving the needs of the people.

They do not defend the fatherless
"Defend" is translated from "שָׁפַט" (shafat), meaning to judge or vindicate. The "fatherless" or "יָתוֹם" (yatom) refers to orphans, who in ancient societies were among the most vulnerable. The failure to defend them indicates a neglect of one of the core responsibilities of leadership, which is to protect and provide for those who cannot protect themselves. This neglect is a direct affront to God’s commands, which emphasize care for the orphan and the widow.

and the plea of the widow never comes before them
The "plea" or "רִיב" (riv) refers to a legal case or complaint. "Widow" or "אַלְמָנָה" (almanah) represents another vulnerable group in society. The phrase "never comes before them" suggests a deliberate ignorance or avoidance of their needs. In the biblical context, this is a grave injustice, as God repeatedly calls for the protection and support of widows. The leaders’ failure to address their pleas is indicative of a broader moral and spiritual failure.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Thy princes are rebellious.--The Hebrew words present an alliterative paronomasia (s?rim, sorerim), which may be represented by "Thy rulers are rebels." Here, as before, we note the "influence of Hosea (Hosea 9:15), from whom the words are cited.

Companions of thieves.--We seem almost to be reading a report of the state of police in a provincial city under the government of Turkey as it is, or of Naples or Sicily as they were. The kadi himself is in secret partnership with the brigands who infest the highways. Nothing can be done without baksheesh, and the robbers who have the plunder can bribe more heavily than the man whom they have robbed. (Comp. Micah 7:3.) To the complaints of the widow and the orphan the judges turned a deaf ear, and put off the hearing of their cause with indefinite procrastination. There is, perhaps, a touch of irony in the word for "bribes" (shalm?nim, as if "peace gifts"), which were sought after, instead of shalom, the true peace itself.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - Thy princes are rebellious; i.e. "rebels against their true King, Jehovah." Companions of thieves. Leagued with those who are engaged in filching away the inheritance of the widow and the orphan by chicane in the law courts (see above, vers. 15-17; and compare the Homiletics on vers. 16-20). Gifts... rewards; i.e. "bribes, "given and taken on the condition of their perverting justice (comp. Jeremiah 22:17; Ezekiel 22:12; Micah 3:11; Micah 7:3). They judge not the fatherless, etc. They dismiss the orphan's complaint without hearing it, and are so noted for perversion of justice that the widow does not even bring her cause before them.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Your rulers
שָׂרַ֣יִךְ (śā·ra·yiḵ)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

are rebels,
סוֹרְרִ֗ים (sō·wr·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5637: To turn away, be refractory

friends
וְחַבְרֵי֙ (wə·ḥaḇ·rê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2270: United, associate, companion

of thieves.
גַּנָּבִ֔ים (gan·nā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1590: A stealer

They all
כֻּלּוֹ֙ (kul·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

love
אֹהֵ֣ב (’ō·hêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

bribes
שֹׁ֔חַד (šō·ḥaḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7810: A present, bribe

and chasing after
וְרֹדֵ֖ף (wə·rō·ḏêp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

rewards.
שַׁלְמֹנִ֑ים (šal·mō·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8021: A reward, bribe

They do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

defend
יִשְׁפֹּ֔טוּ (yiš·pō·ṭū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

the fatherless,
יָתוֹם֙ (yā·ṯō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3490: A bereaved person

and the plea
וְרִ֥יב (wə·rîḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute

of the widow
אַלְמָנָ֖ה (’al·mā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place

never
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

comes
יָב֥וֹא (yā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

before them.
אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Links

Isaiah 1:23 NIV
Isaiah 1:23 NLT
Isaiah 1:23 ESV
Isaiah 1:23 NASB
Isaiah 1:23 KJV

Isaiah 1:23 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 1:23 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 1:23 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 1:23 French Bible
Isaiah 1:23 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 1:23 Your princes are rebellious and companions (Isa Isi Is)