King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Complete Jewish Bible:
What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding down the faces of the poor?" says Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot.
Berean Standard Bible:
Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
American Standard Version:
what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
What mean ye that ye beat{H1792} my people{H5971} to pieces{H1792}, and grind{H2912} the faces{H6440} of the poor{H6041}? saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069} of hosts{H6635}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Micah 3:2
- Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
Micah 3:3
- Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
Psalms 94:5
- They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
Amos 2:6
- Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
Amos 2:7
- That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy name:
Amos 8:4
- ¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Amos 8:6
- That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; [yea], and sell the refuse of the wheat?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 3:15
Isaiah 3:15 is a verse that condemns the unjust and oppressive actions of the leaders and the elite of Judah during the prophet Isaiah's time. The historical context of this verse is set in the 8th century BCE, a period marked by social injustice and moral decay in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle in which Isaiah denounces the corruption and wickedness prevalent among the people and their leaders.
In this specific verse, God, through the prophet Isaiah, confronts those in power for their cruel treatment of the less fortunate. The imagery of "beating my people to pieces" and "grinding the faces of the poor" vividly illustrates the brutal and dehumanizing actions of the ruling class. These leaders, who were meant to protect and lead with justice and righteousness, were instead exploiting and oppressing the most vulnerable members of society.
The themes of social justice and divine judgment are central to this verse. God is portrayed as the defender of the poor and the marginalized, and He is deeply concerned with how the poor and powerless are treated. The verse serves as a warning that such behavior will not go unpunished. The "Lord GOD of hosts" emphasizes God's sovereignty and power to execute judgment against those who perpetrate injustice.
Isaiah 3:15 reflects the prophetic tradition's insistence on ethical conduct and the importance of caring for the needy. It calls for a radical transformation in the behavior of the leaders and the community at large, reminding them that true reverence for God involves acting justly towards others, especially those who are powerless to defend themselves. This message resonates with broader biblical themes of justice, mercy, and the preferential option for the poor found throughout the Old and New Testaments.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1792
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּכָא
Transliteration: dâkâʼ
Pronunciation: daw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root (compare דָּכָה); to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively); beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H2912
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָחַן
Transliteration: ṭâchan
Pronunciation: taw-khan'
Description: a primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment); grind(-er). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H6041
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנִי
Transliteration: ʻânîy
Pronunciation: aw-nee'
Description: from עָנָה; (practically the same as עָנָו, although the margin constantly disputes this, making עָנָו subjective and objective); depressed, in mind or circumstances; afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor. - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H136
There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord. - Strong's Number: H3069
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוִה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvih
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vee'
Description: a variation of יְהֹוָה (used after אֲדֹנָי, and pronounced by Jews as אֱלֹהִים, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce יְהֹוָה as אֲדֹנָי); {YHWH}; God. - Strong's Number: H6635
There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָבָא
Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).