Isaiah 29:21

That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

That make a man {H120} an offender {H2398} for a word {H1697}, and lay a snare {H6983} for him that reproveth {H3198} in the gate {H8179}, and turn aside {H5186} the just {H6662} for a thing of nought {H8414}.

those whose words make a man out to be a sinner, those who set traps for the arbitrator at the city gate, and those who groundlessly deny justice to the one in the right.

those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.

that make a man an offender in his cause, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.

Isaiah 29:21 is a powerful indictment against the perversion of justice and the suppression of truth within ancient Judah, a theme prevalent throughout the prophetic books. It exposes a society so morally corrupt that it actively targets those who speak truth and upholds injustice.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah 29 concerning Jerusalem, referred to as "Ariel." The chapter begins by describing the city's impending judgment due to its spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and reliance on human schemes rather than God. God had poured out a "spirit of deep sleep" upon the people, causing their prophets and seers to be ineffective. Amidst this spiritual dullness and ritualistic worship that lacked true heart, Isaiah condemns specific acts of injustice perpetuated by those in power or influence.

Key Themes

  • Perversion of Justice: The verse vividly describes a system where justice is not only denied but actively twisted. The innocent are condemned, and the guilty are acquitted, often for trivial reasons or personal gain.
  • Suppression of Truth and Dissent: Those who "reprove in the gate"—meaning those who publicly speak truth, offer correction, or bring legitimate grievances in the place of judgment—are targeted. This highlights a society intolerant of honest criticism and accountability.
  • Malicious Intent and Deceit: The phrases "make a man an offender for a word" and "lay a snare" point to deliberate, cunning efforts to entrap and discredit individuals based on flimsy pretexts or misinterpretations of their words.
  • Corruption and Moral Decay: This verse paints a picture of deep societal corruption, where integrity is absent, and the pursuit of justice is replaced by arbitrary and self-serving decisions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrases here carry significant weight:

  • "Make a man an offender for a word": The Hebrew for "word" is davar (דָּבָר), which can mean not just a spoken word, but also a matter, thing, or affair. This suggests that people were declared guilty or found fault with over trivialities, misconstrued statements, or even for simply expressing an opinion or a truth.
  • "Reproveth in the gate": The "gate" (שַׁעַר, sha'ar) was the central public space in ancient Israelite cities. It was where commercial transactions took place, community elders gathered, and most importantly, where legal disputes were heard and justice was administered. To "reprove in the gate" meant to speak out publicly against wrongdoing, to offer correction, or to bring a legal complaint. Those who dared to do so were actively targeted. This echoes similar complaints in other prophetic books, such as Amos 5:10.
  • "Turn aside the just for a thing of nought": The phrase "thing of nought" (מִתֹּהוּ, mittōhû) uses the word tohu, which means emptiness, chaos, or worthlessness. This emphasizes that justice was perverted or denied to righteous individuals for reasons that were utterly insignificant, baseless, or for no good reason at all, highlighting the sheer arbitrariness and corruption of the system.

Practical Application

Isaiah 29:21 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of a society that suppresses truth and perverts justice. For believers today, this verse calls for:

  • Upholding Truth: We are called to speak truth, even when it is unpopular or challenging, and to defend those who are unjustly targeted for doing so. This is part of living out the truth in love.
  • Seeking Justice: We must advocate for fairness and justice, especially for the vulnerable and marginalized, and stand against systems that condemn the innocent or twist words for malicious ends. This aligns with God's call for justice in passages like Micah 6:8.
  • Discerning Malice: The verse reminds us to be discerning of those who seek to create offense where none exists, or who use trivialities to discredit others. It highlights the importance of integrity in communication and judgment.

Ultimately, this verse underscores God's deep concern for justice and truth, and His condemnation of those who actively work to subvert them.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Amos 5:10

    They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

  • Amos 5:12

    For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].

  • James 5:6

    Ye have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he doth not resist you.

  • Acts 3:14

    But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

  • Proverbs 28:21

    ¶ To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.

  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Luke 11:53

    And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

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