What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
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}.
What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding down the faces of the poor?" says Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot.
Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
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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?
Isaiah 3:15 is a powerful and direct indictment from God against the oppressive actions of the leaders and wealthy elite of Judah. It reveals God's profound indignation at the mistreatment of the most vulnerable in society.
Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's early prophecies, primarily directed against the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Chapter 3 specifically details the moral decay and societal breakdown occurring under corrupt leadership. Isaiah foresees the removal of Judah's leaders and the ensuing chaos, attributing these judgments to their spiritual rebellion and social injustices. Prior verses describe the collapse of true leadership and the rise of unqualified rulers. Isaiah 3:12 notes, "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them." Against this backdrop of misgovernance and moral depravity, verse 15 serves as God's direct accusation to those in power who are responsible for the suffering of the poor.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Isaiah 3:15 serves as a timeless reminder of God's deep concern for justice and His unwavering commitment to the poor and oppressed. It calls all believers to: