TRV
Translation
King James Version
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
KJV (with Strong's)
In transgressing H6586 and lying H3584 against the LORD H3068, and departing away H5253 from H310 our God H430, speaking H1696 oppression H6233 and revolt H5627, conceiving H2029 and uttering H1897 from the heart H3820 words H1697 of falsehood H8267.
Complete Jewish Bible
rebelling and denying ADONAI, turning away from following our God, talking about oppression and revolt, uttering lies which our hearts have conceived.
Berean Standard Bible
rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.
American Standard Version
transgressing and denying Jehovah, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
World English Bible Messianic
transgressing and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Geneva Bible (1599)
In trespassing and lying against the Lord, and wee haue departed away from our God, and haue spoken of crueltie and rebellion, conceiuing and vttering out of the heart false matters.
Young's Literal Translation
Transgressing, and lying against Jehovah, And removing from after our God, Speaking oppression and apostasy, Conceiving and uttering from the heart Words of falsehood.
In the KJVVerse 18,814 of 31,102
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Commentary on Isaiah 59 verses 9–15
9 ¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
The scope of this paragraph is the same with that of the last, to show that sin is the great mischief-maker; as it is that which keeps good things from us, so it is that which brings evil things upon us. But as there it is spoken by the prophet, in God's name, to the people, for their conviction and humiliation, and that God might be justified when he speaks and clear when he judges, so here it seems to be spoken by the people to God, as an acknowledgment of that which was there told them and an expression of their humble submission and subscription to the justice and equity of God's proceedings against them. Their uncircumcised hearts here seem to be humbled in some measure, and they are brought to confess (the confession is at least extorted from them), that God had justly walked contrary to them, because they had walked contrary to him.
I. They acknowledge that God had contended with them and had walked contrary to them. Their case was very deplorable, Isa 59:9-11. 1. They were in distress, trampled upon and oppressed by their enemies, unjustly dealt with, and ruled with rigour; and God did not appear for them, to plead their just and injured cause: "Judgment is far from us, neither does justice overtake us, Isa 59:9. Though, as to our persecutors, we are sure that we have right on our side; and they are the wrong-doers, yet we are not relieved, we are not righted. We have not done justice to one another, and therefore God suffers our enemies to deal thus unjustly with us, and we are as far as ever from being restored to our right and recovering our property again. Oppression is near us, and judgment is far from us. Our enemies are far from giving our case its due consideration, but still hurry us on with the violence of their oppressions, and justice does not overtake us, to rescue us out of their hands." 2. Herein their expectations were sadly disappointed, which made their case the more sad: "We wait for light as those that wait for the morning, but behold obscurity; we cannot discern the least dawning of the day of our deliverance. We look for judgment, but there is none (Isa 59:11); neither God nor man appears for our succour; we look for salvation, because God (we think) has promised it, and we have prayed for it with fasting; we look for it as for brightness, but it is far off from us, as far off as ever for aught we can perceive, and still we walk in darkness; and the higher our expectations have been raised the sorer is the disappointment." 3. They were quite at a loss what to do to help themselves and were at their wits' end (Isa 59:10): "We grope for the wall like the blind; we see no way open for our relief, nor know which way to expect it, or what to do in order to it." If we shut our eyes against the light of divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace; and, if we use not our eyes as we should, it is just with him to let us be as if we had no eyes. Those that will not see their duty shall not see their interest. Those whom God has given up to a judicial blindness are strangely infatuated; they stumble at noon-day as in the night; they see not either those dangers, or those advantages, which all about them see. Quos Deus vult perdere, eos dementat - God infatuates those whom he means to destroy. Those that love darkness rather than light shall have their doom accordingly. 4. They sunk into despair and were quite overwhelmed with grief, the marks of which appeared in every man's countenance; they grew melancholy upon it, shunned conversation, and affected solitude: We are in desolate places as dead men. The state of the Jews in Babylon is represented by dead and dry bones (Eze 37:12) and the explanation of the comparison there (Isa 59:11) explains this text: Our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. In this despair the sorrow and anguish of some were loud and noisy: We roar like bears; the sorrow of others was silent, and preyed more upon their spirits: "We mourn sore like doves, like doves of the valleys; we mourn both for our iniquities (Eze 7:16) and for our calamities." Thus they owned that the hand of the Lord had gone out against them.
II. They acknowledge that they had provoked God thus to contend with them, that he had done right, for they had done wickedly, Isa 59:12-15. 1. They owned that they had sinned, and that to this day they were in a great trespass, as Ezra speaks (Ezr 10:10): "Our transgressions are with us; the guilt of them is upon us, the power of them prevails among us, we are not yet reformed, nor have we parted with our sins, though they have done so much mischief. Nay, our transgressions are multiplied; they are more numerous and more heinous than they have been formerly. Look which way we will, we cannot look off them; all places, all orders and degrees of men, are infected. The sense of our transgression is with us, as David said, My sin is ever before me; it is too plain to be denied or concealed, too bad to be excused or palliated. God is a witness to them: They are multiplied before thee, in thy sight, under thy eye. We are witnesses against ourselves: As for our iniquities, we know them, though we may have foolishly endeavoured to cover them. Nay, they themselves are witnesses: Our sins stare us in the face and testify against us, so many have they been and so deeply aggravated." 2. They owned the great evil and malignity of sin, of their sin; it is transgressing and lying against the Lord, v. 13. The sins of those that profess themselves God's people, and bear his name, are upon this account worse than the sins of others, that in transgressing they lie against the Lord, they falsely accuse him, they misrepresent and belie him, as if he had dealt hardly and unfairly with them; or they perfidiously break covenant with him and falsify their most sacred and solemn engagements to him, which is lying against him: it is departing away from our God, to whom we are bound as our God and to whom we ought to cleave with purpose of heart; from him we have departed, as the rebellious subject from his allegiance to his rightful prince, and the adulterous wife from the guide of her youth and the covenant of her God. 3. They owned that there was a general decay of moral honesty; and it is not strange that those who were false to their God were unfaithful to one another. They spoke oppression, declared openly for that, though it was a revolt from their God and a revolt from the truth, by the sacred bonds of which we should always be tied and held fast. They conceived and uttered words of falsehood. Many ill thing is conceived in the mind, yet is prudently stifled there, and not suffered to go any further; but these sinners were so impudent, so daring, that whatever wickedness they conceived, they gave it an imprimatur - a sanction, and made no difficulty of publishing it. To think an ill thing is bad, but to say it is much worse. Many a word of falsehood is uttered in haste, for want of consideration; but these were conceived and uttered, were uttered - deliberately and of malice prepense. They were words of falsehood, and yet they are said to be uttered from the heart, because, though they differed from the real sentiments of the heart and therefore were words of falsehood, yet they agreed with the malice and wickedness of the heart, and were the natural language of that; it was a double heart, Psa 12:2. Those who by the grace of God kept themselves free from these enormous crimes yet put themselves into the confession of sin, because members of that nation which was generally thus corrupted. 4. They owned that that was not done which might have been done to reform the land and to amend what was amiss, Isa 59:14. "Judgment, that should go forward, and bear down the opposition that is made to it, that should run in its course like a river, like a mighty stream, is turned away backward, a contrary course. The administration of justice has become but a cover to the greatest injustice. Judgment, that should check the proceedings of fraud and violence, is driven back, and so they go on triumphantly. Justice stands afar off, even from our courts of judicature, which are so crowded with the patrons of oppression that equity cannot enter, cannot have admission into the court, cannot be heard, or at least will not be heeded. Equity enters not into the unrighteous decrees which they decree, Isa 10:1. Truth is fallen in the street, and there she may lie to be trampled upon by every foot of pride, and she has never a friend that will lend a hand to help her up; yea, truth fails in common conversation, and in dealings between man and man, so that one knows not whom to believe nor whom to trust." 5. They owned that there was a prevailing enmity in men's minds to those that were good: He that does evil goes unpunished, but he that departs from evil makes himself a prey to those beasts of prey that were before described. It is crime enough with them for a man not to do as they do, and they treat him as an enemy who will not partake with them in their wickedness. He that departs from evil is accounted mad; so the margin reads. Sober singularity is branded as folly, and he is thought next door to a madman who swims against the stream that runs so strongly. 6. They owned that all this could not but be very displeasing to the God of heaven. The evil was done in his sight. They knew very well, though they were not willing to acknowledge it, that the Lord saw it; though it was done secretly, and gilded over with specious pretences, yet it could not be concealed from his all-seeing eye. All the wickedness that is in the world is naked and open before the eyes of God; and, as he is of quicker eyes than not to see iniquity, so he is of purer eyes than to behold it with the least approbation or allowance. He saw it, and it displeased him, though it was among his own professing people that he saw it. It was evil in his eyes; he saw the sinfulness of all this sin, and that which was most offensive to him was that there was no judgment, no reformation; had he seen any signs of repentance, though the sin displeased him, he would soon have been reconciled to the sinners upon their returning from their evil way. Then the sin of a nation becomes national, and brings public judgments, when it is not restrained by public justice.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–15. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Ver. 12 seqq.) Our iniquities have multiplied before you, and our sins have answered us: for our crimes are with us, and we know our iniquities. To sin and lie against the Lord: and we turned away, so as not to go after the back of our Lord, to speak calumny, and we conceived transgression, and we spoke deceitful words from the heart. And judgment has been turned away backwards, and justice has stood far off, for truth has fallen down in the street, and equity could not enter. And truth has been turned into forgetfulness, and those who have turned away from evil have become a prey. LXX: For our iniquity is great in your sight, and our sins have held us back. For our iniquities are within us, and we have acknowledged our injustices. We have acted impiously, and we have lied, and we have turned away from our God. We have spoken wickedly and we have been disobedient. We have conceived and contemplated wicked words in our hearts. And we have gone away from judgement, and justice stands far away, because truth has been consumed in their ways, and they were not able to pass through the straight path. And truth has been taken away, and they have turned their mind so that they do not understand. They roar like bears; they meditate like doves; they wait for judgment that is not there, and salvation has passed on to the nations. For our iniquities have multiplied, saying, our iniquities are before you, from whom you have turned away your face for a long time, so that you would not see them, nor strike us. And our sins have answered against us, so that we receive what we deserve. And our crimes are with us: we have recognized our injustices, which we used to think were righteousness for a long time. But what are these injustices? To sin and to lie against God: or as Aquila translated according to the Hebrew, to deny God: which refers to the Savior. And they say: We have abandoned our God, saying: We know that God spoke to Moses: but we do not know where this one comes from (John 9:29), so that we may speak false accusations, If this man were from God, he would not break the Sabbath (Ibid., 16). And he cast out devils from the prince of devils (Luke 11:15). And transgression, which is more significantly called apostasy in Greek, is when someone denies God and is accused of rebellion. We have conceived and spoken words of falsehood from the heart, despising the law of God and following the traditions of men, which they call second commandments, and which we have pretended in our heart. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off. For what part does justice have with iniquity? What fellowship does Christ have with Belial? Righteousness has stood among the nations and has departed from us, for truth has fallen in the squares. For the way that leads to death is wide and spacious (Matthew 7), for they refused to enter the narrow path where truth resides. And truth has been forgotten, as it is written: Truth has sprung up from the earth, and righteousness has looked down from heaven (Psalm 85:12). It should be noted that the truth is frequently mentioned in order to show the person of Christ, whom they abandoned and followed falsehood. And he who departed from evil was exposed to plunder. Although this may seem obscure, it can be explained as follows: when we fabricate lies from our own hearts and abandon God's law, righteousness remains far away, and truth falls in the streets, and fairness cannot enter us, and the Son of God, who is the truth, is forgotten: to such an extent that whoever desires to depart from the traditions of the Jews immediately becomes exposed to snares and persecutions, so that they expelled the man blind from birth who received sight from the synagogues (John 9). And after the resurrection of the Lord Savior, all those who believed in him were persecuted and stripped: to whom the ministries of the Church were directed, which were distributed through the hands of the Apostles to the whole world of the nations.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 59:13 stands as a powerful prophetic indictment, meticulously detailing the profound spiritual and moral corruption prevalent in ancient Judah. It exposes a deep-seated rebellion against the Lord, characterized by deliberate transgressions, pervasive falsehoods, and a conscious, willful departure from their covenant God. The verse powerfully illustrates that their societal breakdown and spiritual alienation stemmed not merely from external actions but from an inner wellspring of deceit and unrighteousness, conceived and uttered from the very heart of the people, revealing the comprehensive nature of their sin.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Isaiah 59 is a pivotal chapter within the book of Isaiah, situated in a section (chapters 58-66) that addresses the nation's sin, the consequences of their unfaithfulness, and God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. Immediately preceding verse 13, Isaiah has already laid bare the pervasive spiritual crisis, declaring that the people's "iniquities have separated between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2). The prophet graphically describes hands defiled with blood and fingers with iniquity (Isaiah 59:3), and a widespread absence of justice and truth in society, where no one "pleads with integrity" or "judges with honesty" (Isaiah 59:4-8). Verse 13 particularizes these general accusations, providing a concrete and damning list of the specific transgressions that illustrate the depth of their spiritual rebellion and moral decay, leading directly into the people's confession of sin in Isaiah 59:12 and setting the stage for God's intervention.
Historical & Cultural Context: The prophetic ministry of Isaiah primarily addresses the kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BCE, a period characterized by significant political instability, social injustice, and religious syncretism. While the precise dating of chapter 59 is sometimes debated (with some scholars suggesting a post-exilic context), it vividly portrays a society where the covenant relationship with Yahweh had been severely compromised. Despite their outward religious rituals, the people had abandoned the core tenets of the Mosaic Law, engaging in widespread oppression, dishonesty, and idolatry. Their "departing away from our God" reflects a profound cultural drift from monotheism and covenant faithfulness, leading to a breakdown of societal order and a perversion of justice, themes echoed throughout the prophetic literature of this era. The prophet's words serve as a direct challenge to a nation that had grown complacent in its sin, mistakenly believing that their formal religious observances alone would suffice for divine favor.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic corpus. It underscores the theme of human depravity and rebellion, demonstrating that sin is not merely accidental or superficial but a deliberate act of "transgressing and lying against the LORD." It highlights the nature of sin as spiritual apostasy, a conscious and willful "departing away from our God," which severs the vital relationship with the divine covenant partner. Furthermore, the verse emphasizes the pervasive nature of falsehood and injustice, moving from overt acts of "speaking oppression and revolt" to the insidious origin of sin within the "heart." This progression resonates deeply with the broader biblical understanding that sin originates from a corrupted inner state, as articulated in passages like Jeremiah 17:9. This internal corruption then inevitably manifests in external actions, demonstrating the holistic and devastating impact of sin on both individual and communal life.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 59:13 employs several potent literary devices to underscore the severity and pervasiveness of Judah's sin. The verse utilizes Parallelism, particularly Synonymous Parallelism, by listing a series of related transgressions ("transgressing and lying," "oppression and revolt," "conceiving and uttering") that reinforce the central theme of rebellion and falsehood. There is also a strong sense of Climax as the verse progresses from outward actions ("transgressing and lying," "speaking oppression") to the internal, foundational source of sin ("conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood"). This movement emphasizes that the problem is not merely behavioral but deeply rooted in the inner being. The phrase "conceiving and uttering from the heart" functions as a powerful Metaphor, personifying the heart as a womb that gives birth to sinful words, highlighting the intentional, generative, and deeply personal nature of their iniquity. The repetition of the conjunction "and" creates a sense of Polysyndeton, which serves to accumulate and emphasize the sheer volume and variety of their transgressions, building a weighty and comprehensive indictment against the people.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 59:13 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of sin, portraying it not merely as a series of isolated acts but as a comprehensive state of rebellion originating from the core of human existence. It underscores that sin is fundamentally a breaking of covenant with God, a conscious turning away from His truth and authority. The progression from outward actions like "transgressing and lying" to the internal "conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood" reveals a holistic understanding of human depravity, where the mind, will, and emotions are all implicated in the corruption. This aligns with the biblical teaching that the human heart is the wellspring of life and also the source of evil, demonstrating that true righteousness must begin with an inward transformation. The verse thus sets the stage for the desperate need for divine intervention, as humanity is incapable of rectifying such deep-seated corruption on its own, highlighting the necessity of God's redemptive initiative.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 59:13 serves as a timeless mirror, reflecting the enduring human propensity for rebellion and falsehood. For believers today, it is a sobering reminder that sin is not merely an external act but originates from the deepest recesses of our being—the heart. This verse calls us to a profound self-examination, urging us to consider the true source of our words and actions. Are we cultivating hearts that are truthful and devoted to God, or are we allowing deceit, rebellion, and spiritual apathy to take root? The call to "departing away from our God" is a stark warning against spiritual drift, reminding us of the vital importance of maintaining a vibrant, active, and intimate relationship with the Lord. Our integrity in speech and action, both publicly and privately, is a direct reflection of the condition of our hearts. True spiritual health requires addressing not just outward behaviors but the inward condition that gives rise to them, seeking God's transformative power to purify our innermost being and align our desires with His truth, fostering genuine repentance and a renewed commitment to Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "departing away from our God" imply beyond simple disobedience?
Answer: "Departing away from our God" (Hebrew: nâçag, meaning to retreat or remove) implies a profound spiritual apostasy, a conscious and deliberate turning away from the covenant relationship with Yahweh. It's more than just individual acts of disobedience; it signifies a systemic unfaithfulness, a rejection of God's authority and His unique claim on His people. This departure often stemmed from seeking security or prosperity in alliances with other nations or through idolatry, rather than trusting in the Lord, as seen in various prophetic warnings throughout the book of Isaiah. It represents a broken relationship, a forsaking of the source of life and truth, and a profound spiritual alienation from the one true God.
Why is the "heart" so significant in this verse's description of sin?
Answer: In biblical thought, the "heart" (Hebrew: lêb) is not merely the organ that pumps blood but the very center of a person's being—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. When Isaiah states that "words of falsehood" are "conceiving and uttering from the heart," he emphasizes that sin is not superficial or accidental. It originates from the deepest, most intentional part of a person's inner life. This highlights that human corruption is fundamental and pervasive, affecting one's desires, thoughts, and intentions, ultimately manifesting in outward actions and words. This concept is foundational to understanding human depravity and the need for a radical, internal transformation, as taught by Jesus in Mark 7:21-23.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah?
Answer: Isaiah 59:13 is a microcosm of Isaiah's broader message, which is characterized by both profound indictment and glorious hope. This verse powerfully articulates the depth of Judah's sin—their rebellion, deceit, and departure from God—which is a recurring theme in the first half of the book, particularly in chapters Isaiah 1-39. It underscores the reason for God's judgment and the necessity of divine intervention. However, Isaiah's message doesn't end with condemnation. The recognition of such deep-seated sin, as expressed in this verse, sets the stage for the subsequent chapters (e.g., Isaiah 60-66), which unveil God's ultimate plan of salvation and restoration through a Suffering Servant and a new covenant, demonstrating His faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 59:13 vividly portrays the depth of human sin—a comprehensive rebellion rooted in the heart, manifesting in "transgressing and lying against the LORD," and a profound "departing away from our God." This verse, like much of the Old Testament, paints a stark picture of humanity's utter inability to bridge the chasm created by sin through its own efforts. It highlights the desperate need for a divine solution to the problem of a heart that "conceives and utters words of falsehood." This is precisely where Christ-centered fulfillment shines brightest. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, came not only to expose the sinfulness of humanity, revealing that "out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies" (Matthew 15:19), but also to provide the ultimate remedy. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), offering Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our "transgressions" and "falsehoods." Through His perfect life, substitutionary death, and glorious resurrection, Christ perfectly fulfilled the demands of God's justice, absorbing the wrath due for our rebellion and reconciling us to God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, given through Christ, enables a radical transformation of the human heart, empowering believers to turn from "departing away from our God" and instead walk in truth and righteousness, as God promised a "new heart and a new spirit" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). In Christ, the power of sin, which originates from the heart, is broken, and we are given the capacity to speak truth and live faithfully, no longer enslaved to the "words of falsehood" but empowered by the Spirit of truth who guides us into all truth (John 14:17).