Isaiah 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Original Language Analysis
שִׁמְע֥וּ
Hear
H8085
שִׁמְע֥וּ
Hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 10
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְבַר
the word
H1697
דְבַר
the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 10
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הַאֲזִ֛ינוּ
give ear
H238
הַאֲזִ֛ינוּ
give ear
Strong's:
H238
Word #:
6 of 10
to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e., (by implication) to listen
תּוֹרַ֥ת
unto the law
H8451
תּוֹרַ֥ת
unto the law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
7 of 10
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ
of our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ
of our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Revelation 11:8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.Ezekiel 16:49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.Isaiah 3:9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.Jeremiah 23:14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.Deuteronomy 32:32For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:Amos 9:7Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?Ezekiel 16:46And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.
Historical Context
Sodom's sin encompassed pride, prosperity without compassion, and sexual immorality (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Judah's leaders exhibited similar arrogance and social injustice despite their religious heritage.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways might religious privilege blind you to sins God clearly sees?
- How does Jesus's comparison of Sodom's judgment to those rejecting the gospel (Matthew 10:15) relate to this passage?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The shocking address to Judah's leaders as 'rulers of Sodom' and 'people of Gomorrah' declares that moral corruption, not just physical destruction, equates them with history's most infamous cities. This prophetic reversal strips away their covenant presumption—God treats rebellious Jerusalem no differently than pagan Sodom. The call to 'hear' demands attentive obedience, not mere listening.