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.
Original Language Analysis
מַחֲטִיאֵ֤י
an offender
H2398
מַחֲטִיאֵ֤י
an offender
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
אָדָם֙
That make a man
H120
אָדָם֙
That make a man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 9
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
בְּדָבָ֔ר
for a word
H1697
בְּדָבָ֔ר
for a word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 9
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
וְלַמּוֹכִ֥יחַ
for him that reproveth
H3198
וְלַמּוֹכִ֥יחַ
for him that reproveth
Strong's:
H3198
Word #:
4 of 9
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
וַיַּטּ֥וּ
and turn aside
H5186
וַיַּטּ֥וּ
and turn aside
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
7 of 9
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
Historical Context
Amos condemned those who 'hate him that rebuketh in the gate' (Amos 5:10). Jeremiah was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for prophesying truth (Jeremiah 37-38). Jesus was convicted on false testimony (Matthew 26:59-61). The apostles faced manufactured charges (Acts 6:11-14). Throughout history, corrupt systems criminalize truth-telling, making righteousness itself prosecutable.
Questions for Reflection
- How do corrupt systems 'make offenders for a word'—criminalizing truth-telling or biblical standards?
- What does it mean to 'reprove in the gate' in contemporary contexts, and what risks does it carry?
- When have you witnessed or experienced the righteous being 'turned aside' through false accusations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
That make a man an offender for a word (מַחֲטִיאֵי אָדָם בְּדָבָר, machati'ey adam bedavar)—those who make (חָטָא, chata, to sin) a man an offender for a דָּבָר (davar, word). And lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate (וְלַמּוֹכִיחַ בַּשַּׁעַר יְקֹשׁוּן, velammokhiach basha'ar yeqoshun)—they lay יָקֹשׁ (yaqosh, a snare) for the מוֹכִיחַ (mokhiach, reprover, one who brings correction) in the שַׁעַר (sha'ar, gate, place of justice). And turn aside the just for a thing of nought (וַיַּטּוּ בַתֹּהוּ צַדִּיק, vayattu vatohu tsadiq)—they נָטָה (natah, turn aside) the צַדִּיק (tsadiq, righteous) with תֹּהוּ (tohu, emptiness, nothing, falsehood).
Isaiah details the mechanics of injustice: weaponizing words to entrap the innocent, setting legal snares for those speaking truth in the gate (court), perverting justice through false accusations. The 'gate' was where elders adjudicated disputes—Israel's judicial system. Corrupt officials made speaking truth dangerous, entrapping prophets and righteous people with legal technicalities. Jesus faced this: Pharisees sent spies 'that they might take hold of his words' (Luke 20:20), laying verbal snares to trap Him into treasonous or blasphemous statements.