Isaiah 32:6
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נְבָלָ֣ה
villany
H5039
נְבָלָ֣ה
villany
Strong's:
H5039
Word #:
3 of 19
foolishness, i.e., (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment
וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר
and to utter
H1696
וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר
and to utter
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
4 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
וְלִבּ֖וֹ
and his heart
H3820
וְלִבּ֖וֹ
and his heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
5 of 19
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת
to practise
H6213
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת
to practise
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
6 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אָ֑וֶן
iniquity
H205
אָ֑וֶן
iniquity
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
7 of 19
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת
to practise
H6213
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת
to practise
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
8 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר
and to utter
H1696
וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר
and to utter
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
10 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָה֙
against the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
against the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
תּוֹעָ֔ה
error
H8442
תּוֹעָ֔ה
error
Strong's:
H8442
Word #:
13 of 19
mistake, i.e., (morally) impiety, or (political) injury
לְהָרִיק֙
to make empty
H7324
לְהָרִיק֙
to make empty
Strong's:
H7324
Word #:
14 of 19
to pour out (literally or figuratively), i.e., empty
נֶ֣פֶשׁ
the soul
H5315
נֶ֣פֶשׁ
the soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
15 of 19
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וּמַשְׁקֶ֥ה
and he will cause the drink
H4945
וּמַשְׁקֶ֥ה
and he will cause the drink
Strong's:
H4945
Word #:
17 of 19
properly, causing to drink, i.e., a butler; by implication (intransitively), drink (itself); figuratively, a well-watered region
Cross References
Matthew 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:Isaiah 3:15What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.Matthew 23:13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.1 Samuel 24:13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern society depended on powerful people showing generosity to vulnerable populations. Leaders who hoarded resources while claiming piety violated covenant obligations. Amos 8:4-6 condemns merchants who exploited poor people. Jesus faced Pharisees who 'devour widows' houses' while making 'long prayers' (Mark 12:40). Throughout church history, corrupt clergy enriched themselves while parishioners starved—vileness disguised as godliness.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you recognize vile people who use religious language while practicing oppression?
- What's the connection between theological error and social cruelty—how does bad doctrine lead to bad ethics?
- In what ways might you be tempted to practice 'hypocrisy'—religious externalism while harboring selfish motives?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For the vile person will speak villany (כִּי נָבָל נְבָלָה יְדַבֵּר, ki naval nevalah yedaber)—the נָבָל (naval) speaks נְבָלָה (nevalah, foolishness, vileness, disgrace). And his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy (וְלִבּוֹ יַעֲשֶׂה־אָוֶן לַעֲשׂוֹת חֹנֶף, velibo ya'aseh-aven la'asot chonef)—his לֵב (lev, heart) works אָוֶן (aven, iniquity) to practice חֹנֶף (chonef, hypocrisy, godlessness). And to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry (וּלְדַבֵּר אֶל־יְהוָה תּוֹעָה לְהָרִיק נֶפֶשׁ רָעֵב, uledaber el-YHWH to'ah lehriq nefesh ra'ev). And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail (וּמַשְׁקֵה צָמֵא יַחְסִיר, umashqeh tsame yachsir).
Isaiah exposes the vile person's true nature: speech reveals heart-wickedness. The progression moves from speech (speaks villainy) to motive (heart works iniquity) to religious hypocrisy (חֹנֶף, chonef) to theological error (utters תּוֹעָה, to'ah, error against God) to social cruelty (starving the hungry, denying drink to thirsty). Jesus denounced scribes and Pharisees with similar catalogs (Matthew 23)—outward religion masking inner corruption, using theology to oppress rather than liberate. James 1:27 defines pure religion: caring for widows and orphans—the opposite of this vile person's exploitation.