Isaiah 5:23
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Original Language Analysis
מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י
Which justify
H6663
מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י
Which justify
Strong's:
H6663
Word #:
1 of 8
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
רָשָׁ֖ע
the wicked
H7563
רָשָׁ֖ע
the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
2 of 8
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
עֵ֣קֶב
for
H6118
עֵ֣קֶב
for
Strong's:
H6118
Word #:
3 of 8
a heel, i.e., (figuratively) the last of anything (used adverbially, for ever); also result, i.e., compensation; and so (adverb with preposition or re
וְצִדְקַ֥ת
the righteousness
H6666
וְצִדְקַ֥ת
the righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
5 of 8
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
Cross References
Isaiah 10:2To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!Psalms 94:21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.Proverbs 17:15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.James 5:6Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.Isaiah 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.Micah 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.Micah 7:3That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.Proverbs 17:23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.Proverbs 24:24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:Deuteronomy 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Historical Context
Prophetic literature consistently indicts judicial corruption (Isaiah 1:23; Micah 3:11; Amos 5:12), showing it was endemic. Leaders enriched themselves while denying justice to the vulnerable.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern legal and social systems sometimes justify the wicked while condemning the righteous?
- What 'rewards' tempt us to compromise justice in our spheres of influence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Judicial corruption—'justify the wicked for reward' and 'take away the righteousness of the righteous'—inverts justice, the very foundation of God's throne (Psalm 89:14). Accepting bribes to acquit the guilty while condemning the innocent violates explicit Torah prohibitions (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19). This perversion of justice particularly incenses God, as it directly opposes His character. The New Testament similarly condemns those who call evil good (Romans 1:32).