Isaiah 59:15
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַתְּהִ֤י
H1961
וַתְּהִ֤י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הָֽאֱמֶת֙
Yea truth
H571
הָֽאֱמֶת֙
Yea truth
Strong's:
H571
Word #:
2 of 13
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
נֶעְדֶּ֔רֶת
faileth
H5737
נֶעְדֶּ֔רֶת
faileth
Strong's:
H5737
Word #:
3 of 13
to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster and so to miss (or find wanting)
וְסָ֥ר
and he that departeth
H5493
וְסָ֥ר
and he that departeth
Strong's:
H5493
Word #:
4 of 13
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
מִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑ל
maketh himself a prey
H7997
מִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑ל
maketh himself a prey
Strong's:
H7997
Word #:
6 of 13
to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder
וַיַּ֧רְא
saw
H7200
וַיַּ֧רְא
saw
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
7 of 13
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוָ֛ה
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַיֵּ֥רַע
H7489
וַיֵּ֥רַע
Strong's:
H7489
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
בְּעֵינָ֖יו
H5869
בְּעֵינָ֖יו
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
10 of 13
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Cross References
Acts 9:1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,Acts 9:23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:Romans 8:36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.Micah 7:2The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
Historical Context
When society punishes righteousness and rewards wickedness, complete inversion has occurred. This describes the worst possible moral condition, where goodness itself becomes dangerous.
Questions for Reflection
- How does following Christ make you vulnerable in a society hostile to truth?
- What comfort comes from knowing God sees and is displeased by injustice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Truth is so absent that 'he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.' The righteous become victims - the Hebrew 'shalal' means plunder, spoil. 'The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.' God sees and is displeased - He doesn't ignore the absence of justice.