Isaiah 59:4
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Original Language Analysis
קֹרֵ֣א
None calleth
H7121
קֹרֵ֣א
None calleth
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
2 of 15
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
בְצֶ֔דֶק
for justice
H6664
בְצֶ֔דֶק
for justice
Strong's:
H6664
Word #:
3 of 15
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
וְאֵ֥ין
H369
נִשְׁפָּ֖ט
nor any pleadeth
H8199
נִשְׁפָּ֖ט
nor any pleadeth
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
5 of 15
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה
for truth
H530
בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה
for truth
Strong's:
H530
Word #:
6 of 15
literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity
בָּט֤וֹחַ
they trust
H982
בָּט֤וֹחַ
they trust
Strong's:
H982
Word #:
7 of 15
properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
תֹּ֙הוּ֙
in vanity
H8414
תֹּ֙הוּ֙
in vanity
Strong's:
H8414
Word #:
9 of 15
a desolation (of surface), i.e., desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain
וְדַבֶּר
and speak
H1696
וְדַבֶּר
and speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
10 of 15
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
שָׁ֔וְא
lies
H7723
שָׁ֔וְא
lies
Strong's:
H7723
Word #:
11 of 15
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, object
הָר֥וֹ
they conceive
H2029
הָר֥וֹ
they conceive
Strong's:
H2029
Word #:
12 of 15
to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)
עָמָ֖ל
mischief
H5999
עָמָ֖ל
mischief
Strong's:
H5999
Word #:
13 of 15
toil, i.e., wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind
Cross References
Job 15:35They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.James 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.Jeremiah 7:8Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.Jeremiah 7:4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.Isaiah 30:12Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:Proverbs 4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.Micah 2:1Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.Isaiah 59:16And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.Isaiah 59:3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.Psalms 62:10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Historical Context
Courts and public discourse were corrupted. Where truth and justice should have prevailed, lies and injustice multiplied. This mirrors contemporary concerns about systemic injustice.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the pregnancy metaphor illuminate sin's progressive development?
- What does it look like to 'call for justice' and 'plead for truth' in your context?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Injustice pervades the legal system: 'None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.' The Hebrew 'tohu' (vanity) recalls creation's pre-ordered chaos. The pregnancy metaphor - conceiving mischief, birthing iniquity - shows sin's developmental process.