Isaiah 1:23 (GNV)

Passage

Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of theeues: euery one loueth giftes, and followeth after rewards: they iudge not the fatherlesse, neither doeth the widowes cause come before them.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 1:21 Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, and iustice lodged therein, but now they are murtherers.

Isaiah 1:22 Thy siluer is become drosse: thy wine is mixt with water.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of theeues: euery one loueth giftes, and followeth after rewards: they iudge not the fatherlesse, neither doeth the widowes cause come before them.

Isaiah 1:24 Therefore sayth the Lord God of hostes, the mightie one of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine aduersaries, and auenge me of mine enemies.

Isaiah 1:25 Then I will turne mine hand vpon thee, and burne out thy drosse, till it be pure, and take away all thy tinne.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "rebellious", "companions", "theeues", "euery", "loueth", "giftes", and "followeth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "princes" and "rebellious", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Thy siluer is become drosse thy wine..." into verse 24's "Therefore sayth the Lord God of hostes...", so "princes" and "rebellious" belong inside that flow. In Isaiah context, the local focus is the Holy One of Israel, judgment and restoration, the servant of the LORD, and Zion's hope.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "princes" and "rebellious" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.