Isaiah 1:23 (KJV)

Passage

Thy 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.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

Isaiah 1:22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

Isaiah 1:23 Thy 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.

Isaiah 1:24 Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

Isaiah 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "rebellious", "companions", "thieves", "loveth", "gifts", "followeth", and "after". 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 silver is become dross thy wine..." into verse 24's "Therefore saith the LORD the LORD of...", 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.