Isaiah 1:23 (YLT)

Passage

Thy princes <FI>are<Fi> apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 1:21 How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it <FI>with<Fi> judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it--now murderers.

Isaiah 1:22 Thy silver hath become dross, Thy drink polluted with water.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes <FI>are<Fi> apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them.

Isaiah 1:24 Therefore--the affirmation of the Lord--Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I am eased of Mine adversaries, And I am avenged of Mine enemies,

Isaiah 1:25 And I turn back My hand upon thee, And I refine as purity thy dross, And I turn aside all thy tin,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "apostates", "companions", "thieves", "loving", "bribe", "pursuing", and "rewards". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "princes" and "apostates", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Thy silver hath become dross Thy drink..." into verse 24's "Therefore--the affirmation of the Lord--Jehovah of Hosts...", so "princes" and "apostates" 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 "apostates" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.