The Meaning of Isaiah 3:12 Explained

Isaiah 3:12

KJV: As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

YLT: My people -- its exactors are sucklings, And women have ruled over it. My people -- thy eulogists are causing to err, And the way of thy paths swallowed up.

Darby: As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people! they that guide thee mislead thee, and destroy the way of thy paths.

ASV: As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Discover Isaiah 3:12

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 3:12?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 3:12 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 3:12 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 3:12?

What is the context of Isaiah 3:12?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

What does Isaiah 3:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah personally bemoaned the plight of the people who had already begun to experience the frustration of incompetent leaders and who would have to endure still more of the same. In his day, women did not have the educational advantages that men enjoyed, and so were less equipped to lead than men. Children, in spite of their lack of maturity, experience, perspective, and Wisdom of Solomon , were nonetheless needed to lead adults. Unqualified leaders were leading the people astray and giving them confusing directions concerning God"s will. God"s special gift to His people throughout history involved furnishing inspired leaders. Now He would withdraw them. ^[1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 3:1-12 - An Exhortation To Humility And Reverence

If men will not repent, they must suffer. If they will not voluntarily put away their idols and sorceries, they will be compelled to do so in the anguish of their disappointment with their helpless deities, Isaiah 2:20. Nothing in that great civilization would be spared. High towers, fenced walls, ships, treasures, armor-all would perish. Their vaunted faith in man would cease. Life would become elemental in its simplicity amid the shelter of the ragged rocks. In sarcastic phrase the prophet depicts a despairing nation choosing for ruler the first man that came along with a decent coat on his back, Isaiah 2:6; but in vain. We can almost hear the sob of the prophet's soul in Isaiah 2:8-9, and recall the tears of a greater than Isaiah, Who wept over this same Jerusalem eight hundred years afterward. Patriotism is one of the purest passions that can burn in the heart of man! "Lives there a man, with soul so dead, that never to himself has said, This is my own, my native land!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 3

¹ The great calamities which come by sin
¹⁰ The different rewards of the righteous and wicked
¹² The oppression and covetousness of the rulers
¹⁶ The judgments which shall be for the pride of the women
²⁵ The general desolation

What do the individual words in Isaiah 3:12 mean?

[As for] My people their oppressors children [are] and women rule over them My people Those who lead you cause [you] to err and the way of your paths destroy -

עַמִּי֙ נֹגְשָׂ֣יו מְעוֹלֵ֔ל וְנָשִׁ֖ים מָ֣שְׁלוּ ב֑וֹ עַמִּי֙ מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ מַתְעִ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ בִּלֵּֽעוּ ס

עַמִּי֙	[As for] My people
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: עַם Sense: nation, people.
נֹגְשָׂ֣יו	their oppressors
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: נָגַשׂ Sense: to press, drive, oppress, exact, exert demanding pressure.
מְעוֹלֵ֔ל	children [are]
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular Root: עֹולֵל Sense: child, boy.
וְנָשִׁ֖ים	and women
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural Root: אִשָּׁה Sense: woman, wife, female.
מָ֣שְׁלוּ	rule
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural Root: מָשַׁל Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
ב֑וֹ	over them
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
עַמִּי֙	My people
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: עַם Sense: nation, people.
מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ	Those who lead you
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular Root: אָשַׁר Sense: to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress.
מַתְעִ֔ים	cause [you] to err
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural Root: תָּעָה Sense: to err, wander, go astray, stagger.
וְדֶ֥רֶךְ	and the way
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct Root: דֶּרֶךְ Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ	of your paths
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular Root: אֹרַח Sense: way, path.
בִּלֵּֽעוּ	destroy
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural Root: בָּלַע Sense: to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up.
ס	-
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 3:12?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 3:12

		Isaiah 3:4 [5]
		Nahum 3:13 [3]
		Isaiah 9:15-16 [2]
		2 Kings 11:1 [2]
		Numbers 6:23-27 [2]
		Matthew 23:13 [2]
		Isaiah 28:14-15 [2]
		Matthew 15:14 [2]
		Jeremiah 5:31 [1]
read less