Monday, October 20, 2014

Isaiah 3:8

Isaiah 3:8

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

a. NLT: For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face.

b. NIV: Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

c. Amplified Bible: For Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory and defy His glorious presence.

d. Septuagint: For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judea has fallen, and their tongues [have spoken] with iniquity, disobedient [as they are] towards the Lord. 

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: [All this has come about] because Jerusalem has stumbed and Judah has fallen; for their speech and their actions are against HASHEM, rebelling before the eyes of His glory.

1. “For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen…”

a. Jerusalem [3389 * Yeruwshalaim] [Strong:  a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine:--Jerusalem.]

b. ruined [3782 * kashal] [Strong: a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall:--bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, X utterly, be weak.]

c. Judah [3063 * Yehuwdah] [Strong: from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory:--Judah.]

d. fallen [5307 * naphal’] [Strong:  a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]

2. “…because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD…”

a. tongue [3956 * lashown] [Strong: from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.]

1). How are Jerusalem and Judah’s tongue’s “against the LORD”? It is revealed in the next verse. In Isaiah 3:9 it says, “they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.” Looking at the Hebrew definition of “declare” tells us a lot.

a).  declare [5046 * nagad][Strongs: to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.]

2). The context of what they are declaring is sin so the various definitions fit right in with the NIV use of the word “parade”. To boldly stand out (in their sin) of homosexuality, to announce (their sin) of homosexuality by word of mouth, to proclaim (their sin) of homosexuality, to celebrate (their sin) of homosexuality with praise. We must remember also that the Hebrew shows their words are directed to God in rebellion.

3). Another thing they are declaring is revealed in Jeremiah 23:14, where it says, “they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness”. They are emboldening the evildoers that they do not repent. Ezekiel lived at the same period as Jeremiah and he sheds more light on it.

a).  Ezekiel 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

a). In contemporary culture one of the lies that “strengthen the hands of evil doers” and makes “the heart of the righteous sad” is the lie of sexual orientation. Homosexuality is a lust, it is not an orientation. See my note on Romans 1:26, 27.

b. doings [4611 * ma’alal] [Strong: from 5953; an act (good or bad):--doing, endeavour, invention, work.]

c. LORD [3068 * Yehovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

d. provoke [4784 * marah] [Strong: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke):--bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).]

1). They are declaring their sin to provoke God.

e. eyes [5069 * ‘ayin] [Strong: a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

f. glory [3519 * kabowd] [Strong: from 3513; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).]

1). In the midst of their declaring their sin in rebellion toward and against God it is causing the failure and ruin of Jerusalem, the perishing and rotting of Judah. It is doing the same in American culture.

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