Verse

Isaiah 3:14

ESV The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: "It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
NIV The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
NASB The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and leaders of His people, 'It is you who have devoured the vineyard; The goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.
CSB The Lord brings this charge against the elders and leaders of his people: "You have devastated the vineyard. The plunder from the poor is in your houses.
NLT The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of his people: 'You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
KJV The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
NKJV The Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

What does Isaiah 3:14 mean?

A terrifying image emerges from Isaiah's prophetic warning. He pictures the Lord as standing in a courtroom to present His case against the leaders of His people. They must listen as God describes not just how they have failed to provide for His people, but also how they have stolen from His people for their own gain.

Instead of protecting God's people from harm, these leaders have become the harm. They are the ones who have devoured the peoples resources, This could mean that they have taken the food from the people as a tax. The shocking statement regarding the "spoil of the poor" means that the leaders have taken what little the poor people have into their own homes. Instead of protecting the poor, they are using their power to take from those who already have so little to provide for their own households.

The accusation in the second half of this verse begins a statement coming from God, Himself. This continues into the following verse (Isaiah 3:15).
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