Isaiah 3 · Verse 12

Isaiah 3:12

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.
Isaiah 3:12, King James Version

Isaiah 3:12 in other translations

BSBYouths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
WEBAs for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
ASVAs 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.
YLTMy 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.
DARBYAs 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.
BBEAs for my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way.
WebsterAs for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

What does Isaiah 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. (See Is 3:4). oppressors--literally, "exactors," that is, exacting princes (Is 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as "children," as effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court. lead--Hebrew, "call thee blessed"; namely, the false prophets, who flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political "rulers" are meant in the first clause. way of thy paths--(Jr 6:16). The right way set forth in the law. "Destroy"--Hebrew, "Swallow up," that is, cause so utterly to disappear that not a vestige of it is left.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Err "Pervert" - בלעו billeu, "swallow." Among many unsatisfactory methods of accounting for the unusual meaning of this word in this place, I choose Jarchi's explication, as making the best sense. "Read בללו billalu, 'confound.' Syriac." - Dr. Judd. "Read בהלו beholu, 'disturb or trouble.'" - Secker. So Septuagint. This verse might be read, "The collectors of grapes shall be their oppressors; and usurers (noshim, instead of nashim, women) shall rule over them."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 3:10-15

The rule was certain; however there might be national prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 3:10-15 →

Isaiah 3:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַמִּי֙'a.Mipeople myH5971
נֹגְשָׂ֣יוno.ge.Savoppressors itsH5065
מְעוֹלֵ֔לme.'o.Lel[is] acting like childrenH5953
וְנָשִׁ֖יםve.na.Shimand womenH802
מָ֣שְׁלוּMa.she.luthey have ruledH4910
ב֑וֹvoover it
עַמִּי֙'a.MiO people myH5971
מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָme.'a.she.Rei.khaguides yourH833
מַתְעִ֔יםmat.'Im[are] misleadingH8582
וְדֶ֥רֶךְve.De.rekhand [the] way ofH1870
אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ'o.re.cho.Tei.khapaths yourH734
בִּלֵּֽעוּ\׃\ \סbi.Le.'uthey have confusedH1104

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 3:12

  • Isaiah 3:4

    And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

  • Nahum 3:13

    Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.

  • Isaiah 28:14-15

    Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

  • 2 Kings 11:1

    And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

  • Isaiah 9:15-16

    The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Numbers 6:23-27

    Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. …

  • Matthew 15:14

    Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

  • Matthew 23:13

    But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
children.
4; 2Ki 11:1; Na 3:13
lead thee. or, which call thee blessed.
9:15; Nu 6:23-27; Jer 5:31; Mt 15:14
destroy. Heb. swallow up.
Mt 23:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 3:11

    Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Isaiah 3:12

    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.

  • Isaiah 3:13

    The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

Read all of Isaiah 3

Isaiah 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los exactores de mi pueblo son muchachos, y mujeres se enseñorearon de él. Pueblo mío, los que te guían te engañan, y tuercen la carrera de tus caminos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quant à mon peuple, des enfants l’oppriment, et des femmes le gouvernent. Mon peuple! ceux qui te conduisent te fourvoient, et détruisent le chemin de tes sentiers.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mein Volk, -seine Bedrücker sind Buben, und Weiber herrschen über dasselbe. Mein Volk, deine Leiter führen irre, und den Weg deiner Pfade haben sie dir entrückt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Populum meum exactores sui spoliaverunt, et mulieres dominatæ sunt eis. Popule meus, qui te beatum dicunt, ipsi te decipiunt, et viam gressuum tuorum dissipant.