Isaiah 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just calling out the rulers and people of Jerusalem; it's highlighting their moral bankruptcy by directly comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities infamous for their utter wickedness. The repetition emphasizes that their corruption has reached the same level of depravity as those ancient, doomed cities, making their spiritual state truly alarming.
Having just declared that Jerusalem narrowly escaped the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah due to God's mercy, Isaiah now directly addresses the city's leaders and people, calling them by those infamous names. This stark comparison highlights their profound corruption and the imminent danger they face, setting the stage for God's indictment of their hollow religious practices.
Why would the prophet Isaiah call the rulers of Jerusalem 'rulers of Sodom' and its people 'people of Gomorrah'? It sounds harsh, but it cuts to the heart of their spiritual state.
Isaiah uses these infamous names not to simply insult, but to starkly contrast Jerusalem's current spiritual condition with the divine standards God had set for His chosen people. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their extreme wickedness and divine judgment. By using these names, Isaiah paints a picture of Jerusalem's profound moral and spiritual decay.
Isaiah calls them to 'hear the word of the LORD' and 'give ear to the teaching of our God.' But what kind of 'word' and 'teaching' is this?
The prophet uses two distinct but related terms: "word" (dabar) and "teaching" (Torah). This isn't just about passively listening; it's an urgent call to engage with divine revelation in its fullest sense.
Understand the original words
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The divine communication from God to humanity, possessing inherent authority and power to bring about change, conviction, or judgment. It is the instrument through which God reveals His character, will, and truth.
torah · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as "law" or "instruction," this refers to divine guidance, ordinances, or the revelation of God’s will, intended to instruct His people in how to live in covenant relationship with Him.
By calling Jerusalem's leaders 'rulers of Sodom' and its people 'people of Gomorrah,' Isaiah directly links their current moral and spiritual corruption to the infamous destruction of those ancient cities, underscoring the severe judgment that awaits Judah if they don't repent.
Late 8th century BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah and Jerusalem, likely during the prosperous but increasingly corrupt reigns of Uzziah and Jotham.
c. 739-734 BC
Reign of Ahaz
Isaiah's ministry continues through the reign of Ahaz, a time marked by religious apostasy, political instability, and war (Aram-Israelite invasion).
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 715-686 BC
Reign of Hezekiah
Isaiah's ministry continues into the reign of Hezekiah, who initially attempts a religious reformation, but Isaiah's prophecy addresses the underlying unfaithfulness.
This passage directly links Samaria and Jerusalem to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting their moral corruption and divine judgment, mirroring the denunciation in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 7:4This verse critiques the misplaced reliance on religious rituals without genuine heart change, a theme powerfully echoed in Isaiah's message to the 'rulers of Sodom' who are performing outward religious duties.
Matthew 11:23-24Jesus quotes and applies Isaiah's judgment on these cities to Capernaum, demonstrating the prophetic continuity of God's judgment on cities that reject His messengers and His word.
Romans 2:17-24Paul addresses those who boast in the law but act contrary to it, a parallel to Isaiah's indictment of the 'rulers' and 'people' who claim God's law while living like Sodom and Gomorrah.
pooleIsaiah 1:10: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."
Hear the word of the Lord; I speak not my own fancies or passions, but the message of your Lord and Governor, to whom you owe all reverence and obedience. Rulers of Sodom; so called for their resemblance of them in wickedness: compare Deu 32:32 Ezekiel 16:46,48 . The law; or, doctrine , as this word is commonly used; the message which I am now to deliver to you from God, your g…
henryIsaiah 1:10-15: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."
1:10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to go on in their sin. Many who will readily part with their sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They relied on the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The most costly…
This verse isn't just calling out the rulers and people of Jerusalem; it's highlighting their moral bankruptcy by directly comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities infamous for their utter wickedness. The repetition emphasizes that their corruption has reached the same level of depravity as those ancient, doomed cities, making their spiritual state truly alarming.
Having just declared that Jerusalem narrowly escaped the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah due to God's mercy, Isaiah now directly addresses the city's leaders and people, calling them by those infamous names. This stark comparison highlights their profound corruption and the imminent danger they face, setting the stage for God's indictment of their hollow religious practices.
Having just declared that Jerusalem narrowly escaped the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah due to God's mercy, Isaiah now directly addresses the city's leaders and people, calling them by those infamous names. This stark comparison highlights their profound corruption and the imminent danger they face, setting the stage for God's indictment of their hollow religious practices.
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c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. This crisis highlights the spiritual and moral decay within Judah.
"Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!" — This verse isn't just calling out the rulers and people of Jerusalem; it's highlighting their moral bankruptcy by directly comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities infamous for their utter wicked…
