who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a deep corruption where words themselves are weaponized, not just to condemn someone but to trap and overturn even the righteous. It's a stark picture of how legal and social systems can be twisted, where truth is disregarded for baseless accusations.
who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem who twist justice to their own ends. They condemn the poor and innocent with flimsy accusations, silencing or ensnaring anyone who dares to speak truth or uphold righteousness in public. This verse describes their wicked ways of manipulating the law to oppress the vulnerable and punish those who expose their sin.
Have you ever been misunderstood or falsely accused based on something you said? This verse speaks to that pain.
The people Isaiah is addressing were masters of twisting words to their own advantage.
Making an Offender
They would take a single word, perhaps a word of caution or even a sincere question, and use it to make someone appear guilty. It's like taking a simple 'What if?' and turning it into a confession of guilt. The original Hebrew suggests they were actively 'causing someone to sin' or, in this context, declaring them guilty as if they had sinned.
The Goal?
Their aim was to entrap those who spoke up. They didn't want to hear truth; they wanted to silence it.
Imagine speaking up for what's right and, instead of being heard, you're trapped. That's the scene here.
The 'gate' in ancient cities was a central hub – a place for business, social gathering, and, importantly, justice.
Speaking Truth in Public
When Isaiah says 'him that reproves in the gate,' he’s talking about someone brave enough to speak truth and administer justice publicly, right where the wrongs were happening. This wasn't a private whisper; it was a public stand.
The Trap is Set
But instead of justice, this truth-teller found a 'snare.' These corrupt officials and leaders would contrive ways to trap these righteous individuals. They used legal loopholes, false accusations, or twisted interpretations to silence and punish those who dared to hold them accountable.
Ask a follow-up
What happens when the scales of justice are tipped not by weighty matters, but by worthless ones?
The end of the verse reveals the depth of their corruption: they 'turn aside the just for a thing of nought.'
The 'Thing of Nought'
This 'thing of nought' is described with a Hebrew word that speaks of emptiness, vanity, or even chaos. It wasn't a significant gain or a well-reasoned argument that swayed them. It was a triviality, a flimsy excuse, or perhaps even a bribe that was insignificant in value but immense in its corrupting power.
The Outcome
Instead of upholding righteousness, they actively pushed aside the person who had a just cause. Their judgments were not based on truth or fairness, but on emptiness and deceit, demonstrating a complete disregard for justice itself.
Understand the original words
chatta' · Hebrew Noun
A person who commits a fault or crime; specifically in a legal or moral context, one who deviates from God's law or traps others unjustly.
moqesh · Hebrew Noun
An implement for catching animals, often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe deceptive plots, traps, or temptations designed to ensnare or bring ruin to the righteous.
sha'ar · Hebrew Noun
A public place in ancient Near Eastern cities where legal matters were adjudicated and social business was conducted; it represents the seat of justice and authority.
This verse speaks to a specific context of corrupt justice and persecution of righteous voices, likely exacerbated by the political pressures and existential threats faced by Judah during Isaiah's ministry, particularly the looming Assyrian threat.
Late 8th century BC
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah
Isaiah served as a prophet in Judah during a tumultuous period, warning against political alliances and societal corruption.
c. 730s-701 BC
Assyrian Campaigns in Judah
The Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, exerted increasing pressure on Judah, leading to political instability and fear.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, a critical event that tested Judah's faith and Isaiah's prophecies.
Early 6th century BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire, successor to the Assyrians, eventually conquered Judah and deported its people, fulfilling many of Isaiah's prophecies of judgment.
This verse speaks to the unjust condemnation of the innocent, directly paralleling the idea of turning aside the just with empty pleas.
Jeremiah 7:2-3This passage highlights the disconnect between outward religious practice and inner injustice, resonating with the hypocrisy of those who pervert judgment despite claiming to uphold it.
Amos 5:10-12Amos also condemns those who 'hate him that reproves in the gate' and 'turn aside the poor in the gate from their cause,' echoing Isaiah's denunciation of corrupted justice and the silencing of truth-tellers.
Matthew 23:23-24Jesus critiques the Pharisees for meticulously tithing mint and dill while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness, demonstrating a similar pattern of prioritizing outward appearances over true righteousness, much like the 'empty plea' in Isaiah.
1 Samuel 17:47This verse contrasts the 'battle' of the Lord with human strength, much like Isaiah's denunciation of those who trust in empty arguments and deceitful pleas rather than in true justice and righteousness.
barnesIsaiah 29:21: "That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought."
That make a man an offender - literally, 'who cause a man to sin' (מחטיאי machăṭı̂y'ēy); that is, who hold a man to be guilty, or a criminal. Lowth renders this singularly enough: 'Who bewildered the poor man in speaking.' Grotius supposes it means, 'Who on account of the word of God, that is, the true prophecy, treat men as guilty of cri…
clarkeIsaiah 29:21: "That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought."
Him that reproveth in the gate "Him that pleaded in the gate" - "They are heard by the treasurer, master of the horse, and other principal officers of the regency of Algiers, who sit constantly in the gate of the palace for that purpose:" that is, the distribution of justice. - Shaw's Travels, p. 315, fol. He adds in the note, "That we read o…
This verse reveals a deep corruption where words themselves are weaponized, not just to condemn someone but to trap and overturn even the righteous. It's a stark picture of how legal and social systems can be twisted, where truth is disregarded for baseless accusations.
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem who twist justice to their own ends. They condemn the poor and innocent with flimsy accusations, silencing or ensnaring anyone who dares to speak truth or uphold righteousness in public. This verse describes their wicked ways of manipulating the law to oppress the vulnerable and punish those who expose their sin.
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem who twist justice to their own ends. They condemn the poor and innocent with flimsy accusations, silencing or ensnaring anyone who dares to speak truth or uphold righteousness in public. This verse describes their wicked ways of manipulating the law to oppress the vulnerable and punish those who expose their sin.
"who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right." — This verse reveals a deep corruption where words themselves are weaponized, not just to condemn someone but to trap and overturn even the righteous. It's a stark picture of how legal and social syste…
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Last reviewed October 2026