For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that their "countenance" itself, their very look, is described as bearing witness against them. This means their sin isn't just hidden in their actions; it's so ingrained and unashamed that it's literally written on their faces, proclaiming their wicked nature as boldly as the people of Sodom.
For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders and people of Judah, who have abandoned God's ways. He describes their impudent and brazen sin, noting that their very faces reveal their wickedness. This verse follows pronouncements of woe upon various corrupt groups and the societal breakdown caused by their misrule, emphasizing that their actions have led to their own downfall.
Ever notice how someone's face can tell a story, even before they speak? Isaiah points to this very phenomenon, revealing a deeper truth about outward appearance and inward corruption.
The prophet Isaiah declares, "The look on their faces bears witness against them." This isn't just about a fleeting expression; it speaks to a hardened, ingrained disposition. The commentaries suggest the original Hebrew points to something that can be "known" or "recognized" – a settled impudence or pride. It means vice has so marked their character that it's evident to anyone who looks.
Think of it like this: when sin becomes a habit, it starts to change us from the inside out. That change isn't always hidden. Our expressions, our posture, the very way we carry ourselves can broadcast what's going on in our hearts. It's as if the face becomes a mirror, reflecting the inner reality, "answering" to the soul's true purposes. This outward betrayal isn't a sin in itself, but a powerful indicator of a deeper spiritual condition.
The sin of Sodom is infamous. But Isaiah says these people don't just sin like them – they proclaim it. What does it mean to openly declare your sin, and why is that so devastating?
Isaiah's comparison to Sodom is stark. The cities of the plain were known for extreme wickedness, a depravity so profound it led to divine judgment. Yet, here, the people aren't just exhibiting similar sins; they are "proclaiming their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it." This is a crucial point. It signifies a complete loss of shame and a brazen defiance of God and morality.
Commentaries note that this is a stage beyond mere hypocrisy, where vice no longer bothers to to be virtuous. It's a public declaration, almost a boast, of their wicked ways. They have lost "the color of virtue," as one commentary puts it. This open rebellion, this glorying in what should bring shame, is the highest pitch of ungodliness and a sure sign that they have "brought evil on themselves."
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The verse ends with a sobering declaration: "Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves." This isn't random misfortune; it's a consequence they've actively chosen.
The repeated phrase "they have brought evil on themselves" is not an accusation of misfortune, but a declaration of consequence. It's a foundational biblical principle: our choices have repercussions. The people of Judah, in their brazen sinfulness, weren't victims of fate; they were architects of their own ruin.
The commentaries echo this, stating, "Their sins have at once marred their countenance and injured their moral nature." And again, "Evil awaiteth sinners—and he that offends his God injures himself." This concept is often described as "reaping what you sow." Their actions, their hardened faces, their public defiance – these were the seeds they planted, and the harvest of "woe" was the inevitable outcome. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s justice is real, and that sin ultimately wounds the sinner most deeply.
Understand the original words
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
A moral failure, a missing of the mark of God's standard, and a rebellion against His law; it encompasses both actions and the inward state of the heart.
Sedom · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient city destroyed by God for its extreme wickedness and sexual immorality; it serves in Scripture as the archetypal example of unchecked, blatant, and unashamed sin.
'owy · Hebrew Interjection
An interjection used to announce impending judgment, mourning, or severe divine distress regarding someone’s spiritual condition or coming doom.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Moral wrongness, wickedness, or calamity; it represents anything that is contrary to the will and character of God, often bringing destructive consequences upon those who commit it.
This prophecy addresses the unrepentant state of Judah during a period of intense geopolitical pressure and impending judgment, highlighting their brazen sin and the certainty of divine retribution.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Reign of Ahaz
Isaiah delivers prophecies during the reign of King Ahaz, a period marked by political instability, military threats, and religious syncretism in Judah.
c. 750-722 BC
Assyrian Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Shalmaneser V, aggressively expanded its territory, posing a significant threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and King Pekah of Israel invaded Judah, attempting to force King Ahaz into an anti-Assyrian alliance. Ahaz appealed to Assyria for help.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its population and intensifying the geopolitical pressure on Judah.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. King Hezekiah's reign saw significant judgment and miraculous deliverance.
This passage describes the blatant sinfulness of the people of Sodom, directly paralleling the unashamed sin of the people in Isaiah. Both passages highlight a complete lack of moral restraint and open defiance of God's standards.
Romans 1:32Paul echoes Isaiah's sentiment that wrongdoing brings about self-inflicted ruin. Romans 1:32 states that those who practice such things are 'worthy of death' and not only do them but 'have pleasure in them that do them,' highlighting a similar theme of active participation and even enjoyment in sin that leads to destruction.
Jude 1:7Jude also refers to Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of eternal fire, linking their 'sexual immorality and perversion' to a warning for those who live similarly. This reinforces the severity of the sin Isaiah is condemning and its ultimate consequence.
Proverbs 1:31-32This proverb speaks of the consequences of rejecting wisdom, stating, 'they will eat the fruit of their way, and be filled with their own devices.' It mirrors Isaiah's 'they have brought evil on themselves' by emphasizing that people's wicked choices lead directly to their own downfall.
barnesIsaiah 3:9: "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves."
The show of their countenance - The word rendered "the show" is probably derived from a word signifying "to know," or "to recognize," and here denotes "impudence" or "pride." Septuagint, 'The shame of their face.' Doth witness against them - "Answers" to them; or "responds" to them (ענתה ‛ânetâh). There…
jfbIsaiah 3:9: "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves."
- show—The Hebrew means, "that which may be known by their countenances" [Gesenius and Weiss]. But Maurer translates, "Their respect for person"; so Syriac and Chaldee. But the parallel word "declare" favors the other view. Kimchi, from the Arabic, translates "their hardness" (Job 19:3, Margin), or impude…
What's striking here is that their "countenance" itself, their very look, is described as bearing witness against them. This means their sin isn't just hidden in their actions; it's so ingrained and unashamed that it's literally written on their faces, proclaiming their wicked nature as boldly as the people of Sodom.
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders and people of Judah, who have abandoned God's ways. He describes their impudent and brazen sin, noting that their very faces reveal their wickedness. This verse follows pronouncements of woe upon various corrupt groups and the societal breakdown caused by their misrule, emphasizing that their actions have led to their own downfall.
The prophet Isaiah is denouncing the corrupt leaders and people of Judah, who have abandoned God's ways. He describes their impudent and brazen sin, noting that their very faces reveal their wickedness. This verse follows pronouncements of woe upon various corrupt groups and the societal breakdown caused by their misrule, emphasizing that their actions have led to their own downfall.
"For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves." — What's striking here is that their "countenance" itself, their very look, is described as bearing witness against them. This means their sin isn't just hidden in their actions; it's so ingrained an…
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Last reviewed October 2026