But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God addresses His people, calling them "sons of the sorceress" and "seed of the adulterer," not because they are literally descended from such people, but because their actions and spiritual allegiance have become just like theirs. This highlights how deeply idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness corrupted their very identity in God's eyes, turning their lineage into a mark of shame rather than honor.
But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After lamenting the loss of the righteous, Isaiah turns to address the unrighteous majority of Israel, calling them to account for their persistent idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. He contrasts their vibrant, yet corrupt, practices with the quiet peace awaiting the faithful, highlighting their deep moral decay by labeling them as offspring of sorcery and adultery. The prophet is summoning them to God's judgment seat, exposing their deceptive claims of righteousness as a continuation of their ancestors' sins.
The prophet doesn't just accuse; he summons. What does it mean to be called to stand before God's judgment seat?
The verse begins with a direct command: 'Draw near hither.' This isn't a gentle invitation but a summons to God's tribunal. The people being addressed are not just casually going about their lives; they are being called to account for their actions. This implies a coming judgment where their deeds will be laid bare. The commentators emphasize that this is a call to face the consequences of their spiritual unfaithfulness and the deceptive practices they've embraced.
The verse uses strong, even shocking, language to describe the people's heritage. What does this reveal about the roots of their sin?
Isaiah doesn't just call them out on their actions but on their very identity, referring to them as 'sons of the sorceress' and 'the seed of the adulterer and the whore.' This language is deeply symbolic. 'Sorcery' points to deceptive practices, reliance on forbidden powers, and a turning away from God's truth. 'Adultery' and 'whoredom' are used metaphorically to describe Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to God, their covenant relationship. They are acting like illegitimate offspring, not true children of Abraham, because their loyalties and desires are misplaced. The commentators agree that this refers to their idolatry and the moral corruption that accompanied it, a deep-seated tendency towards spiritual betrayal.
Ask a follow-up
The verse's harsh condemnation of sorcery and adultery reflects the deeply entrenched syncretism and moral corruption, particularly during the reigns of kings like Manasseh, that Isaiah confronted in Judah.
c. 715–686 BC— this verse
Reign of Manasseh
King Manasseh's reign was marked by a resurgence of pagan worship, including idolatry, sorcery, and child sacrifice, undoing much of the religious reforms of his father, Hezekiah. This period saw significant religious syncretism and a departure from Yahweh worship.
c. 642–609 BC
Reign of Josiah
King Josiah initiated a major religious reformation after the Book of the Law was discovered, attempting to purge the land of idolatry and centralize worship in Jerusalem. This highlights the deep-seated nature of the idolatry Isaiah was addressing.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian conquest led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the exile of many Judeans. This event was a direct consequence of the persistent disobedience and idolatry that prophets like Isaiah condemned.
This passage uses similar imagery of spiritual adultery, where Israel is depicted as a wife unfaithful to her husband, God, mirroring the 'adulterer' and 'whore' imagery in Isaiah.
Ezekiel 16:3Ezekiel graphically describes Jerusalem as being of Ammonite and Hittite parentage, a 'daughter' born of incest and whoredom, directly paralleling Isaiah's accusation of being 'sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore'.
Hosea 2:2-5Hosea's prophecy vividly portrays Israel's unfaithfulness to God as spiritual whoredom and rebellion, calling her children to confront their mother's sin, much like Isaiah summons the 'sons' to face their heritage of sin.
Matthew 12:39Jesus directly rebukes a generation seeking a sign by calling them an 'evil and adulterous generation,' echoing the condemnation of spiritual adultery found in Isaiah.
bensonIsaiah 57:3: "But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore."
Isaiah 57:3-4 . But draw near hither, &c. — “The prophet proceeds to exhibit the church, totally corrupt as it was, the good men being extinct or dispersed; so that they who remained of the pure seed of the church lay hid in solitary places, while the body of the church appeared like a dead carcass; not the true, but the idolatrous church.” Thus Vitringa, who understands this paragraph as des…
pulpitIsaiah 57:3: "But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore."
Verses 3-14. - ISRAEL SEVERELY REBUKED FOR IDOLATRY. Though Hezekiah had made a great reformation of religion when he ascended the throne(2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chronicles 29:3-19), and had done his best to put down idolatry, yet it was still dear to large numbers among the people, and was easily revived by Manasseh in the earlier portion of his reign (2 Chronicles 33:2-9). Isaiah now rebukes variou…
God addresses His people, calling them "sons of the sorceress" and "seed of the adulterer," not because they are literally descended from such people, but because their actions and spiritual allegiance have become just like theirs. This highlights how deeply idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness corrupted their very identity in God's eyes, turning their lineage into a mark of shame rather than honor.
After lamenting the loss of the righteous, Isaiah turns to address the unrighteous majority of Israel, calling them to account for their persistent idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. He contrasts their vibrant, yet corrupt, practices with the quiet peace awaiting the faithful, highlighting their deep moral decay by labeling them as offspring of sorcery and adultery. The prophet is summoning them to God's judgment seat, exposing their deceptive claims of righteousness as a continuation of their ancestors' sins.
After lamenting the loss of the righteous, Isaiah turns to address the unrighteous majority of Israel, calling them to account for their persistent idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. He contrasts their vibrant, yet corrupt, practices with the quiet peace awaiting the faithful, highlighting their deep moral decay by labeling them as offspring of sorcery and adultery. The prophet is summoning them to God's judgment seat, exposing their deceptive claims of righteousness as a continuation of their ancestors' sins.
"But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman." — God addresses His people, calling them "sons of the sorceress" and "seed of the adulterer," not because they are literally descended from such people, but because their actions and spiritual allegian…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026