Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights the profound irony of mocking God and His prophets when they themselves are deeply rooted in sin. The gestures of contempt – opening the mouth wide and sticking out the tongue – are not just childish taunts but reveal an identity built on "transgression" and "falsehood," making them the true objects of scorn.
Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is confronting a people who are outwardly professing faith but inwardly engaging in corrupt practices, specifically idolatry and spiritual adultery. They mock God's messengers and reject His word, acting with immense arrogance despite their impurity. This passage immediately follows Isaiah's lament over the righteous perishing and being taken from the world, highlighting the stark contrast between the faithful and the unfaithful who continue in their sinful ways.
Have you ever felt the sting of mockery? Isaiah asks a piercing question: who are these people so boldly expressing contempt? The answer is stunning – they are mocking God himself.
Isaiah launches into a series of rhetorical questions, full of indignation: 'Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue?'
These aren't just idle gestures; they are expressions of profound disrespect. The imagery of 'opening your mouth wide' and 'sticking out your tongue' paints a vivid picture of scorn and derision. The commentators point out that this isn't just directed at the prophets, but ultimately at God Himself, whose message they carry. It's a dangerous game to play, mistaking God's patience for weakness.
The Real Target
These people aren't just acting out; their very identity is rooted in rebellion and deceit. Isaiah doesn't just identify their actions, but their lineage.
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The climax of Isaiah's questions leads to a stark declaration of identity: 'Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit?' This isn't merely an accusation of bad behavior; it's a statement about their fundamental nature and heritage.
A Legacy of Rebellion
Understand the original words
pesha' · Hebrew Noun
Broadly, sin, rebellion, or crossing the line of God's commanded boundaries. It implies a willful departure from the covenant or divine law.
sheqer · Hebrew Noun
Refers to falsehood, lying, or betrayal of trust. It denotes anything that is not true or anything that seeks to lead another person astray from the reality of God.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the resettlement of foreigners in the land. This event marks a significant disruption and identity crisis for the remaining Israelite population.
701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Neo-Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is not captured, the devastation and fear deeply impact the Judean people and their religious practices.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Religious Reforms
King Josiah of Judah discovers the Book of the Law and initiates a sweeping religious reform, centralizing worship in Jerusalem and destroying idolatrous sites throughout the kingdom. This effort aimed to purify Judah's religious practice and national identity.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a large portion of the population to Babylon. This event represents a catastrophic turning point, intensifying questions about God's faithfulness and the people's identity.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Ministry in Post-Exilic Judah
Isaiah delivers prophecies to the people of Judah who have returned from Babylonian exile. Many have fallen back into syncretistic practices, blending remnants of idolatry with Yahwistic worship, and continue to mock true prophetic warnings.
This passage describes the same physical actions of mockery and derision ('opened their mouths wide against me,' 'yea, they gaped upon me with their mouths') that Isaiah is using here to illustrate contempt.
Jeremiah 18:12This verse highlights the obstinate refusal of God's people to change their ways, similar to the 'children of transgression' and 'seed of falsehood' described in Isaiah, showing a pattern of rebellion against God's warnings.
Romans 1:29-31This New Testament passage lists many of the same characteristics of those who have turned from God - deceitful, malicious, hateful, and disobedient to parents - which aligns with the 'children of transgression, the offspring of deceit' in Isaiah.
Matthew 12:37Jesus directly quotes the concept of being judged by one's words, stating 'by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,' echoing the idea that one's speech reveals their true nature as transgressors and liars.
cambridgeIsaiah 57:4: "Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,"
4 . On the contemptuous attitude of the Samaritans towards the Jews, see Nehemiah 4:1-4 , and comp. ch. Isaiah 66:5 . sport yourselves ] Lit. “take your delight” (ch. Isaiah 55:2 , Isaiah 58:14 , Isaiah 66:11 ); only here used of malevolent satisfaction. make a wide mouth ] Psalm 35:21 . are ye not &c. ] Are you not yourselves…
barnesIsaiah 57:4: "Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,"
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? - The word here rendered 'sport' (ענג ‛ānag) means properly "to live delicately and tenderly"; then "to rejoice, to take pleasure or delight." Here, however, it is evidently used in the sense of to sport oneself over anyone, that is, to deride; and the idea is, probably, that they made a…
The verse highlights the profound irony of mocking God and His prophets when they themselves are deeply rooted in sin. The gestures of contempt – opening the mouth wide and sticking out the tongue – are not just childish taunts but reveal an identity built on "transgression" and "falsehood," making them the true objects of scorn.
The prophet Isaiah is confronting a people who are outwardly professing faith but inwardly engaging in corrupt practices, specifically idolatry and spiritual adultery. They mock God's messengers and reject His word, acting with immense arrogance despite their impurity. This passage immediately follows Isaiah's lament over the righteous perishing and being taken from the world, highlighting the stark contrast between the faithful and the unfaithful who continue in their sinful ways.
The prophet Isaiah is confronting a people who are outwardly professing faith but inwardly engaging in corrupt practices, specifically idolatry and spiritual adultery. They mock God's messengers and reject His word, acting with immense arrogance despite their impurity. This passage immediately follows Isaiah's lament over the righteous perishing and being taken from the world, highlighting the stark contrast between the faithful and the unfaithful who continue in their sinful ways.
"Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit," — The verse highlights the profound irony of mocking God and His prophets when they themselves are deeply rooted in sin. The gestures of contempt – opening the mouth wide and sticking out the tongue –…
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Last reviewed October 2026