Isaiah 59:14-15
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse personifies abstract concepts like justice and truth as if they are people who are actively being shut out. The "street" where truth has "fallen" refers specifically to the public square, the very place where civic life and legal proceedings were meant to happen. It paints a vivid picture of these foundational virtues being literally cast down and unable to gain entry into the places of power.
This verse is part of Isaiah's lament and confession concerning the sins of Israel. He's describing a society where the fundamental principles of justice and truth have completely collapsed, leading to a state where righteousness cannot even find a foothold. Following this, the prophet will move on to discuss how this pervasive corruption has led to God's judgment, but also to offer a glimmer of hope for future redemption.
Imagine 'Justice' and 'Righteousness' as people eager to help, but they're standing outside, unable to get in. That's the picture Isaiah paints.
The verse uses powerful personification. 'Justice' (mishpat) and 'Righteousness' (tzedakah) aren't just abstract ideas; they are depicted as active agents.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 59:14-15 is available in the Sola app.
Where do decisions get made? Where do people meet? Isaiah points to the 'street' and 'public squares' – and shows that truth has fallen there.
The setting for this breakdown is crucial. The 'street' and 'public squares' (Hebrew: rehob) were the heart of civic life, the places where business was conducted and justice was administered, often at the city gates.
Understand the original words
emet · Hebrew Noun
Faithfulness, reliability, and stability. It describes that which is firm, true, and worthy of trust, often rooted in the character of God Himself.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Conformity to a moral or legal standard, specifically God's standard. It signifies acting in a way that is right before God and other people, encompassing both internal righteousness and external justice.
meysharim · Hebrew Noun
Morally right, straight, or honest. It denotes one whose life is "straight" according to the standard of God's Word.
Isaiah's lament in this verse vividly portrays the deep corruption and injustice prevalent in Judah, particularly during the tumultuous periods leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. The absence of justice, truth, and equity was not just a societal failing but a spiritual crisis that had profound consequences.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian influence and pressure
The Kingdom of Israel had been conquered by Assyria, and Judah was a vassal state facing constant threats. This period was marked by political instability and a struggle to maintain independence.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event caused widespread fear and demonstrated the vulnerability of the kingdom.
Late 7th century BC
Josiah's reforms
King Josiah initiated significant religious and social reforms, including a renewed emphasis on justice and righteousness. This period saw an attempt to correct the societal ills described by Isaiah.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar II, began its rise to power, leading to the first deportation of Jewish exiles to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for the Jewish people.
Mid-6th century BC— this verse
Exile in Babylon
The Jewish people lived in exile in Babylon, experiencing loss of homeland, temple, and national identity. This period was characterized by a deep longing for restoration and justice.
This passage also describes a city where justice and truth are absent, personifying them as unable to be found even when searched for diligently.
Ezekiel 22:30This verse echoes Isaiah's lament, highlighting God's search for someone to stand in the gap and uphold justice in a corrupt society, only to find no one.
Micah 3:9-11Here, Micah also condemns the leaders for perverting justice and righteousness, showing a similar pattern of societal breakdown where truth has fallen in the streets.
Matthew 23:23Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness – while focusing on outward appearances, mirroring Isaiah's critique of a society that has lost its moral compass.
cambridgeIsaiah 59:14: "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter."
14 . The confession, following the same order as the indictment in Isaiah 59:3-4 , proceeds from personal sins to public injustice. judgment and justice ( righteousness ) are not the divine vindication of Israel’s right (as in Isaiah 59:9 ), but the fundamental civic virtues. These, by a bold personification, are conceived as eager to take their rightf…
clarkeIsaiah 59:14: "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter."
Justice standeth afar off - צדקה tsedakah, righteousness, put here, says Kimchi, for alms to the poor. This casts some light on Matthew 6:1 : "Take heed that you do not your alms," ελεημοσυνην. But the best copies have δικαιοσυνην, righteousness; the former having been inserted in the text at first merely as the explanation of the genuine and original…
This verse personifies abstract concepts like justice and truth as if they are people who are actively being shut out. The "street" where truth has "fallen" refers specifically to the public square, the very place where civic life and legal proceedings were meant to happen. It paints a vivid picture of these foundational virtues being literally cast down and unable to gain entry into the places of power.
This verse is part of Isaiah's lament and confession concerning the sins of Israel. He's describing a society where the fundamental principles of justice and truth have completely collapsed, leading to a state where righteousness cannot even find a foothold. Following this, the prophet will move on to discuss how this pervasive corruption has led to God's judgment, but also to offer a glimmer of hope for future redemption.
This verse is part of Isaiah's lament and confession concerning the sins of Israel. He's describing a society where the fundamental principles of justice and truth have completely collapsed, leading to a state where righteousness cannot even find a foothold. Following this, the prophet will move on to discuss how this pervasive corruption has led to God's judgment, but also to offer a glimmer of hope for future redemption.
"Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.…" — This verse personifies abstract concepts like justice and truth as if they are people who are actively being shut out. The "street" where truth has "fallen" refers specifically to the public square,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
