Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that their feet run to evil, not just their hands or minds, highlighting the active and eager pursuit of wrongdoing in every aspect of their lives. This swiftness to harm shows a deep-seated corruption where wickedness becomes their primary, unhesitating course of action.
This passage describes the pervasive wickedness of a people who have deeply fallen away from God. It follows descriptions of their fruitless efforts and the destructive nature of their deeds, highlighting that their actions and intentions are entirely consumed by evil. The prophet is painting a picture of a society where violence and injustice are so rampant that their very paths lead only to ruin.
Notice how the verse describes not just what people do, but how they do it. There's a sense of urgency and eagerness in their actions.
The prophet Isaiah uses vivid language to paint a picture of total depravity. It's not just that these people have evil thoughts and intentions; their entire being is oriented towards wickedness.
A Full-Body Commitment to Evil
This imagery emphasizes that sin isn't a passive state but an active pursuit. When people are far from God, their entire lives – from their deepest thoughts to their most outward actions – can become dedicated to destructive paths.
The verse doesn't just describe the actors; it shows the landscape they leave behind. What does their 'path' look like?
Isaiah paints a grim picture of the consequences of unchecked sin, not just for the individuals involved but for the environment they inhabit.
Desolation as a Footprint
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A general term for moral failing, wickedness, or calamity; in a biblical context, it refers to actions contrary to God's holiness.
naqi · Hebrew Adjective
The state of being guiltless; specifically, blood shed without just cause, representing a grave violation of the sanctity of life.
shod va-shever · Hebrew Noun
Often refers to complete ruin, waste, or a state of being deserted; it denotes the wreckage left behind by sinful actions.
Isaiah's condemnation of swift feet running to evil and shedding innocent blood reflects the moral decay and injustice prevalent in Judah, especially during the tumultuous 8th century BC, a period marked by external threats and internal corruption, foreshadowing the greater judgments to come.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah during a time of relative peace but growing internal corruption and idolatry, just before the Assyrian conquests intensified.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deports its people, serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of continued sin.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, besieging many cities and threatening Jerusalem. This event deeply impacted Judah's sense of security and exposed societal failings.
c. 626-609 BC
Reign of King Josiah
Josiah's reign saw religious reforms and a renewed focus on covenant faithfulness, potentially a response to the deep-seated issues Isaiah addresses.
This passage directly parallels Isaiah 59:7, highlighting the swiftness and eagerness with which the wicked pursue evil and violence, stating, 'for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.'
Romans 3:15-17The Apostle Paul quotes from Isaiah 59:7-8, applying it to demonstrate the universal sinfulness of humanity, showing that the descriptions of unchecked iniquity and destruction are not limited to ancient Israel but apply to all people before God.
Jeremiah 22:17This verse echoes the theme of misplaced focus and harmful desires, stating, 'But your eyes and your heart are only intent on gain, and on shedding innocent blood, and on oppression and robbery.' It highlights that destructive actions stem from inward corruption.
Matthew 15:18-19Jesus explains that true defilement comes from within, from the heart, where 'evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander' originate. This aligns with Isaiah's description of 'thoughts of iniquity' leading to destructive actions.
cambridgeIsaiah 59:7: "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths."
7 . their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity (or evil )] corresponding to their deeds, Isaiah 59:6 . wasting and destruction ] as ch. Isaiah 51:19 , Isaiah 60:18 ; an alliteration in the Hebr. in their paths ] Lit. in their highways , cf. Proverbs 16:17 . 7, 8 . Cf. Proverbs 1:16 ; Romans 3:15-17 .
pulpitIsaiah 59:7: "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths."
Verse 7. - Their feet run to evil. It is, however, only too true that they have a power to work evil. They cannot construct, their devices fall through, their "spinning" is to no purpose; but they can, in a rough and blind way, do enormous mischief. "Their feet run to evil" - rush to it at full speed - brook no delay, but hurry o…
The verse emphasizes that their feet run to evil, not just their hands or minds, highlighting the active and eager pursuit of wrongdoing in every aspect of their lives. This swiftness to harm shows a deep-seated corruption where wickedness becomes their primary, unhesitating course of action.
This passage describes the pervasive wickedness of a people who have deeply fallen away from God. It follows descriptions of their fruitless efforts and the destructive nature of their deeds, highlighting that their actions and intentions are entirely consumed by evil. The prophet is painting a picture of a society where violence and injustice are so rampant that their very paths lead only to ruin.
This passage describes the pervasive wickedness of a people who have deeply fallen away from God. It follows descriptions of their fruitless efforts and the destructive nature of their deeds, highlighting that their actions and intentions are entirely consumed by evil. The prophet is painting a picture of a society where violence and injustice are so rampant that their very paths lead only to ruin.
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This imagery serves as a stark warning: lives lived in pursuit of iniquity leave behind a trail of devastation, impacting not only the perpetrators but everyone and everything around them.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. This event marked the culmination of the unfaithfulness and judgment described by prophets like Isaiah.
"Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways." — The verse emphasizes that their feet run to evil, not just their hands or minds, highlighting the active and eager pursuit of wrongdoing in every aspect of their lives. This swiftness to harm shows…
