Their "feet run to evil," not just because they are inclined to sin, but because they actively seek it out with eagerness. Furthermore, their "thoughts are thoughts of iniquity," showing that their malicious actions stem from a deep-seated corruption of their minds, not just impulsive errors.
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 way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the people's active and eager participation in sin, detailing their swiftness to do evil, spill innocent blood, and devise wicked schemes. It follows a description of their deceptive and boastful nature, highlighting that their actions, even those appearing constructive (like weaving webs), are ultimately destructive and serve no good purpose. The passage continues to paint a picture of societal decay, showing how their paths lead only to ruin and that they are ignorant of how to live peacefully.
It's one thing to stumble into sin, but another to 'run' towards it. What does it mean when our very steps are aimed at wrongdoing?
The verse paints a stark picture of deliberate sin. It's not accidental; it's intentional.
Swiftness to Harm
'Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood.' This isn't about passive compliance; it's active pursuit. The imagery suggests a reckless speed, a lack of hesitation. When people are 'swift to shed innocent blood,' it shows a willingness to perpetrate the most grievous of sins with eagerness, not reluctance.
Deep-Seated Plans
'Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity.' This goes beyond impulsive acts. Their inner world – their plans, their intentions, their very imaginations – are corrupted. It highlights that sin isn't just in actions but in the hidden recesses of the heart and mind. The verse suggests a pervasive mindset where evil is not an anomaly but the norm.
What is left behind when people live out their sinful intentions? This verse reveals the destructive legacy of a life lived in opposition to God.
The consequences of this deep-seated iniquity are not contained; they spill out into the world.
The Trail of Ruin
'Wasting and destruction are in their paths.' This phrase paints a vivid picture. Wherever these individuals go, whatever they do, they leave a wake of devastation. It's like a destructive force that leaves nothing intact.
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A Path Known Only by Damage
This isn't a path of peace, flourishing, or constructive building. It's a path marked by ruin. It implies that their very way of life, their habitual actions and thoughts, are inherently destructive to themselves and to others. They have lost the knowledge of how to walk in ways that bring peace or wholeness.
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.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A comprehensive term for total well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and relational harmony with God and others.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The state of being upright or righteous; judicial equity and legal fairness according to the standard of God's law.
This passage paints a stark picture of a society consumed by violence and injustice, likely reflecting the moral decay leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. The swiftness of their feet to evil and eagerness to shed innocent blood highlight a culture that had completely abandoned righteousness.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. While Jerusalem ultimately survives, the experience is traumatic and reveals deep societal corruption and injustice within Judah.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of King Manasseh
Manasseh's long and wicked reign is marked by extreme idolatry, violence, and the shedding of innocent blood. This period is often cited as a time when the nation reached a spiritual and moral low point.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judean nobles and skilled individuals, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Jehoiakim's successor, Jehoiachin, is deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, and another significant group of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, is exiled to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to the final and largest deportation of the remaining population. This event represents the devastation of the homeland and the depth of national sin.
c. 540 BC
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah (Second Isaiah)
During the Babylonian exile, the prophet known as Second Isaiah (chapters 40-55) delivers messages of hope, comfort, and impending restoration to the exiled community.
This proverb echoes Isaiah's description, stating that 'their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.' It highlights the same eagerness and swiftness in pursuing wicked actions.
Romans 3:15-17The Apostle Paul directly quotes Isaiah 59:7-8 here to demonstrate the universal sinfulness of humanity. This shows how Isaiah's powerful description of wickedness was understood as a timeless truth about human nature.
Isaiah 51:19This verse speaks of 'desolation and destruction' befalling the people, paralleling the 'wasting and destruction' in Isaiah's path. It illustrates the consequence of the kind of iniquity described in Isaiah 59:7.
Jeremiah 4:14Jeremiah warns Jerusalem to 'wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?' This connects directly to Isaiah's 'thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,' emphasizing the internal source of 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…
Their "feet run to evil," not just because they are inclined to sin, but because they actively seek it out with eagerness. Furthermore, their "thoughts are thoughts of iniquity," showing that their malicious actions stem from a deep-seated corruption of their minds, not just impulsive errors.
This verse describes the people's active and eager participation in sin, detailing their swiftness to do evil, spill innocent blood, and devise wicked schemes. It follows a description of their deceptive and boastful nature, highlighting that their actions, even those appearing constructive (like weaving webs), are ultimately destructive and serve no good purpose. The passage continues to paint a picture of societal decay, showing how their paths lead only to ruin and that they are ignorant of how to live peacefully.
This verse describes the people's active and eager participation in sin, detailing their swiftness to do evil, spill innocent blood, and devise wicked schemes. It follows a description of their deceptive and boastful nature, highlighting that their actions, even those appearing constructive (like weaving webs), are ultimately destructive and serve no good purpose. The passage continues to paint a picture of societal decay, showing how their paths lead only to ruin and that they are ignorant of how to live peacefully.
"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 way of peace they do not know, and there is no ju…" — Their "feet run to evil," not just because they are inclined to sin, but because they actively seek it out with eagerness. Furthermore, their "thoughts are thoughts of iniquity," showing that their m…
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Last reviewed October 2026
