Isaiah 5:24

"who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!"

Key Reflection

Isaiah 5:24 powerfully critiques those who pervert justice through bribery and corruption. The passage highlights the severity of such actions by emphasizing that God's anger burns against them, symbolizing the irreversible damage done to societal integrity and divine righteousness. This verse underscores how corruption not only harms the innocent but also alienates people from God’s just judgment, reflecting a deep moral and ethical crisis within the community.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Therefore as the fire ... -The remainder of this chapter is occupied with predicting “judgments,” or punishments, upon the people for their sins which had been specified. The Hebrew here is, ‘The tongue of fire.’ The figure is beautiful and obvious. It is derived from the pyramidal, or tongue-like appearance of “flame.” The concinnity of the metaphor in the Hebrew is kept up. The word “devoureth” is in the Hebrew “eateth:” ‘As the tongue of fire eats up,’ etc. The use of the word “tongue” to denote “flame” is common in the Scriptures; see the note atActs 2:3.

Related Verses

More from Isaiah 5

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