They shamelessly display their sin and bring disastrous judgment upon themselves.
“The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.” (v.9) Isaiah makes a powerful observation about the people of Judah by comparing them to the notorious city of Sodom, a place known for its blatant wickedness. Sodom was located near the southern region of the Dead Sea and famously destroyed for its sinfulness around the early second millennium BC (Genesis 19:24-25). In this verse, Isaiah warns that the people’s openly rebellious behavior testifies against them, leaving them without excuse. Instead of hiding their misdeeds, they proclaim them for all to see, just as Sodom once did before its downfall.
When Isaiah speaks of “woe to them!” (v.9), he is pronouncing a severe lament and judgment. The chosen people of Judah, who should have been a model of righteousness pointing the world to God’s holiness, have instead embraced evil. Their facial expressions and attitudes directly reveal their disposition, showing no sense of shame. This open disregard for God’s commandments, reminiscent of ancient Sodom, sets a self-destructive path. Jesus similarly underscores the seriousness of such blatant sin when comparing unrepentant cities to Sodom in the New Testament (Matthew 11:23-24).
Isaiah’s words highlight a somber reality: stubborn defiance against God’s moral standards leads to self-inflicted consequences. Because they “have brought evil on themselves” (v.9), their actions reflect a people who have turned their backs on divine protection, inviting ruin upon themselves. This passage underscores the importance of humility and repentance—as seen throughout the Bible—so that the people might avoid suffering the same fate as Sodom and instead walk in obedience to the Lord.
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Isaiah 3:9 meaning
“The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.” (v.9) Isaiah makes a powerful observation about the people of Judah by comparing them to the notorious city of Sodom, a place known for its blatant wickedness. Sodom was located near the southern region of the Dead Sea and famously destroyed for its sinfulness around the early second millennium BC (Genesis 19:24-25). In this verse, Isaiah warns that the people’s openly rebellious behavior testifies against them, leaving them without excuse. Instead of hiding their misdeeds, they proclaim them for all to see, just as Sodom once did before its downfall.
When Isaiah speaks of “woe to them!” (v.9), he is pronouncing a severe lament and judgment. The chosen people of Judah, who should have been a model of righteousness pointing the world to God’s holiness, have instead embraced evil. Their facial expressions and attitudes directly reveal their disposition, showing no sense of shame. This open disregard for God’s commandments, reminiscent of ancient Sodom, sets a self-destructive path. Jesus similarly underscores the seriousness of such blatant sin when comparing unrepentant cities to Sodom in the New Testament (Matthew 11:23-24).
Isaiah’s words highlight a somber reality: stubborn defiance against God’s moral standards leads to self-inflicted consequences. Because they “have brought evil on themselves” (v.9), their actions reflect a people who have turned their backs on divine protection, inviting ruin upon themselves. This passage underscores the importance of humility and repentance—as seen throughout the Bible—so that the people might avoid suffering the same fate as Sodom and instead walk in obedience to the Lord.