Isaiah 3:11
Isaiah 3:11 in Multiple Translations
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him.
Unhappy is the sinner! for the reward of his evil doings will come on him.
But tragedy comes to the wicked, for what they did will be done to them.
Woe be to the wicked, it shalbe euill with him: for the reward of his handes shalbe giuen him.
Woe to the wicked — evil, Because the deed of his hand is done to him.
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.
Woe to the wicked! it shall be ill with him : for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
But terrible things will happen to wicked people; they will be ◄paid back/punished► for the evil things that [MTY] they have done.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 3:11
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 3:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
א֖וֹי
לְ/רָשָׁ֣ע
רָ֑ע
כִּֽי
גְמ֥וּל
יָדָ֖י/ו
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
לּֽ/וֹ
א֖וֹי
ʼôwy
H188
woe!
Part
לְ/רָשָׁ֣ע
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Prep | Adj
רָ֑ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
גְמ֥וּל
gᵉmûwl
H1576
recompense
N-ms
יָדָ֖י/ו
yâd
H3027
hand
N-cd | Suff
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
לּֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 3:11
א֖וֹי
ʼôwy
H188
"woe!"
Part
This word is an expression of sorrow or grief, like a cry of 'Oh no!' or 'Alas!' It's used in Isaiah and Jeremiah to lament the fate of God's people. The prophets use it to express deep emotional pain.
Definition: 1) woe! alas! oh! 1a) passionate cry of grief or despair
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: alas, woe. See also: Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 6:4; Proverbs 23:29.
לְ/רָשָׁ֣ע
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Prep | Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
רָ֑ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
גְמ֥וּל
gᵉmûwl
H1576
"recompense"
N-ms
This word means a reward or recompense for something, like a payment for work done. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's rewards for the faithful, like in Psalm 19. The KJV translates it as recompense or reward.
Definition: 1) dealing, recompense, benefit 1a) dealing (of one's hand) 1b) recompense 1c) benefit
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, that which he hath given, recompense, reward. See also: Judges 9:16; Isaiah 3:11; Psalms 28:4.
יָדָ֖י/ו
yâd
H3027
"hand"
N-cd | Suff
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Definition: : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists
Usage: Occurs in 1446 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 14:22.
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לּֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Isaiah 3:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 3:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 3:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 3:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 3:11
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 3:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
- Sermons on Isaiah 3:11
Context — Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
9The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
12Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. 13The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 8:13 | Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. |
| 2 | James 2:13 | For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
| 3 | Psalms 62:12 | and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds. |
| 4 | Psalms 28:4 | Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve. |
| 5 | Psalms 120:3–4 | What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree! |
| 6 | Isaiah 48:22 | “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” |
| 7 | Isaiah 65:20 | No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. |
| 8 | Isaiah 65:13–15 | Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit. You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name. |
| 9 | Proverbs 1:31 | So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. |
| 10 | Isaiah 57:20–21 | But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” |
Isaiah 3:11 Summary
[Isaiah 3:11 is a warning to those who do wrong that they will face the consequences of their actions. This is a principle that is seen throughout the Bible, such as in Jeremiah 17:10, where it says that God rewards each person according to their conduct. The good news is that God is merciful and wants people to turn to Him, as seen in 1 Timothy 2:4, where it says that God desires all people to be saved. As we reflect on this verse, we are reminded to examine our own hearts and actions, and to turn to God for forgiveness and guidance.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of 'Woe to the wicked' in Isaiah 3:11?
The phrase 'Woe to the wicked' is a declaration of God's judgment and condemnation on those who refuse to follow Him, as seen in Isaiah 3:11, and is similar to the warnings given in Ezekiel 18:4 and Romans 6:23.
Will the wicked really be repaid for their actions?
Yes, according to Isaiah 3:11, the wicked will be repaid for what their hands have done, which is a principle also seen in Galatians 6:7-8, where it says that we will reap what we sow.
Is this verse talking about God's immediate judgment or a future judgment?
While God can bring immediate judgment, as seen in Acts 5:1-11, Isaiah 3:11 is also looking forward to a future day of reckoning, as described in Revelation 20:11-15, where all people will stand before God to give an account of their lives.
How does this verse relate to the concept of justice?
Isaiah 3:11 shows that God is a just God who will repay each person according to their deeds, which is a theme also found in Psalm 62:12 and Matthew 16:27, emphasizing that our actions have consequences.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be 'flaunting my sin' like Sodom, and how can I humbly turn to God for forgiveness?
- In what ways can I be more mindful of the fact that my actions have consequences, not just in this life but in eternity?
- How can I balance the truth of God's judgment with the message of His love and mercy, as seen in John 3:16?
- What does it mean for me to 'enjoy the fruit of my labor' as a righteous person, as mentioned in Isaiah 3:10, and how can I live in light of that promise?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him],.... In time, and to eternity, in times of public calamity, and under all afflictions, and adverse dispensations of Providence; he has no God to go
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. Woe unto the wicked, (it shall be) ill (with him) - antithesis to "well" (Isaiah 3:10): emphatic ellipsis.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! these heavy judgments are designed against them, and shall certainly find them out, though here they be mixed with the righteous.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
Isaiah 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.Ver. 11. Woe to the wicked.] This sentence should ever sound in the wicked man’ s ears for a powerful retentive from wickedness, considering the evil consequence thereof, that doleful ουαιουαι; woe and alas for evermore! And when thou art making, saith one, a covenant with sin, say to thy soul, as Boaz said to his kinsman, "At what time thou buyest it, thou must have Ruth with it." If thou wilt have the pleasure of sin, the ways of wickedness, thou must also have the vengeance and wrath of God with it, and let thy soul answer as he here doth: No, I may not do it; I shall mar and spoil a better inheritance; I shall inherit a curse, &c. Look, saith Mr Bradford, martyr, to the tag tied to God’ s law, the malediction, which is such as cannot but make us to cast our currish tails between our legs, if we believe it. It shall go ill with him.] Utcunque sibi de rebus praesentibus gratuletur. Though he stroke himself on the head, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Tell him from me, saith God, Evil, sc., shall betide him; yea, "an evil, an only evil," awaiteth him, let him look for it. The reward of his hands shall be given him.] He shall reap as he sowed, drink as he brewed. “ Mox ant poena manet miseros, ant palma beatos; Quisque sum vitae semina iacta metet. ” Serm. of Repentance, pp. 57, 58. Jun.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
Verse 11. Wo unto the wicked] לרשע lerasha, the man who is, 1. Evil in his heart. 2. Evil in his purposes. 3. Evil in his life. As he is wicked, he does that which is wicked; and is influenced by the wicked one, of whom he is the servant and the son. It shall be ill with him, רע ra; in a single word say to him - evil! Of him you can speak no good; and to him you can speak no good - all is evil, in him - before him - after him - round about him - above him - below him. Evil in time - evil through eternity! The reward of his hands.] What he has deserved he shall get.
He shall be paid that for which he has laboured, and his reward shall be in proportion to his work. O, what a lot is that of the wicked! Cursed in time, and accursed through eternity!
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 3:11
10, 11. The exclamation at the end of Isa 3:9 leads to a statement of the universal law of divine retribution. The verses are thought by some to be interpolated, and even Dillmann admits that they fit but loosely into the context.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 3:11
Wo unto the wicked - To all the wicked - but here having particular reference to the Jews whom Isaiah was addressing. It shall be ill with him - The word “ill” is the only word here in the original.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 3:11
10, 11. These verses express general truths. Their meaning is deep. All that is possible to think or feel from the two simple propositions, “It is well to be righteous,” “It is ill to be wicked,” cannot exceed what they mean.
Sermons on Isaiah 3:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
This Is the Portion of a Wicked Man From God. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the inevitable connection between wrongdoing and its consequences, as illustrated in the Book of Job. He reflects on the beliefs of Eastern peoples regarding |
|
The True Christian by James Smith | James Smith preaches about the characteristics and lifestyle of a true Christian who is born from above, partakes of the divine nature, and is taught by the Holy Spirit. This indiv |
|
All Things Conspire for Evil to the Sinner by Charles Finney | Charles Finney delivers a powerful sermon emphasizing the dire consequences of sin, asserting that all things conspire for the ruin of the wicked. He contrasts the fate of sinners |
|
Forgiveness by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the central theme of the Bible, which is the cross of Jesus Christ. He specifically highlights Isaiah 53 as a passage that reveals the signi |
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Beatitudes - Part 9 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of a man who had a difficult life. He was sent by his father to his brothers, but they betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He e |
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We Will All Stand Before the Judgment of God by John Piper | In this sermon, John Piper emphasizes the importance of having a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. He explains that it is not the quantity of good or evil deeds that saves a person, b |
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I Know What Your Calling Is! by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the critical calling on the church in a season of history, urging believers to stand in the gap for mercy and restoration. It highlights the need for interce |