Isaiah 3:4
Isaiah 3:4 in Multiple Translations
“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.
I will give them boys as their leaders who will rule over them in childish ways.
And I will appoint children to bee their princes, and babes shall rule ouer them.
And I have made youths their heads, And sucklings rule over them.
I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate shall rule over them.
He will appoint boys to be your leaders; your children will rule you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 3:4
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 3:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/נָתַתִּ֥י
נְעָרִ֖ים
שָׂרֵי/הֶ֑ם
וְ/תַעֲלוּלִ֖ים
יִמְשְׁלוּ
בָֽ/ם
וְ/נָתַתִּ֥י
nâthan
H5414
to give
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
נְעָרִ֖ים
naʻar
H5288
youth
N-mp
שָׂרֵי/הֶ֑ם
sar
H8269
ruler
N-mp | Suff
וְ/תַעֲלוּלִ֖ים
taʻălûwl
H8586
caprice
Conj | N-mp
יִמְשְׁלוּ
mâshal
H4910
to rule
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
בָֽ/ם
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 3:4
וְ/נָתַתִּ֥י
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
נְעָרִ֖ים
naʻar
H5288
"youth"
N-mp
In the original Hebrew, this word means a young person, either a boy or a girl, from infancy to adolescence. It is used to describe the servants and attendants who worked for kings and other important people in the Old Testament, like King David's servants.
Definition: 1) a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer 1a) boy, lad, youth 1b) servant, retainer
Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). See also: Genesis 14:24; 1 Samuel 25:5; Psalms 37:25.
שָׂרֵי/הֶ֑ם
sar
H8269
"ruler"
N-mp | Suff
A leader or person in charge, like a prince or captain, as seen in the Bible with King David and other rulers.
Definition: 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden
Usage: Occurs in 368 OT verses. KJV: captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. See also: Genesis 12:15; 1 Kings 22:32; 2 Chronicles 32:21.
וְ/תַעֲלוּלִ֖ים
taʻălûwl
H8586
"caprice"
Conj | N-mp
This word describes a fit of anger or a tyrannical leader, conveying a sense of capriciousness or unpredictability. It appears in books like Job and the Psalms, where it is used to describe the actions of wicked people. The concept is often associated with evil or foolish behavior.
Definition: wantonness, caprice, vexation
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: babe, delusion. See also: Isaiah 3:4; Isaiah 66:4.
יִמְשְׁלוּ
mâshal
H4910
"to rule"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To rule means to have power over something or someone, like a king ruling his kingdom, as seen in 1 Samuel. It involves having control and making decisions, like a leader guiding their people. In the Bible, God rules over all things.
Definition: 1) to rule, have dominion, reign 1a) (Qal) to rule, have dominion 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to rule 1b2) to exercise dominion
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power. See also: Genesis 1:18; Proverbs 16:32; Psalms 8:7.
בָֽ/ם
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Isaiah 3:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 3:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 3:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 3:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 3:4
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 3:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
- Sermons on Isaiah 3:4
Context — Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
2the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,
3the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.
4“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
5The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable. 6A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 10:16 | Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning. |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 33:1 | Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 3:7–9 | And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 34:1 | Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 36:5 | Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 36:9 | Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. |
| 7 | 2 Chronicles 36:2 | Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. |
| 8 | 2 Chronicles 36:11 | Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. |
Isaiah 3:4 Summary
This verse, Isaiah 3:4, means that when God's people reject His leadership, He may allow immature or unqualified leaders to be in charge, as a form of judgment. This can lead to chaos and disorder, as seen in the surrounding verses, Isaiah 3:5-6. In simple terms, when we don't listen to God, He may give us leaders who are not wise or experienced, which can cause problems, similar to what is written in Proverbs 11:14 and 24:23-24. By seeking God's wisdom and guidance, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:5-8, we can avoid this kind of situation and live in a way that honors Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to make mere lads leaders over His people?
This verse signifies a lack of spiritual maturity and wisdom among the leaders, as seen in Isaiah 3:4, where God says He will make mere lads their leaders, a concept also reflected in Ecclesiastes 10:16, where it is written that woe to the land whose king is a youth.
Is this verse talking about a specific time in history or is it a general principle?
This verse is part of a larger prophecy about the judgment of God on the nation of Israel, as seen in Isaiah 3:1-26, and can be applied to any time when God's people reject His leadership and wisdom, similar to what is written in Proverbs 22:15.
How does this verse relate to the idea of God's sovereignty?
This verse demonstrates God's sovereignty over His people, as He is the one who gives and takes away leaders, as stated in Daniel 2:21 and Romans 13:1-2, emphasizing His ultimate control over all earthly authorities.
What is the significance of children ruling over the people in this context?
The phrase 'children will rule over them' signifies a complete reversal of the natural order, where those who are immature and inexperienced are given authority, highlighting the chaos and disorder that results when God's people reject His leadership, as also seen in Isaiah 3:5 and Matthew 10:21.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I see a lack of spiritual maturity among leaders in my own life or community, and how can I pray for God's wisdom and guidance in these situations?
- How do I currently submit to God's sovereignty in my own life, and what areas do I need to surrender to His control, as encouraged in Romans 12:1-2?
- What does it mean for me to seek God's wisdom and leadership in my daily decisions, and how can I prioritize His guidance, as taught in Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:5-8?
- In what ways can I be a positive influence and leader in my own sphere, by seeking God's wisdom and guidance, as exemplified in 1 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 2:7-8?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 3:4
And I will give children [to be] their princes,.... Either in age, or in understanding, who are really so, or act like such; and in either sense, when this is the case, it is an unhappiness to a
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 3:4
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And I will give children - in ability for governing: antithesis to the "ancient" (see Isaiah 3:12; Ecclesiastes 10:16).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
Children; either, 1. In age, whose minority corrupt ministers of state commonly abuse to great mischiefs; or, 2. In understanding, experience, and manners; foolish, froward, unteachable, &c.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
Isaiah 3:4 And I will give children [to be] their princes, and babes shall rule over them.Ver. 4. And I will give children to be their princes.] Si non annis, at animis; If not with years but with life, such as were Ahaz, Manasseh, the four last kings of Judah, the calamity of that kingdom. Princes that are witless, wilful, weak, or wicked, are the people’ s woe; this childhood of theirs is the maturity of their subjects’ misery. And babes shall rule over them.] Sept., Mockers; some render it foxes, others effeminate persons, but babes is best. Such a one was Rehoboam, and Honorius the Emperor, who when he heard that his city of Rome was taken by Alarichus, grieved most of all for the loss of a certain bird which was there kept for him, and by him called "Rome." Indignum sane, Regem aves praeferre urbibus, saith the historian. Dii avertant principes pueros. - Vopis.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
(4) I will give children to be their princes.—Better, youths. The words may point obliquely to Ahaz, who had ascended the throne at the age of twenty (2 Chronicles 28:1). Manasseh was but twelve when he became king; Josiah but eight (2 Chronicles 33:1; 2 Chronicles 34:1). In an Eastern monarchy the rule of a young king, rash and without experience, guided by counsellors like himself, was naturally regarded as the greatest of evils, and the history of Rehoboam had impressed this truth on the mind of every Israelite. (Comp. Ecclesiastes 10:16.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
Verse 4. I will give children to be their princes - "I will make boys their princes"] This also was fully accomplished in the succession of weak and wicked princes, from the death of Josiah to the destruction of the city and temple, and the taking of Zedekiah, the last of them, by Nebuchadnezzar. Babes shall rule over them.] Dymennysche men schul lordschopen to hem. - Old MS. Bible.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 3:4
4. The supreme power passing into the hands of weaklings, a Reign of Terror ensues among the people. The sudden change of speaker is very striking. and babes …] Rather, and Outrage shall rule over them. The word rendered “babes” is really an abstract noun, occurring again only in ch. Isaiah 66:4 (A.V. “delusions”). It is derived from a verb meaning “to outrage” or “to insult” (see Judges 19:25; 1 Samuel 31:4; Jeremiah 38:19; Numbers 22:29), and seems here to denote those personal affronts and outrages which invariably accompany social confusions. The rendering “capriciousness,” preferred by many, does not suit Isaiah 66:4. Some take the word as adverbial acc. (see R.V. marg. “with childishness shall they rule”), others think the abstract is used for the concrete (“capricious youths”). But the translation given is perhaps the most forcible,—Outrage instead of Justice.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 3:4
And I will give children - Not children in respect to age so much as in regard to talent for governing. I will commit the land to the government of weak and imbecile princes.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 3:4
1-7. Cease ye from man is now the order. For behold — Attention is challenged. The Lord — (Ha-Adon.) “The Lord” as sovereign.
Sermons on Isaiah 3:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Divine Government—the Joy of Our World by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the divine government, highlighting the blessings of wise and just rulers and the consequences of weak and tyrannical leadership. He emphasizes the nec |
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An Amazing Royal Conversion by Peter Masters | This sermon delves into the incredible royal conversion story of King Manasseh, highlighting his journey from extreme evil to repentance and restoration by God's mercy. It draws pa |
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Seven Life Changing Words by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of engaging the heart and mind when speaking words of faith. He contrasts Christianity with other religions that use mantras, |
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Manasseh Pridefully Rebelling Against the Lord by Bob Hoekstra | Bob Hoekstra delivers a powerful sermon on the life of King Manasseh, who walked in prideful rebellion against the Lord, engaging in evil practices that shocked even more than Nebu |
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Ii Chronicles 33 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith preaches on the life of Manasseh, one of Judah's most notorious kings, who turned from his early training and led the nation into sin and idolatry. Despite his boldness |
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Knowing God's Will by Peter Maiden | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the certainty of God's guidance for His children. He highlights that God is revealed as a shepherd and a father in the Bible, guiding His pe |
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A Hearing Heart (Part 2) by Phil Beach Jr. | Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of having a 'hearing heart' that is both understanding and obedient to God's will, drawing from Solomon's request for wisdom in 1 Kings 3. |