The Meaning of Isaiah 10:1 Explained

Isaiah 10:1

KJV: Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

YLT: Woe to those decreeing decrees of iniquity, And writers who have prescribed perverseness.

Darby: Woe unto them that decree iniquitous decrees, and to the writers that prescribe oppression,

ASV: Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Woe  unto them that decree  unrighteous  decrees,  and that write  grievousness  [which] they have prescribed; 

What does Isaiah 10:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 10:1-4 - Social Injustice Condemned
The terrible indictment of the preceding paragraphs is continued here. Notice the awful monotony of the refrain, Isaiah 9:12; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 9:21; Isaiah 10:4. Internal anarchy spread with the rapidity of a prairie fire. Jealousy and distrust awoke murderous hatred. Even the ties of brotherhood would not avail to arrest the knife of the assassin. In the horrors of starvation men would consume their own flesh, Isaiah 9:20. Civil strife would exhaust the forces, which, combined with God's blessing, might have arrested the invader. The weak would become the spoil of the strong; and there would be no appeal. What pathetic questions are suggested in Isaiah 10:3! What will ye do? To whom will ye flee? See Hebrews 9:26-28. What hope is there for the soul that has known and refused the offer of forgiveness in Jesus! Dear soul, make haste to the cleft of the Rock! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 10

1  The woe of tyrants
5  Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, for its pride shall be broken
20  A remnant of Israel shall be saved
23  Judah is comforted with promise of deliverance from Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 10:1 mean?

Woe to those who decree decrees unrighteous and who write misfortune [Which] they have prescribed
ה֥וֹי הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־ אָ֑וֶן וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים עָמָ֖ל כִּתֵּֽבוּ

ה֥וֹי  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֹוי  
Sense: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!.
הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים  to  those  who  decree 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: חָקַק  
Sense: to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern.
חִקְקֵי־  decrees 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חֵקֶק  
Sense: decree, resolve, statute, action prescribed.
אָ֑וֶן  unrighteous 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים  and  who  write 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
עָמָ֖ל  misfortune 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָמָל  
Sense: .
כִּתֵּֽבוּ  [Which]  they  have  prescribed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.