The Meaning of Isaiah 10:2 Explained

Isaiah 10:2

KJV: To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

YLT: To turn aside from judgment the poor, And to take violently away the judgment Of the afflicted of My people, That widows may be their prey, That the fatherless they may spoil.

Darby: to turn away the poor from judgment, and to take away the right from the afflicted of my people; that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

ASV: to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

To turn aside  the needy  from judgment,  and to take away  the right  from the poor  of my people,  that widows  may be their prey,  and [that] they may rob  the fatherless! 

What does Isaiah 10:2 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 10:2 mean?

to rob of justice the poor and to take what is right from the poor of My people that may be widows their prey and [that] the fatherless they may rob
לְהַטּ֤וֹת מִדִּין֙ דַּלִּ֔ים וְלִגְזֹ֕ל מִשְׁפַּ֖ט עֲנִיֵּ֣י עַמִּ֑י לִהְי֤וֹת אַלְמָנוֹת֙ שְׁלָלָ֔ם וְאֶת־ ! יְתוֹמִ֖ים יָבֹֽזּוּ

לְהַטּ֤וֹת  to  rob 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
מִדִּין֙  of  justice 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דִּין 
Sense: judgment.
דַּלִּ֔ים  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
וְלִגְזֹ֕ל  and  to  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: גָּזַל  
Sense: to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force.
מִשְׁפַּ֖ט  what  is  right  from 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
עֲנִיֵּ֣י  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
עַמִּ֑י  of  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לִהְי֤וֹת  that  may  be 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אַלְמָנוֹת֙  widows 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אַלְמָנָה  
Sense: widow.
שְׁלָלָ֔ם  their  prey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁלָל  
Sense: prey, plunder, spoil, booty.
וְאֶת־  and  [that] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
! יְתוֹמִ֖ים  the  fatherless 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יָתֹום  
Sense: an orphan, fatherless.
יָבֹֽזּוּ  they  may  rob 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּזַז  
Sense: to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize.