God’s warning through Isaiah urges His people to abandon sinfulness and return to faithful obedience.
The prophet Isaiah uses strong language when he proclaims, “Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:10). In this verse, Isaiah likens the leaders and inhabitants of Judah to the morally depraved cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which lay near the Dead Sea in ancient times and were destroyed around 2000 BC during the days of Abraham for their extreme wickedness (Genesis 19:24-25). Though Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, he addresses them with these names to underscore the depth of their wrongdoing. By comparing God’s chosen people to two notorious cities, the prophet emphasizes that acts of injustice and hypocrisy deserve God’s judgment no matter who the transgressors are.
In calling them “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah” (v.10), Isaiah exposes the spiritual decay that had seeped into Judah’s leadership and society alike. The law and teachings the Israelites had received from God were meant to set them apart as righteous examples among the nations, yet their current practices, which included neglecting the poor and indulging in arrogance, mirrored the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. This stark rebuke is a reminder that external religious observances cannot hide a corrupt heart, a truth later reaffirmed by Jesus, who condemned hypocrisy and called for heartfelt repentance (Matthew 23:28).
By commanding them to “give ear to the instruction of our God” (v.10), Isaiah confronts the people with the urgent need to heed the voice of the Lord. True righteousness arises from following God’s guidance, which shapes a community into one that loves mercy, defends the vulnerable, and upholds justice (Micah 6:8). Rejecting that guidance invites the same fate that befell the infamous cities of old. The verse thus calls its audience—and modern readers—to turn from empty religiosity and invest themselves in the genuine pursuit of God’s righteous ways.
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Isaiah 1:10 meaning
The prophet Isaiah uses strong language when he proclaims, “Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:10). In this verse, Isaiah likens the leaders and inhabitants of Judah to the morally depraved cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which lay near the Dead Sea in ancient times and were destroyed around 2000 BC during the days of Abraham for their extreme wickedness (Genesis 19:24-25). Though Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, he addresses them with these names to underscore the depth of their wrongdoing. By comparing God’s chosen people to two notorious cities, the prophet emphasizes that acts of injustice and hypocrisy deserve God’s judgment no matter who the transgressors are.
In calling them “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah” (v.10), Isaiah exposes the spiritual decay that had seeped into Judah’s leadership and society alike. The law and teachings the Israelites had received from God were meant to set them apart as righteous examples among the nations, yet their current practices, which included neglecting the poor and indulging in arrogance, mirrored the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. This stark rebuke is a reminder that external religious observances cannot hide a corrupt heart, a truth later reaffirmed by Jesus, who condemned hypocrisy and called for heartfelt repentance (Matthew 23:28).
By commanding them to “give ear to the instruction of our God” (v.10), Isaiah confronts the people with the urgent need to heed the voice of the Lord. True righteousness arises from following God’s guidance, which shapes a community into one that loves mercy, defends the vulnerable, and upholds justice (Micah 6:8). Rejecting that guidance invites the same fate that befell the infamous cities of old. The verse thus calls its audience—and modern readers—to turn from empty religiosity and invest themselves in the genuine pursuit of God’s righteous ways.