Bible Strands
Isaiah 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet speaks to the Judahite leadership, directly addressing them as the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah. This occurs immediately after Yahweh declares that He alone preserved a remnant from total destruction.
The words — שִׁמְע֥וּ (shim.'U) commands to hear, while הַאֲזִ֛ינוּ (ha.'a.Zi.nu) intensifies the call to give ear. תּוֹרַ֥ת (to.Rat) denotes the specific instruction or law being demanded.
The thread — The Sodom-Gomorrah comparison resurfaces in Deuteronomy 32:32 and Isaiah 3:9 to describe corrupt origins and unashamed sin. Ezekiel 16:49 expands the reference to highlight arrogance and complacency.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate attention to Yahweh’s word and instruction rather than ritual observance. It requires the listener to abandon self-justification and submit to divine authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 32:32 But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter.
- Isaiah 3:9 The 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.
- Ezekiel 16:49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.
- Revelation 11:8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.
- Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
- 1 Kings 22:19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Isaiah 28:14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 9:26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”
- Jeremiah 23:14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”