Isaiah 32:6

For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses the people of Judah, contrasting the coming righteous rule with the persistent, destructive character of the fool and scoundrel.

The words — נָבָל (naVal) denotes a moral fool whose speech and actions define his nature, while אָוֶן ('Aven) describes the worthless, iniquitous plotting of his heart.

The thread — This portrait of the fool’s corrupt speech and heart-driven iniquity echoes in Matthew 15:19 and 1 Samuel 24:13, while his neglect of the hungry and thirsty parallels the warning in Proverbs 11:24.

Why it lands — The text states that a fool’s mind plots iniquity, he speaks falsely about God, and he withholds sustenance from the needy. It demands the reader examine whether his own speech, heart motives, and treatment of the vulnerable align with truth and justice.

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

כִּ֤יkifor נָבָל֙na.Vala fool נְבָלָ֣הne.va.Lahfolly יְדַבֵּ֔רye.da.Berhe speaks וְלִבּ֖וֹve./li.B/oand/ heart/ his יַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-it does אָ֑וֶן'A.venwickedness לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla./'a.Sotby/ doing חֹ֗נֶףCho.nefgodlessness וּלְדַבֵּ֤רu./le./da.Berand/ by/ speaking אֶל־'el-concerning יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh תּוֹעָ֔הto.'Aherror לְהָרִיק֙le./ha.Rikby/ keeping empty נֶ֣פֶשׁNe.fesh[the] appetite of רָעֵ֔בra.'Ev[the] hungry וּמַשְׁקֶ֥הu./mash.Kehand/ drink צָמֵ֖אtza.Me'[the] thirsty יַחְסִֽיר׃yach.Sirhe deprives

King James Version

For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Cross-references

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
1 Samuel 24:13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Isaiah 3:15 Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
Acts 8:21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
1 Samuel 25:10 But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
Job 22:5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
Job 24:2 Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.