King James Version

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

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Hebrew

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לִמְד֥וּlimdvteachלָמַדverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “teach”, a commandH3925properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive)(un-) accustomed, [idiom] diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -ing).הֵיטֵ֛בheytevbe acceptedיָטַבverb, hiphil, infinitive absolute — “be accepted”, the verb used for emphasisH3190to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase]…דִּרְשׁ֥וּdirshvaskדָּרַשׁverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “ask”, a commandH1875properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worshipask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.מִשְׁפָּ֖טmishpatlawמִשְׁפָּטnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “law”, the ordinary formH4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style[phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right,…אַשְּׁר֣וּashrvgoאָשַׁרverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “go”, a commandH833to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, proper(call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve.חָמ֑וֹץchamotsoppressedחָמוֹץnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “oppressed”, the ordinary formH2541properly, violent; by implication, a robberoppressed.שִׁפְט֣וּshiftvjudgeשָׁפַטverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “judge”, a commandH8199to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)[phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule.יָת֔וֹםyatomfatherlessיָתוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “fatherless”, the ordinary formH3490a bereaved personfatherless (child), orphan.רִ֖יבוּrivvadversaryרִיבverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “adversary”, a commandH7378properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defendadversary, chide, complain, contend, debate, [idiom] ever, [idiom] lay wait, plead, rebuke, strive, [idiom] thoroughly.אַלְמָנָֽהalmanahdesolate houseאַלְמָנָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “desolate house”, the ordinary formH490a widow; also a desolate placedesolate house (palace), widow.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Young’s Literal Translation

Seek judgment, make happy the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, strive [for] the widow.

World English Bible

Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”

Darby Translation

learn to do well: seek judgment, gladden the oppressed, do justice to the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Douay-Rheims

Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, deliver him that is suffering wrong, plead for the orphan, and obtain justice for the widow.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

μάθετε καλὸν ποιεῖν, ἐκζητήσατε κρίσιν, ῥύσασθε ἀδικούμενον, κρίνατε ὀρφανῷ, καὶ δικαιώσατε χήραν.