King James Version

Isaiah 3:12

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

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Hebrew

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עַמִּי֙amipeopleעַםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “people”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.נֹגְשָׂ֣יוnogesayvdistressנָגַשׂverb, qal, participle, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “distress”, a verb used as a describing wordH5065to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannizedistress, driver, exact(-or), oppress(-or), [idiom] raiser of taxes, taskmaster.מְעוֹלֵ֔לmeolelgleanעָלַלverb, poel, participle, absolute — “glean”, a verb used as a describing wordH5953to effect thoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively); by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e. maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal)abuse, affect, [idiom] child, defile, do, glean, mock, practise, thoroughly, work (wonderfully).וְנָשִׁ֖יםvenashimand eachאִשָּׁהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “and each”, the ordinary formH802a woman(adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.מָ֣שְׁלוּmashelvruleמָשַׁלverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “rule”, a completed actionH4910to rule(have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.ב֑וֹvvoinב֑וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “in”inעַמִּי֙amipeopleעַםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “people”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָmeashreykhagoאָשַׁרverb, piel, participle, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “go”, a verb used as a describing wordH833to 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.מַתְעִ֔יםmatimdeceiveתָּעָהverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “deceive”, a verb used as a describing wordH8582to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both(cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way.וְדֶ֥רֶךְvederekhand alongדֶּרֶךְconjunction, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “and along”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָorechoteykhamannerאֹרַחnoun, common, both genders, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “manner”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH734a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravanmanner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-) way.בִּלֵּֽעוּbilevdestroyבָּלַעverb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “destroy”, a completed actionH1104to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroycover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

As for My people, a babe is their master, and women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Young’s Literal Translation

My people — its exactors [are] sucklings, And women have ruled over it. My people — thy eulogists are causing to err, And the way of thy paths swallowed up.

World English Bible

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.

Darby Translation

[As for] my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people! they that guide thee mislead [thee], and destroy the way of thy paths.

Douay-Rheims

As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

As for My people, a babe is their master, and women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

O my people, your exactors strip you, and extortioners rule over you: O my people, they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray, and pervert the path of your feet.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Λαός μου, οἱ πράκτορες ὑμῶν καλαμῶνται ὑμᾶς, καὶ οἱ ἀπαιτοῦντες κυριεύουσιν ὑμῶν· λαός μου, οἱ μακαρίζοντες ὑμᾶς πλανῶσιν ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὸν τρίβον τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν ταράσσουσιν.