Isaiah 29:21 - Exposition

That make a man an offender for a word. The meaning of this clause is very doubtful. Kay translates, "That lead men into sin by words;" Mr. Cheyne, "That make out people to be sinners by their words," i . e . by bearing false witness against them; while Delitzsch upholds the rendering of the Authorized Version. Mr. Vance Smith has other suggestions. There seems to be, on the whole, no sufficient reason for setting aside the authorized rendering, which con-demus one form of oppression—the severe punishment of mere words. And lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate . "The gate" was the place where judgment was given and public assemblies held. If any one boldly stood up and reproved the oppressors "in the gate," they instantly set to work to lay a trap for him and bring him to ruin. And turn aside the just for a thing of naught ; rather, and deprive the just [ of their right ] by empty charges . "Turning aside the just" means turning them from their right ( Amos 5:12 ; Exodus 23:6 ); and bat tohu is not " for nothing" but " by nothing," i.e. by some vain empty pretence.