Isaiah 32:7 - Exposition

The instruments . Mr. Cheyne translates, "the machinations," which gives a better sense; but the rendering is scarcely borne out by any parallel use of the term c'li in Scripture or elsewhere. C'li properly means "vessels," "weapons," "implements." He deviseth wicked devices ; rather, he deviseth plots . The word "he" is emphatic. Unlike the fool, who passively does evil through thoughtlessness, the niggard actively devises crafty plans against his fellow-men. He seeks to cheat the poor out of their rights by false witness (comp. Isaiah 1:17 , Isaiah 1:23 ; Isaiah 3:14 , Isaiah 3:15 ; Isaiah 5:28 , etc.), Even when the needy speaketh right ; i.e. "has right on his side." The translation in the text is to be preferred to that in the margin.