New International VersionWho are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?
New Living TranslationWhom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars!
English Standard VersionWhom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
Berean Standard BibleWhom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit,
King James BibleAgainst whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
New King James VersionWhom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,
New American Standard Bible“Of whom do you make fun? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit,
NASB 1995“Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit,
NASB 1977“Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit,
Legacy Standard BibleAgainst whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Seed of lying,
Amplified Bible“Of whom do you make fun? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion (sin), Offspring of deceit,
Christian Standard BibleWho are you mocking? Who are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue at? Isn’t it you, you rebellious children, you offspring of liars,
Holman Christian Standard BibleWho is it you are mocking? Who is it you are opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue at? Isn’t it you, you rebellious children, you race of liars,
American Standard VersionAgainst whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
Contemporary English VersionWho are you making fun of? Who are you sneering at? Look how your sins have made fools of you.
English Revised VersionAgainst whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhom are you making fun of? Whom are you making a face at? Whom are you sticking out your tongue at? Aren't you rebellious children, descendants of liars?
Good News TranslationWho are you making fun of? Who are you liars jeering at?
International Standard VersionWhom are you mocking? And against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of lies,
NET BibleAt whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars,
New Heart English BibleAgainst whom are you mocking? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Aren't you children of rebellion, offspring of liars,
Webster's Bible TranslationAgainst whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and thrust out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit,
World English BibleWhom do you mock? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Aren’t you children of disobedience and offspring of falsehood, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAgainst whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you enlarge the mouth "" [And] prolong the tongue? Are you not children of transgression? A false seed?
Young's Literal Translation Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom enlarge ye the mouth? Prolong ye the tongue? Are not ye children of transgression? a false seed?
Smith's Literal TranslationAgainst whom will ye deride? against whom will ye make broad the mouth, will ye thrust out the tongue? are ye not children of transgressing and a seed of falsehood? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleUpon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false seed,
Catholic Public Domain VersionWhom are you mocking? Against whom have you opened your mouth wide and wagged your tongue? Are you not sons of wickedness, a lying offspring,
New American BibleAgainst whom do you make sport, against whom do you open wide your mouth, and stick out your tongue? Are you not rebellious children, deceitful offspring—
New Revised Standard VersionWhom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit— Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAgainst whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and draw out the tongue? Are you not children of iniquity, an offspring of falsehood,
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedFor what have you lusted and for what have you opened your mouth and you lengthened your tongue? Behold, you are a child of the Evil One and the seed of The Liar OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom make ye a wide mouth, And draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, A seed of falsehood,
Brenton Septuagint TranslationWherein have ye been rioting? and against whom have ye opened your mouth, and against whom have ye loosed your tongue? are ye not children of perdition? a lawless seed?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context God Condemns Idolatry3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! 4Whomare you mocking?Atwhomdo you snarland stick outyour tongue?Are younotchildrenof transgression,offspringof deceit,5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?…
Cross References Matthew 23:33You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
Matthew 12:34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Romans 3:13-14“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” / “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
James 3:8-10but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. / With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. / Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
2 Peter 2:10-12Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings. / Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord. / These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
Jude 1:10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
Revelation 21:8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Proverbs 14:9Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Proverbs 19:29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Psalm 73:8-9They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. / They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
Psalm 35:16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
Psalm 22:7All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:
Treasury of Scripture Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood. against Isaiah 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shakeitself against them that lift it up,or as if the staff should lift upitself, as if it were no wood. Isaiah 37:23,29 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exaltedthy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high?even against the Holy One of Israel… Exodus 9:17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? sport Judges 16:25-27 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars… Psalm 69:12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and Iwas the song of the drunkards. Matthew 27:29,39-44 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they putit upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! … make Psalm 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me,and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seenit. draw Joshua 10:21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. Job 16:9,10 He tearethme in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me… Psalm 22:7,13,17 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head,saying, … are ye Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Isaiah 30:1,9 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: … Ezekiel 2:4 Forthey are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. Jump to Previous BroodChildrenDeceitDisobedienceDrawEnlargeFalse.FalsehoodMakingMockingMouthOffspringOpenProlongRebellionRebelsSeedSneerSportStickThrustTongueTransgressionUncontrolledWideYourselvesJump to Next BroodChildrenDeceitDisobedienceDrawEnlargeFalse.FalsehoodMakingMockingMouthOffspringOpenProlongRebellionRebelsSeedSneerSportStickThrustTongueTransgressionUncontrolledWideYourselvesIsaiah 57 1.The blessed death of the righteous3.God reproves the People for their idolatry13.He gives promises of mercy to the penitentWhom are you mocking?This phrase addresses the Israelites' behavior, highlighting their disrespect towards God and His prophets. Mockery in biblical times was a serious offense, often directed at those who spoke God's truth. This rhetorical question challenges the people to consider the gravity of their actions. In the broader context of Isaiah, the Israelites were often guilty of idolatry and turning away from God, which led to their downfall. This question serves as a call to self-examination and repentance. At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?
Sneering and sticking out the tongue were expressions of contempt and derision in ancient cultures, similar to modern gestures of disrespect. This behavior indicates a hardened heart and rebellion against divine authority. The Israelites' actions reflect their spiritual state, as they mock not only God's messengers but ultimately God Himself. This imagery is reminiscent of the scorn Jesus faced during His crucifixion, as recorded in the Gospels, where He was mocked by onlookers. Are you not children of transgression,
This phrase identifies the Israelites as descendants of those who have consistently broken God's covenant. The term "children of transgression" implies a generational pattern of sin and rebellion. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel's history is marked by cycles of disobedience and repentance. This phrase calls to mind the warnings given by prophets like Moses and Jeremiah about the consequences of forsaking God's law. offspring of deceit,
The term "offspring of deceit" suggests that the Israelites have inherited a legacy of falsehood and betrayal. Deceit in the biblical context often involves idolatry, false worship, and unfaithfulness to God. This phrase underscores the spiritual corruption that has permeated the nation. It also serves as a reminder of the need for genuine repentance and a return to truth. The concept of deceit is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus condemns hypocrisy and calls for sincerity in faith. Persons / Places / Events 1. MockersThe individuals being addressed in this verse are those who mock and ridicule others, particularly those who are faithful to God. They are characterized by their scornful behavior. 2. Children of TransgressionThis term refers to those who are born into or have chosen a lifestyle of sin and rebellion against God. It highlights a generational or habitual pattern of sin. 3. Offspring of DeceitThis phrase emphasizes the deceitful nature of the people being addressed. It suggests that their actions and words are rooted in falsehood and deception. 4. IsaiahThe prophet who delivered this message. He was called by God to speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, warning them of their sinful ways and calling them to repentance. 5. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which is the primary audience of Isaiah's prophecies. During Isaiah's time, Judah was often guilty of idolatry and turning away from God. Teaching Points The Danger of MockeryMockery is not just a harmless act; it reflects a deeper spiritual issue. It reveals a heart that is not aligned with God and His righteousness. Generational SinSin can be passed down through generations, creating a cycle of transgression. It is crucial to break this cycle through repentance and turning to God. The Deceptive Nature of SinSin often disguises itself as harmless or even appealing. Believers must be vigilant and discerning to avoid being led astray by deceit. The Call to RepentanceIsaiah's message is a call to repentance. Recognizing our own tendencies towards sin and deceit is the first step towards genuine repentance and transformation. The Power of WordsOur words have the power to build up or tear down. As believers, we are called to use our words to edify and encourage, not to mock or deceive. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 57:4?
2.How does Isaiah 57:4 address mocking and deceitful behavior in our lives?
3.What does "open your mouth wide" reveal about the nature of sin?
4.How can Isaiah 57:4 guide us in resisting peer pressure today?
5.Connect Isaiah 57:4 with Proverbs 14:9 on the consequences of mockery.
6.How can we cultivate humility to avoid the behaviors described in Isaiah 57:4?
7.What is the historical context of Isaiah 57:4?
8.How does Isaiah 57:4 challenge our understanding of sin and mockery?
9.What is the significance of the imagery used in Isaiah 57:4?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 57?
11.Historically and archaeologically, where is the proof of a widespread moral collapse as described in Isaiah 59?
12.Was Jesus capable of sinning?
13.What does it mean Jesus became sin for us?
14.How does Jesus' life and teachings fulfill God's promise?What Does Isaiah 57:4 Mean Whom are you mocking?Israel’s leaders and people had taken to ridiculing the very God who rescued them. Mockery was aimed at the prophets who delivered His word (2 Chronicles 36:15–16: “they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His words”). Such scorn exposed a heart posture that was: • Proud—refusing correction (Proverbs 3:34). • Ungrateful—forgetting past deliverance (Deuteronomy 32:18). • Self-deceptive—imagining God would overlook sin (Isaiah 28:15). By asking, “Whom are you mocking?” the Lord confronts the absurdity of creatures taunting their Creator.
At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?The sneer is an outward sign of inward rebellion.Psalm 22:7 pictures the same gesture toward the suffering Messiah: “All who see Me mock Me; they sneer and shake their heads.” The act communicates: • Open contempt for holiness. • Solidarity with the world’s hostility toward God’s servants (Matthew 27:39–40). • A heart hardened beyond mere indifference, moving into active derision (Proverbs 14:9). God exposes the disrespect to show how far His people have drifted from covenant reverence.
Are you not children of transgressionThe question unmasks their lineage.Isaiah 1:4 already declared, “Woe to a sinful nation… children of corruption!” To be a “child” of something is to embody its character: • They inherited and embraced habitual sin (John 8:34). • They resembled the first transgressor, Adam, rather than the promised Seed (Romans 5:12). • They forfeited covenant blessings for curses (Deuteronomy 28:45). The Lord’s tone is not mere accusation; it is a call to recognize a desperately needed new birth (John 3:3).
offspring of deceitTheir family resemblance includes lying and idolatry.Jeremiah 7:8 charges, “Look, you are trusting in deceptive words that cannot profit.” Deceit shows up in: • False worship—setting up pagan altars while pretending loyalty to Yahweh (Isaiah 57:7–8). • False security—believing alliances or rituals can save them (Isaiah 30:1–2). • False speech—prophets for hire telling people what they want to hear (Micah 3:11). Like their father the devil, “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44), they traded truth for pleasant fiction.
summaryIsaiah 57:4 exposes a people who mock God, sneer at His correction, and reveal their true lineage—habitual sinners birthed in deception. The verse strips away every pretense, showing that outward contempt flows from an inward nature that must be transformed. God’s penetrating questions invite repentance and point toward the only remedy: a humble return to the LORD who alone can replace mocking tongues with worshipful lips and turn deceitful hearts into children of truth. (4) Against whom do ye sport yourselves?--The question, as in Isaiah 37:23, is one of indignant scorn, the implied answer being that the mockers were deriding the servants of Jehovah. (Comp. Wisdom 2), and, in so doing, mocking Jehovah himself. The "wide mouth," and the "drawn-out tongue," are the natural symbols of derision. Verse 4. - Against whom do ye sport yourselves? The idolatrous Israelites here addressed, no doubt, made a mock of the few righteous who were still living among them, and vexed their souls, as his fellow-towns-men did the soul of "just Lot" ( 2 Peter 2:7). They "made wide the mouth" at them, and "drew out the tongue" in derision (comp. Psalm 22:7; Psalm 35:21). The prophet asks, "Against whom do ye do this? Is it not rather against God, whose servants these men are, than against them?" Areye not children of transgression? rather, are ye not, yourselves, children of apostasy? and therefore more truly objects of scorn than they? Aseed of falsehood. Idols were viewed by Isaiah as "lies" ( Isaiah 45:20; cf. Romans 1:25; Revelation 22:15). Idolaters were therefore "a seed of falsehood" - men who put their trust in a lie.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Whomמִי֙(mî)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixare you mocking?תִּתְעַנָּ֔גוּ(tiṯ·‘an·nā·ḡū)Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6026:To be soft, pliable, effeminate, luxuriousAtעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstwhomמִ֛י(mî)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixdo you snarlתַּרְחִ֥יבוּ(tar·ḥî·ḇū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7337:To be or grow wide or largeand stick outתַּאֲרִ֣יכוּ(ta·’ă·rî·ḵū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 748:To be, longyour tongue?לָשׁ֑וֹן(lā·šō·wn)Noun - common singular
Strong's 3956:The tongueAre youאַתֶּ֥ם(’at·tem)Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859:Thou and thee, ye and younotהֲלֽוֹא־(hă·lō·w-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nochildrenיִלְדֵי־(yil·ḏê-)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3206:Something born, a lad, offspringof transgression,פֶ֖שַׁע(p̄e·ša‘)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6588:Transgressionoffspringזֶ֥רַע(ze·ra‘)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2233:Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterityof deceit,שָֽׁקֶר׃(šā·qer)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267:Deception, disappointment, falsehood
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 57:4 Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against (Isa Isi Is) |
