Isaiah 3:4
New International Version
“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”

New Living Translation
I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers.

English Standard Version
And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.

Berean Standard Bible
“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”

King James Bible
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

New King James Version
“I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them.

New American Standard Bible
And I will make mere boys their leaders, And mischievous children will rule over them,

NASB 1995
And I will make mere lads their princes, And capricious children will rule over them,

NASB 1977
And I will make mere lads their princes And capricious children will rule over them,

Legacy Standard Bible
And I will make young men their princes, And capricious children will rule over them,

Amplified Bible
And I will make mere boys their princes, And capricious (impulsive, unpredictable) children will rule over them.

Christian Standard Bible
“I will make youths their leaders, and unstable rulers will govern them.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will make youths their leaders, and the unstable will govern them.”

American Standard Version
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

Contemporary English Version
He will let children and babies become your rulers.

English Revised Version
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I will make boys their leaders. Children will govern them."

Good News Translation
The LORD will let the people be governed by immature boys.

International Standard Version
"I will make youths their princes, and infants will rule over them.

Majority Standard Bible
“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”

NET Bible
The LORD says, "I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.

New Heart English Bible
And I will make youths to be their leaders, and capricious children shall rule over them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

World English Bible
I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have made youths their heads, "" And sucklings rule over them.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have made youths their heads, And sucklings rule over them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I gave boys their chiefs, and the petulant shall rule over them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate shall rule over them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will provide children as their leaders, and the effeminate will rule over them.

New American Bible
I will place boys as their princes; the fickle will govern them,

New Revised Standard Version
And I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will appoint young men to be their princes, and mockers shall rule over them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall raise up young men as their Princes, and mockers shall have dominion over them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will make youths their princes, and mockers shall have dominion over them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Judgment Against Judah
3the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter. 4“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.” 5The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 10:16
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

1 Kings 3:7
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

2 Chronicles 36:1-2
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. / Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.

2 Kings 11:21
Joash was seven years old when he became king.

Hosea 13:11
So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

1 Samuel 8:5-6
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” / But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

1 Samuel 8:11-12
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots. / He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

1 Kings 12:8-10
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. / He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” / The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!

Jeremiah 30:21
Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will arise from their midst. And I will bring him near, and he will approach Me, for who would dare on his own to approach Me?” declares the LORD.

Proverbs 28:16
A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

Matthew 18:3
“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. / I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,


Treasury of Scripture

And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

children

1 Kings 3:7-9
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in…

2 Chronicles 33:1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2 Chronicles 34:1
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

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Appoint Babes Boys Chiefs Children Foolish Govern Heads Lads Mere Officials Ones Princes Rule Sucklings Youths
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Appoint Babes Boys Chiefs Children Foolish Govern Heads Lads Mere Officials Ones Princes Rule Sucklings Youths
Isaiah 3
1. The great calamities which come by sin
10. The different rewards of the righteous and wicked
12. The oppression and covetousness of the rulers
16. The judgments which shall be for the pride of the women
25. The general desolation














I will make
This phrase indicates a divine action, emphasizing God's sovereignty and control over the unfolding events. The Hebrew root here is "נָתַן" (natan), meaning "to give" or "to appoint." It underscores the idea that God is actively orchestrating the leadership changes as a form of judgment. This divine intervention serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority over nations and leaders, aligning with the biblical theme that God raises and deposes rulers according to His will (Daniel 2:21).

mere lads
The term "lads" comes from the Hebrew word "נַעַר" (na'ar), which can refer to young boys or inexperienced youths. This choice of leaders symbolizes a reversal of societal norms and expectations, where wisdom and maturity are typically valued in leadership. Historically, this reflects a period of instability and chaos, as inexperienced leaders often lead to poor governance. Theologically, it serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance, urging the people to seek God's wisdom rather than human strength.

their leaders
The word "leaders" in this context refers to those in positions of authority and governance. The Hebrew word "שַׂר" (sar) is often used for princes or officials. This phrase highlights the irony and tragedy of the situation: those who should guide and protect the people are themselves unfit for the task. It serves as a critique of the existing leadership and a call to return to Godly principles in governance, echoing the biblical ideal of righteous and wise leadership as seen in the reign of King David.

and children
The use of "children" here, from the Hebrew "תַּעַלּוּלִים" (ta'alulim), suggests not just youth but also immaturity and capriciousness. This is a metaphor for leaders who lack the necessary qualities to govern effectively. In the historical context of ancient Israel, this would be seen as a disastrous state of affairs, leading to societal breakdown. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the consequences of turning away from God's guidance, as immature leadership leads to moral and social decay.

will rule over them
The phrase "will rule" is derived from the Hebrew "מָשַׁל" (mashal), meaning to have dominion or authority. This indicates a complete inversion of the expected order, where those least capable are given control. It reflects a divine judgment on the people for their disobedience and idolatry, as God allows them to experience the natural consequences of their choices. This serves as a cautionary tale, urging believers to seek leaders who are guided by God's wisdom and to pray for those in authority, as instructed in 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

(4) I will give children to be their princes.--Better, youths. The words may point obliquely to Ahaz, who had ascended the throne at the age of twenty (2Chronicles 28:1). Manasseh was but twelve when he became king; Josiah but eight (2Chronicles 33:1; 2Chronicles 34:1). In an Eastern monarchy the rule of a young king, rash and without experience, guided by counsellors like himself, was naturally regarded as the greatest of evils, and the history of Rehoboam had impressed this truth on the mind of every Israelite. (Comp. Ecclesiastes 10:16.)

Verse 4. - I will give children to be their princes; rather, youths than "children." The extreme youth of the later kings of Judah at the date of their accession is very remarkable. After Hezekiah, only one was as much as twenty-five years old when he came to the throne. Jehoahaz was twenty-three (2 Kings 23:31); Amon, twenty-two (2 Kings 21:19); Zedekiah twenty-one (2 Kings 24:18); Jehoiachin, eighteen (2 Kings 24:8); Manasseh, twelve (2 Kings 21:1); and Josiah eight (2 Kings 22:1). Thus this prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. And babes shall rule over them; literally, puerilities shall rule over them; i.e. the youths shall behave in a childish way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I will make
וְנָתַתִּ֥י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

mere lads
נְעָרִ֖ים (nə·‘ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

their leaders,
שָׂרֵיהֶ֑ם (śā·rê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

and children
וְתַעֲלוּלִ֖ים (wə·ṯa·‘ă·lū·lîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8586: Caprice, vexation, a tyrant

will rule
יִמְשְׁלוּ־ (yim·šə·lū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign

over them.”
בָֽם׃ (ḇām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 3:4 I will give boys to be their (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 3:3
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