What injustices are leaders accused of in Isaiah 3:14?

Context and Background

Isaiah delivers God’s indictment against Judah’s civil and religious heads (Isaiah 3:1–15). Their failure is covenantal: they were charged to shepherd God’s vineyard but instead ravaged it (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7).

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The Verse in Focus

“‘The LORD enters into judgment with the elders of His people and their princes:

It is you who have devoured the vineyard;

the plunder of the poor is in your houses.’” (Isaiah 3:14)

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Specific Injustices Named

- Devouring “the vineyard”

• God pictures His people as a cultivated vineyard (Isaiah 5:7).

• Leaders exploited, consumed, and stripped what God planted, treating the nation as personal property.

- Housing “the plunder of the poor”

• Through unfair taxation, bribery, or confiscation, they filled their homes with goods taken from the powerless.

• The Hebrew hints at continuous action—systematic, ongoing oppression, not isolated incidents.

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Wider Biblical Witness

- Stealing from God’s vineyard: Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 12:10; Psalm 80:8-16

- Oppressing the poor for personal gain: Exodus 22:22-24; Proverbs 22:22-23; Jeremiah 22:13-17; Micah 2:1-2; Amos 4:1; James 5:1-6

- Leaders held doubly accountable: 2 Samuel 23:3-4; Ezekiel 34:1-10; Matthew 23:14; Luke 12:48

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What Made These Sins So Grievous

- They reversed God-given roles—shepherds became predators (Ezekiel 34:2-3).

- Their theft targeted the very people Scripture commands special care for—the poor, widows, and orphans (Deuteronomy 10:17-18; Isaiah 1:17).

- Their corruption misrepresented God’s character to the nations (Isaiah 52:5).

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Timeless Takeaways

- Leadership is stewardship; resources and authority belong to the Lord, not to us (1 Corinthians 4:2).

- Exploiting the vulnerable is an affront to God, who personally identifies with them (Proverbs 14:31; Matthew 25:40).

- God still enters into judgment when leaders misuse power—His standards never change (Hebrews 13:8).