For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
Parallel translations
- WEB and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
- KJV And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
- BSB a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
- NASB A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
- NLT He will give a longing for justice to their judges. He will give great courage to their warriors who stand at the gates.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God will give a spirit of justice to judges and strength to those who defend the city's gates.
Overview
The Lord promises to equip His remnant with righteous judgment and courage to repel the enemy. Where leaders had failed in justice, God himself supplies the wisdom and strength needed. This reflects how God graciously empowers His people for faithful service, ultimately through His Spirit given in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 18:32–34the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
- John 5:30I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
- Num 11:16–17Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.
- Isa 11:2–4Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.
- Josh 1:9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isa 32:15–16Until the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest.
- John 3:34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
- Gen 41:38–39Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
- Prov 20:8A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- 1 Kgs 3:28All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
- Ps 46:1For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- 2 Chr 32:8An arm of flesh is with him, but Yahweh our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.” The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
- Deut 20:4for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
- Ps 46:11Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Ps 72:1–4By Solomon. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.
- 1 Cor 12:8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
- Num 27:16–18“Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 28:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.