Isaiah 32:1
New International Version
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.

New Living Translation
Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him.

English Standard Version
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.

Berean Standard Bible
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.

King James Bible
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

New King James Version
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.

New American Standard Bible
Behold, a king will reign righteously, And officials will rule justly.

NASB 1995
Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.

NASB 1977
Behold, a king will reign righteously, And princes will rule justly.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly.

Amplified Bible
Behold, a King will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.

Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly.

American Standard Version
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.

Contemporary English Version
A king and his leaders will rule with justice.

English Revised Version
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A king will rule with fairness, and officials will rule with justice.

Good News Translation
Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice.

International Standard Version
"Look, a king will reign in righteousness, and rulers will rule with justice.

Majority Standard Bible
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.

NET Bible
Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.

New Heart English Bible
Look, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

World English Bible
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, a king reigns for righteousness, "" As for princes, they rule for judgment.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, for righteousness doth a king reign, As to princes, for judgment they rule.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, a king shall reign for justice, and for chiefs they shall rule for judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
BEHOLD a king shall reign in justice, and princes shell rule in judgment.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, the king will reign in justice, and the princes will rule in judgment.

New American Bible
See, a king will reign justly and princes will rule rightly.

New Revised Standard Version
See, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BEHOLD, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, a King in righteousness and Princes in justice are authorized
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, And as for princes, they shall rule in justice.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For, behold, a righteous king shall reign, and princes shall govern with judgement.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Righteous King
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. 2Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Zechariah 9:9-10
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. / And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 72:1-4
Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. / May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice. / May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness. ...

Daniel 7:13-14
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. / And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Isaiah 11:1-5
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. / The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. / And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, ...

Micah 5:2-4
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. / Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel. / He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.

Ezekiel 34:23-24
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. / I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Isaiah 16:5
in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.

Isaiah 42:1-4
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. / He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ...

Matthew 25:31-34
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. / All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. ...

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Hebrews 1:8-9
But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. / You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

Matthew 21:4-5
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: / “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

king

Isaiah 9:6,7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace…

Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God…

2 Samuel 23:3
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

princes

Isaiah 28:6
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Revelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

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Chiefs Decisions Judgment Justice Justly Princes Reign Right Righteously Righteousness Rule Rulers Ruling
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Chiefs Decisions Judgment Justice Justly Princes Reign Right Righteously Righteousness Rule Rulers Ruling
Isaiah 32
1. The blessings of Christ's kingdom
9. Desolation is foreshown
14. Restoration is promised to succeed














Behold, a king will reign in righteousness
This phrase introduces a prophetic vision of a future king who will rule with moral integrity and justice. The term "Behold" signals the importance and certainty of this prophecy. The concept of a king reigning in righteousness is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often associated with the ideal Davidic king. This prophecy is seen as a foretelling of the Messiah, who Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The righteousness of this king contrasts with the corruption and injustice prevalent in the leadership of Isaiah's time. The expectation of a righteous ruler is rooted in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), where God promises David that his throne will be established forever. This king's reign is characterized by adherence to God's laws and principles, reflecting the divine standard of righteousness.

and princes will rule with justice
The mention of "princes" suggests a broader administration under the king, indicating a government that operates with fairness and equity. In the historical context, the term "princes" could refer to leaders or officials who assist the king in governance. The promise of justice implies a restoration of order and fairness, contrasting with the social injustices and exploitation criticized by Isaiah in his prophecies (Isaiah 1:23). This vision aligns with the biblical ideal of leadership, where rulers are expected to act as God's representatives, upholding His standards of justice and mercy (Micah 6:8). The phrase also echoes the wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, which emphasizes the importance of justice in leadership (Proverbs 29:4). In a typological sense, the just rule of these princes can be seen as a reflection of the ultimate justice that will be established in the Messianic kingdom, where Christ's followers are called to reign with Him (Revelation 5:10).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The King
This refers to a future ruler who will govern with righteousness. In a conservative Christian perspective, this is often seen as a prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ, the ultimate righteous King.

2. Princes
These are leaders or officials who will rule under the king's authority. They are expected to administer justice, reflecting the king's righteous reign.

3. Isaiah
The prophet who delivered this message. He was active during the 8th century BC and spoke to the people of Judah, warning them of impending judgment and offering hope of future restoration.

4. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, to whom Isaiah primarily prophesied. This message would have been particularly relevant to them as they faced political and social turmoil.

5. Righteousness and Justice
Key themes in this verse, representing the ideal qualities of leadership that align with God's character and expectations for His people.
Teaching Points
The Promise of Righteous Leadership
Isaiah 32:1 offers hope for a future where leadership is characterized by righteousness and justice. This is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect leadership.

The Role of Leaders
Leaders, like the princes mentioned, are called to reflect the king's righteousness and justice. In our context, this applies to all positions of authority, from government officials to church leaders.

Living Under Christ's Reign
As believers, we are called to live under the reign of Christ, allowing His righteousness to guide our actions and decisions. This involves seeking justice and righteousness in our daily lives.

Hope in Times of Turmoil
Isaiah's prophecy was given during a time of uncertainty. Similarly, we can find hope in the promise of Christ's righteous reign amidst the challenges of our world today.XXXII.

(1) Behold, a king shall reign . . .--More accurately, the king. Isaiah 32:1-8 form a separate section, standing in the same relation to the foregoing chapter that the picture of the ideal king in Isaiah 11 does to the anti-Assyrian prophecy of Isaiah 10 "The king" is accordingly the true Anointed one of the future, not, of course without a reference to the character of Hezekiah as the partial and present embodiment of the idea. The addition of "princes" worthy of their king emphasises this reference. The words are as an echo of Proverbs 8:15-16.

Verses 1-8. - A PROPHECY OF MESSIAH'S KINGDOM. It is generally allowed that this prophecy is Messianic; but some critics insist that it is not so "in a narrow sense." They regard Isaiah as expecting Messiah's kingdom to follow immediately on the discomfiture of Sennacherib, and as looking to Hezekiah to inaugurate it. According to this view, Hezekiah, renovated in character, was to be the Messiah, and might have been so had he been "equal to the demands providentially made upon him." But he was not; and the task of establishing the kingdom fell to "another," at a later date. It is simpler to regard the prophet as looking for a greater than Hezekiah (comp. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6), but ignorant how soon, or how late, his coming would be. Verse 1. - A king... princes. Delitzsch and Mr. Cheyne translate, "the king... the princes;" but the Hebrew gives no article. The announcement is vague, and corresponds to those of other prophets, as of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:5), "Behold, the days come that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper;" and of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9), "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... behold, thy King cometh unto thee." The "princes" of the text are the minor authorities whom the king would set over his kingdom - i.e., the apostles and their successors. In righteousness... in judgment. Messiah's rule will be a rule of strict justice and right, offering the strongest contrast to that under which the Jews have been living since the time of Jehoshaphat (see Isaiah 1:15-23; Isaiah 3:1-12, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Behold,
הֵ֥ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

a king
מֶ֑לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

will reign
יִמְלָךְ־ (yim·lāḵ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

in righteousness,
לְצֶ֖דֶק (lə·ṣe·ḏeq)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity

and princes
וּלְשָׂרִ֖ים (ū·lə·śā·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

will rule
יָשֹֽׂרוּ׃ (yā·śō·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8323: To be or act as prince, rule

with justice.
לְמִשְׁפָּ֥ט (lə·miš·pāṭ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 32:1 Behold a king shall reign in righteousness (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 31:9
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