Isaiah 32:7 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The instruments also of the churl are evil, Heb. The vessels, &c., which is a word of a very general signification among the Hebrews, and signifies any person or thing which is employed in a man's use and service. I say person, for the name of vessel is given to such persons as are instrumental to another, as to the Babylonians, who were God's instruments in executing his vengeance, Isaiah 13:5 to God's ministers, Acts 9:15 2 Corinthians 4:5; and to useful Christians, 2 Timothy 2:20; and to wives, 1 Peter 3:7. And so it may be here noted, that such covetous or wicked princes most willingly choose and employ wicked men in their affairs, because such men will, without any regard to conscience or justice, serve all their exorbitant desires or lusts. But withal, it seems to include his counsels, and practices, and arts, which are here declared to be generally evil. But this verse is and may be otherwise rendered, as the former was; And (repeat, he shall be called) a churl (as indeed he is one) whose instruments are evil, and who deviseth, &c.; which agrees with the order of the words in the Hebrew text, and with the order of the foregoing verses: for as he speaks of the vile person, and of the churl, Isaiah 32:6; so he gives a description of the vile person, Isaiah 32:6, and then of the churl, in this verse. He deviseth wicked devices; he useth all his wit and art to do injury to others, without any inconvenience to himself. With lying words; with false and unrighteous decrees. When the needy speaketh right; when their cause is just and good.

Isaiah 32:7

7 The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needyc speaketh right.