---
title: "Isaiah 61:8"
description: "God declares, 'I, the Lord, love justice.' Justice is not a human preference imposed on the movement but the revealed character of God. Because God loves justice, His people are to love and do it — not treat it as negotiable."
type: "scripture"
book: "Isaiah"
chapter: 61
verses: "8"
translation: "NASB"
refutes: "Pro-life incrementalism"
affirms_abolition: true
themes:
  - "God loves justice"
  - "divine character"
  - "recompense"
  - "foundation"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/scripture/isaiah-61-8.html"
---

# Isaiah 61:8

Book of Isaiah · Chapter 61

## The text

> For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.
> — Isaiah 61:8, NASB

**The claim this verse counters:** "God is primarily concerned with saving some, not with justice as such."

## The argument

God declares, 'I, the Lord, love justice.' Justice is not a human preference imposed on the movement but the revealed character of God. Because God loves justice, His people are to love and do it — not treat it as negotiable.

## Context & notes

One of several 'God loves justice' texts the speaker stacks to establish the foundation before addressing application. Establishes the premise that justice is intrinsic to God's character.

## Themes

- God loves justice
- divine character
- recompense
- foundation

## Discussion questions

1. If God says 'I love justice,' can His people treat justice as optional or deferrable?
2. How does grounding justice in God's character change the debate from strategy to obedience?

## Source transcript

Drawn from Does the Pro-Life Movement Hate Justice? (T. Russell Hunter, 'Justice Alone') — 'For I the Lord love justice... Isaiah 61:8. God loves justice.'.

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Psalm 33:5](psalm-33-5.md)
- [Proverbs 21:15](proverbs-21-15.md)
- [Job 34:12](job-34-12.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [God commands 'justice, and only justice' — not partial or deferred justice](../arguments/arg-justice-only.md)

## Attribution

Verse text is quoted from the NASB. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org