עַמִּי֙ נֹגְשָׂ֣יו מְעוֹלֵ֔ל וְנָשִׁ֖ים מָ֣שְׁלוּ ב֑וֹ עַמִּי֙ מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ מַתְעִ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ אֹֽרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ בִּלֵּֽעוּ׃ (ס)
As for My people, a babe is their master, And women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, And destroy the way of thy paths.
Rashi on Isaiah
their rulers are mockers Heb. נֹגְשָׂיו מְעוֹלֵל, they are mockers.
Ibn Ezra on Isaiah
נגשיו מעולל Every one of his rulers is playful.17A.V., Children are their oppressors. Compare 2:11. The מ in מעולל is not essential; מעולל is an adjective, and not a participle.18מְעוֹלֵל is the regular form of the participle Polel of עלל, to do, to mock; according to I. E. it is an adjective, and has the same meaning as עוֹלֵל young, playful.
Rashi on Isaiah
and women govern them Heb. נָשִׁים. Adulterous women govern them, as he states below (verse 16): “Since the daughters of Zion were haughty,” and they turned their hearts to evil; therefore, all weaklings governed them. Jonathan renders it as an expression of creditors (נוֹשִׁים) [rendering: and as creditors they govern them].