Isaiah 1

The Sinful Nation

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. References Lord: Isaiah 30:1, 30:9, Jeremiah 22:29, Micah 1:2, Malachi 1:6. Parallel theme: Isaiah 65:2, Deuteronomy 4:26, 30:19, 32:1, Psalms 50:4 +5

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Parallel theme: Isaiah 5:12, 27:11, 44:18, Psalms 94:8, Proverbs 6:6, Jeremiah 4:22, 8:7, 10:8, Romans 1:28, 2 Peter 3:5 +5

4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the HolyHoly: קָדוֹשׁ (Qadosh). The Hebrew qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ) means holy or set apart—separated from common use for God's purposes. God is 'the Holy One of Israel,' utterly distinct from creation in moral perfection. One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. References Lord: Jeremiah 2:17, 7:19. Holy: Isaiah 5:19, 5:24. Evil: Jeremiah 2:13, 2:19. Parallel theme: Matthew 3:7, Romans 8:7 +3

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. Parallel theme: Isaiah 31:6, Nehemiah 9:34, Jeremiah 2:30, 5:3, 5:31, 9:3, Ezekiel 24:13 +2

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Parallel theme: Job 5:18, Psalms 77:2, Jeremiah 6:14, 33:6, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 9:12, Luke 10:34 +2

7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 28:33, 28:43, 2 Chronicles 28:5, Lamentations 5:2, Ezekiel 30:12, Hosea 7:9

8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Parallel theme: Isaiah 4:4, 10:32, 37:22, 62:11, Job 27:18, Psalms 9:14, Lamentations 2:6, Zechariah 2:10, 9:9, John 12:15 +5

9 Except the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. References Lord: Isaiah 17:6, 37:4, Genesis 18:32, 19:24, Lamentations 3:22, Amos 4:11, Romans 9:29. Parallel theme: Isaiah 6:13, 24:13 +4

10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior. of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. References Lord: Amos 9:7, Revelation 11:8. Parallel theme: Isaiah 3:9, Deuteronomy 32:32, Jeremiah 23:14, Ezekiel 16:46, 16:49 +2

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the bloodBlood: דָּם (Dam). The Hebrew dam (דָּם) means blood—representing life itself. 'The life of the flesh is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11), and blood was required for atonement, foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice. of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. References Lord: Micah 6:7. Sacrifice: 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalms 50:8, Proverbs 15:8, 21:27, Jeremiah 6:20, Malachi 1:10, Matthew 9:13. Blood: Isaiah 66:3. Parallel theme: Amos 5:21 +5

12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Parallel theme: Exodus 23:17, 34:23

13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Parallel theme: Isaiah 66:3, Psalms 78:40, Proverbs 21:27, Lamentations 2:6, Ezekiel 20:39, Joel 2:15, Malachi 1:10, Matthew 15:9, Luke 11:42, Ephesians 4:30 +5

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Parallel theme: Isaiah 7:13, 43:24, 61:8, Amos 2:13, 5:21

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Prayer: 1 Kings 8:54, Psalms 55:1. Parallel theme: Isaiah 58:7, 1 Kings 8:22, Job 27:20, Psalms 66:18, Proverbs 1:28, Jeremiah 14:12, Micah 3:4, Zechariah 7:13 +5

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Evil: Jeremiah 4:14, 25:5, 1 Peter 2:1, 3:11. Parallel theme: Isaiah 52:11, Psalms 26:6, Acts 22:16, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 4:8, Revelation 7:14 +5

17 Learn to do well; seek judgmentJudgment: מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat). The Hebrew mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment or justice—God's righteous decisions and ordinances. God is the Judge of all the earth who 'shall do right' (Genesis 18:25), executing perfect justice., relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Judgment: Isaiah 1:23, Proverbs 31:9, Jeremiah 22:3, Zephaniah 2:3, Zechariah 8:16. Parallel theme: Daniel 4:27, Micah 6:8 +2

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. References Lord: Isaiah 41:21, 1 Samuel 12:7. Sin: Isaiah 44:22, Jeremiah 2:5, Romans 5:20. Parallel theme: Isaiah 41:1, Psalms 51:7, Acts 17:2, 18:4, Revelation 7:14 +5

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Parallel theme: Isaiah 3:10, Joel 2:26, Hebrews 5:9

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. hath spoken it. References Lord: Isaiah 40:5, 58:14, Micah 4:4. Word: Isaiah 3:25, 65:12, Leviticus 26:33. Parallel theme: Isaiah 3:11, Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2 +4

21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Parallel theme: Hosea 4:18

23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Judgment: Isaiah 3:14, Micah 7:3, Malachi 3:5. Parallel theme: Exodus 23:8, Zechariah 7:10, Luke 19:46

24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: References Lord: Isaiah 49:26, 60:16, 61:2, Deuteronomy 28:63. Parallel theme: Isaiah 35:4

25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: Parallel theme: Isaiah 1:22, 4:4, Jeremiah 6:29, 9:7, Ezekiel 20:38, 22:22, Zephaniah 3:11, Malachi 3:3 +3

26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 33:7, Zechariah 8:3

27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. Righteousness: Isaiah 5:16. Redemption: Isaiah 62:12, 63:4

28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. shall be consumed. References Lord: Psalms 1:6. Sin: Isaiah 30:13, Job 31:3. Parallel theme: Revelation 21:8

29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. Parallel theme: Isaiah 57:5, 65:3, 66:17, Ezekiel 16:63, Hosea 4:13

30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. Parallel theme: Isaiah 66:24, Ezekiel 32:21, Malachi 4:1