Isaiah 1:18
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.
Original Language Analysis
לְכוּ
H1980
לְכוּ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 16
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
נָ֛א
H4994
נָ֛א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 16
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה
and let us reason together
H3198
וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה
and let us reason together
Strong's:
H3198
Word #:
3 of 16
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִֽהְי֨וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֨וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
7 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כַּשָּׁנִים֙
be as scarlet
H8144
כַּשָּׁנִים֙
be as scarlet
Strong's:
H8144
Word #:
9 of 16
crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
12 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ
though they be red
H119
יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ
though they be red
Strong's:
H119
Word #:
13 of 16
to show blood (in the face), i.e., flush or turn rosy
כַתּוֹלָ֖ע
like crimson
H8438
כַתּוֹלָ֖ע
like crimson
Strong's:
H8438
Word #:
14 of 16
a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of h8144) the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cl
Cross References
Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.Revelation 7:14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Psalms 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Isaiah 41:21Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.Isaiah 41:1Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.Romans 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:Acts 18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.1 Samuel 12:7Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.Acts 17:2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,Jeremiah 2:5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Historical Context
In ancient dyeing, scarlet and crimson were permanent stains from costly dyes. The impossibility of removing such stains emphasizes the miraculous nature of divine forgiveness—what humans cannot accomplish, God does freely.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you approach God expecting harsh condemnation or gracious invitation to dialogue?
- How does complete forgiveness differ from gradual moral improvement in your understanding of salvation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse contains one of Scripture's most gracious invitations: 'Come now, and let us reason together.' God initiates dialogue despite rebellion, offering rational discourse rather than arbitrary decree. The promise that scarlet sins become 'white as snow' and crimson sins like 'wool' employs vivid imagery of complete cleansing. This isn't moral improvement but divine transformation—God removes sin's stain entirely through grace, anticipating the gospel's forensic justification (Romans 3:24-26).