Isaiah 1:21

“ You people of Jerusalem previously faithfully worshiped only me, but now you have become like [MET] prostitutes who are not faithful to any husband. Previously, people there always acted justly/fairly and righteously, but now your city is full of murderers.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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

In Context

20But, if you turn away from me and rebel against me, you will be killed by your enemies’ swords. That will surely happen, because I, Yahweh, have said it.”

22Previously, you were like [MET] pure silver, but now you have become like [MET] the scum that is left when silver is purified. Previously you were like pure wine, but you have become like [MET] wine that has a lot of water mixed with it.

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Cross References

2 Chronicles 19:9He told them this: “You must always do your work faithfully, revering Yahweh.

Psalms 46:4Blessings that come from God are like a river that makes everyone in the city where we worship God joyful. It is the city where the temple of God, who is greater than any other god, exists.

Psalms 48:8We had heard that this city is glorious, and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, lives. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever. (Think about that!)

Isaiah 26:10But your acting kindly toward wicked people does not cause them to do what is good. Even in places where people do what is right, the wicked people continue to do what is evil, and they do not realize that you, Yahweh, are great.

Isaiah 57:3Yahweh says, “But you who practice sorcery, come here! You who worship idols [MET], listen to me!

Jeremiah 3:1“ Moses wrote that if a man divorces his wife and then she marries another man, her first husband certainly must not [RHQ] take her back again to be his wife, because that would certainly [RHQ] cause the whole nation to become unacceptable to me. But you have more idols than prostitutes have men whom they have slept with! So, why should I accept you if you return to me?” [RHQ] says Yahweh.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 1:17-21

A Call to Repentance; Repentance and Reformation Urged. ( b. c. 738.) 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 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. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the… Read the whole commentary →

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