21 How is the faithful H539 city H7151 become an harlot! H2181 it was full H4392 of judgment; H4941 righteousness H6664 lodged H3885 in it; but now murderers. H7523
Jerusalem H3389 hath grievously H2399 sinned; H2398 therefore she is removed: H5206 all that honoured H3513 her despise H2107 her, because they have seen H7200 her nakedness: H6172 yea, she sigheth, H584 and turneth H7725 backward. H268 Her filthiness H2932 is in her skirts; H7757 she remembereth H2142 not her last end; H319 therefore she came down H3381 wonderfully: H6382 she had no comforter. H5162 O LORD, H3068 behold H7200 my affliction: H6040 for the enemy H341 hath magnified H1431 himself.
And G2532 their G846 dead bodies G4430 shall lie in G1909 the street G4113 of the great G3173 city, G4172 which G3748 spiritually G4153 is called G2564 Sodom G4670 and G2532 Egypt, G125 where G3699 also G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 was crucified. G4717
But G2532 the court G833 which G3588 is without G1855 G2081 the temple G3485 leave G1544 out, G1854 and G2532 measure G3354 it G846 not; G3361 for G3754 it is given G1325 unto the Gentiles: G1484 and G2532 the holy G40 city G4172 shall they tread under foot G3961 forty G5062 and two G1417 months. G3376
But G235 ye are come G4334 unto mount G3735 Sion, G4622 and G2532 unto the city G4172 of the living G2198 God, G2316 the heavenly G2032 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 to an innumerable company G3461 of angels, G32
Which G5101 of the prophets G4396 have G1377 not G3756 your G5216 fathers G3962 persecuted? G1377 and G2532 they have slain G615 them which G3588 shewed before G4293 of G4012 the coming G1660 of the Just One; G1342 of whom G3739 ye G5210 have been G1096 now G3568 the betrayers G4273 and G2532 murderers: G5406
O Jerusalem, G2419 Jerusalem, G2419 which G3588 killest G615 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 stonest G3036 them that are sent G649 unto G4314 thee; G846 how often G4212 would G2309 I have gathered G1996 thy G4675 children G5043 together, G1996 as G3739 G5158 a hen G3733 doth gather her G1438 brood G3555 under G5259 her wings, G4420 and G2532 ye would G2309 not! G3756
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 I am returned H7725 unto Zion, H6726 and will dwell H7931 in the midst H8432 of Jerusalem: H3389 and Jerusalem H3389 shall be called H7121 a city H5892 of truth; H571 and the mountain H2022 of the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 the holy H6944 mountain. H2022
Woe H1945 to her that is filthy H4754 and polluted, H1351 to the oppressing H3238 city! H5892 She obeyed H8085 not the voice; H6963 she received H3947 not correction; H4148 she trusted H982 not in the LORD; H3068 she drew not near H7126 to her God. H430 Her princes H8269 within H7130 her are roaring H7580 lions; H738 her judges H8199 are evening H6153 wolves; H2061 they gnaw not the bones H1633 till the morrow. H1242
Who hate H8130 the good, H2896 and love H157 the evil; H7451 who pluck off H1497 their skin H5785 from off them, and their flesh H7607 from off their bones; H6106 Who also eat H398 the flesh H7607 of my people, H5971 and flay H6584 their skin H5785 from off them; and they break H6476 their bones, H6106 and chop them in pieces, H6566 as for the pot, H5518 and as flesh H1320 within H8432 the caldron. H7037
Ephraim H669 compasseth H5437 me about with lies, H3585 and the house H1004 of Israel H3478 with deceit: H4820 but Judah H3063 yet ruleth H7300 with God, H410 and is faithful H539 with the saints. H6918
Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Now, thou son H1121 of man, H120 wilt thou judge, H8199 wilt thou judge H8199 the bloody H1818 city? H5892 yea, thou shalt shew H3045 her all her abominations. H8441 Then say H559 thou, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 The city H5892 sheddeth H8210 blood H1818 in the midst H8432 of it, that her time H6256 may come, H935 and maketh H6213 idols H1544 against herself to defile H2930 herself. Thou art become guilty H816 in thy blood H1818 that thou hast shed; H8210 and hast defiled H2930 thyself in thine idols H1544 which thou hast made; H6213 and thou hast caused thy days H3117 to draw near, H7126 and art come H935 even unto thy years: H8141 therefore have I made H5414 thee a reproach H2781 unto the heathen, H1471 and a mocking H7048 to all countries. H776 Those that be near, H7138 and those that be far H7350 from thee, shall mock H7046 thee, which art infamous H2931 H8034 and much H7227 vexed. H4103 Behold, the princes H5387 of Israel, H3478 every one H376 were in thee to their power H2220 to shed H8210 blood. H1818 In thee have they set light H7043 by father H1 and mother: H517 in the midst H8432 of thee have they dealt H6213 by oppression H6233 with the stranger: H1616 in thee have they vexed H3238 the fatherless H3490 and the widow. H490 Thou hast despised H959 mine holy things, H6944 and hast profaned H2490 my sabbaths. H7676 In thee are men H582 that carry tales H7400 to shed H8210 blood: H1818 and in thee they eat H398 upon the mountains: H2022 in the midst H8432 of thee they commit H6213 lewdness. H2154 In thee have they discovered H1540 their fathers' H1 nakedness: H6172 in thee have they humbled H6031 her that was set apart H5079 for pollution. H2931 And one H376 hath committed H6213 abomination H8441 with his neighbour's H7453 wife; H802 and another H376 hath lewdly H2154 defiled H2930 his daughter in law; H3618 and another H376 in thee hath humbled H6031 his sister, H269 his father's H1 daughter. H1323 In thee have they taken H3947 gifts H7810 to shed H8210 blood; H1818 thou hast taken H3947 usury H5392 and increase, H8636 and thou hast greedily gained H1214 of thy neighbours H7453 by extortion, H6233 and hast forgotten H7911 me, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 Behold, therefore I have smitten H5221 mine hand H3709 at thy dishonest gain H1215 which thou hast made, H6213 and at thy blood H1818 which hath been in the midst H8432 of thee. Can thine heart H3820 endure, H5975 or can thine hands H3027 be strong, H2388 in the days H3117 that I shall deal H6213 with thee? I the LORD H3068 have spoken H1696 it, and will do H6213 it. And I will scatter H6327 thee among the heathen, H1471 and disperse H2219 thee in the countries, H776 and will consume H8552 thy filthiness H2932 out of thee. And thou shalt take thine inheritance H2490 H5157 in thyself in the sight H5869 of the heathen, H1471 and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 is to me become dross: H5509 all they are brass, H5178 and tin, H913 and iron, H1270 and lead, H5777 in the midst H8432 of the furnace; H3564 they are even the dross H5509 of silver. H3701 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because ye are all become dross, H5509 behold, therefore I will gather H6908 you into the midst H8432 of Jerusalem. H3389 As they gather H6910 silver, H3701 and brass, H5178 and iron, H1270 and lead, H5777 and tin, H913 into the midst H8432 of the furnace, H3564 to blow H5301 the fire H784 upon it, to melt H5413 it; so will I gather H6908 you in mine anger H639 and in my fury, H2534 and I will leave H3240 you there, and melt H5413 you. Yea, I will gather H3664 you, and blow H5301 upon you in the fire H784 of my wrath, H5678 and ye shall be melted H5413 in the midst H8432 thereof. As silver H3701 is melted H2046 in the midst H8432 of the furnace, H3564 so shall ye be melted H5413 in the midst H8432 thereof; and ye shall know H3045 that I the LORD H3068 have poured out H8210 my fury H2534 upon you. And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559
Again the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 cause Jerusalem H3389 to know H3045 her abominations, H8441 And say, H559 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 unto Jerusalem; H3389 Thy birth H4351 and thy nativity H4138 is of the land H776 of Canaan; H3669 thy father H1 was an Amorite, H567 and thy mother H517 an Hittite. H2850 And as for thy nativity, H4138 in the day H3117 thou wast born H3205 thy navel H8270 was not cut, H3772 neither wast thou washed H7364 in water H4325 to supple H4935 thee; thou wast not salted H4414 at all, H4414 nor swaddled H2853 at all. H2853 None eye H5869 pitied H2347 thee, to do H6213 any H259 of these unto thee, to have compassion H2550 upon thee; but thou wast cast out H7993 in the open H6440 field, H7704 to the lothing H1604 of thy person, H5315 in the day H3117 that thou wast born. H3205 And when I passed H5674 by thee, and saw H7200 thee polluted H947 in thine own blood, H1818 I said H559 unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, H1818 Live; H2421 yea, I said H559 unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, H1818 Live. H2421 I have caused H5414 thee to multiply H7233 as the bud H6780 of the field, H7704 and thou hast increased H7235 and waxen great, H1431 and thou art come H935 to excellent H5716 ornaments: H5716 thy breasts H7699 are fashioned, H3559 and thine hair H8181 is grown, H6779 whereas thou wast naked H5903 and bare. H6181 Now when I passed H5674 by thee, and looked H7200 upon thee, behold, thy time H6256 was the time H6256 of love; H1730 and I spread H6566 my skirt H3671 over thee, and covered H3680 thy nakedness: H6172 yea, I sware H7650 unto thee, and entered H935 into a covenant H1285 with thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 and thou becamest mine. Then washed H7364 I thee with water; H4325 yea, I throughly washed away H7857 thy blood H1818 from thee, and I anointed H5480 thee with oil. H8081 I clothed H3847 thee also with broidered work, H7553 and shod H5274 thee with badgers' skin, H8476 and I girded H2280 thee about with fine linen, H8336 and I covered H3680 thee with silk. H4897 I decked H5710 thee also with ornaments, H5716 and I put H5414 bracelets H6781 upon thy hands, H3027 and a chain H7242 on thy neck. H1627 And I put H5414 a jewel H5141 on thy forehead, H639 and earrings H5694 in thine ears, H241 and a beautiful H8597 crown H5850 upon thine head. H7218 Thus wast thou decked H5710 with gold H2091 and silver; H3701 and thy raiment H4403 was of fine linen, H8336 H8336 and silk, H4897 and broidered work; H7553 thou didst eat H398 fine flour, H5560 and honey, H1706 and oil: H8081 and thou wast exceeding H3966 beautiful, H3302 and thou didst prosper H6743 into a kingdom. H4410 And thy renown H8034 went forth H3318 among the heathen H1471 for thy beauty: H3308 for it was perfect H3632 through my comeliness, H1926 which I had put H7760 upon thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 But thou didst trust H982 in thine own beauty, H3308 and playedst the harlot H2181 because of thy renown, H8034 and pouredst out H8210 thy fornications H8457 on every one that passed by; H5674 his it was. And of thy garments H899 thou didst take, H3947 and deckedst H6213 thy high places H1116 with divers colours, H2921 and playedst the harlot H2181 thereupon: the like things shall not come, H935 neither shall it be so. Thou hast also taken H3947 thy fair H8597 jewels H3627 of my gold H2091 and of my silver, H3701 which I had given H5414 thee, and madest H6213 to thyself images H6754 of men, H2145 and didst commit whoredom H2181 with them, And tookest H3947 thy broidered H7553 garments, H899 and coveredst H3680 them: and thou hast set H5414 mine oil H8081 and mine incense H7004 before H6440 them. My meat H3899 also which I gave H5414 thee, fine flour, H5560 and oil, H8081 and honey, H1706 wherewith I fed H398 thee, thou hast even set H5414 it before H6440 them for a sweet H5207 savour: H7381 and thus it was, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 Moreover thou hast taken H3947 thy sons H1121 and thy daughters, H1323 whom thou hast borne H3205 unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed H2076 unto them to be devoured. H398 Is this of thy whoredoms H8457 a small matter, H4592 That thou hast slain H7819 my children, H1121 and delivered H5414 them to cause them to pass through H5674 the fire for them? And in all thine abominations H8441 and thy whoredoms H8457 thou hast not remembered H2142 the days H3117 of thy youth, H5271 when thou wast naked H5903 and bare, H6181 and wast polluted H947 in thy blood. H1818 And it came to pass after H310 all thy wickedness, H7451 (woe, H188 woe H188 unto thee! saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD;) H3069 That thou hast also built H1129 unto thee an eminent place, H1354 and hast made H6213 thee an high place H7413 in every street. H7339 Thou hast built H1129 thy high place H7413 at every head H7218 of the way, H1870 and hast made thy beauty H3308 to be abhorred, H8581 and hast opened H6589 thy feet H7272 to every one that passed by, H5674 and multiplied H7235 thy whoredoms. H8457 Thou hast also committed fornication H2181 with the Egyptians H1121 H4714 thy neighbours, H7934 great H1432 of flesh; H1320 and hast increased H7235 thy whoredoms, H8457 to provoke me to anger. H3707 Behold, therefore I have stretched out H5186 my hand H3027 over thee, and have diminished H1639 thine ordinary H2706 food, and delivered H5414 thee unto the will H5315 of them that hate H8130 thee, the daughters H1323 of the Philistines, H6430 which are ashamed H3637 of thy lewd H2154 way. H1870 Thou hast played the whore H2181 also with the Assyrians, H1121 H804 because H1115 thou wast unsatiable; H7646 yea, thou hast played the harlot H2181 with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. H7654 Thou hast moreover multiplied H7235 thy fornication H8457 in the land H776 of Canaan H3667 unto Chaldea; H3778 and yet thou wast not satisfied H7646 herewith. H2063 How weak H535 is thine heart, H3826 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 seeing thou doest H6213 all these things, the work H4639 of an imperious H7986 whorish H2181 woman; H802 In that thou buildest H1129 thine eminent place H1354 in the head H7218 of every way, H1870 and makest H6213 thine high place H7413 in every street; H7339 and hast not been as an harlot, H2181 in that thou scornest H7046 hire; H868 But as a wife H802 that committeth adultery, H5003 which taketh H3947 strangers H2114 instead of her husband! H376 They give H5414 gifts H5078 to all whores: H2181 but thou givest H5414 thy gifts H5083 to all thy lovers, H157 and hirest H7809 them, that they may come H935 unto thee on every side H5439 for thy whoredom. H8457 And the contrary H2016 is in thee from other women H802 in thy whoredoms, H8457 whereas none followeth H310 thee to commit whoredoms: H2181 and in that thou givest H5414 a reward, H868 and no reward H868 is given H5414 unto thee, therefore thou art H1961 contrary. H2016 Wherefore, O harlot, H2181 hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD: H3068 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thy filthiness H5178 was poured out, H8210 and thy nakedness H6172 discovered H1540 through thy whoredoms H8457 with thy lovers, H157 and with all the idols H1544 of thy abominations, H8441 and by the blood H1818 of thy children, H1121 which thou didst give H5414 unto them; Behold, therefore I will gather H6908 all thy lovers, H157 with whom thou hast taken pleasure, H6149 and all them that thou hast loved, H157 with all them that thou hast hated; H8130 I will even gather H6908 them round about H5439 against thee, and will discover H1540 thy nakedness H6172 unto them, that they may see H7200 all thy nakedness. H6172 And I will judge H8199 thee, as women that break wedlock H5003 and shed H8210 blood H1818 are judged; H4941 and I will give H5414 thee blood H1818 in fury H2534 and jealousy. H7068 And I will also give H5414 thee into their hand, H3027 and they shall throw down H2040 thine eminent place, H1354 and shall break down H5422 thy high places: H7413 they shall strip H6584 thee also of thy clothes, H899 and shall take H3947 thy fair H8597 jewels, H3627 and leave H3240 thee naked H5903 and bare. H6181 They shall also bring up H5927 a company H6951 against thee, and they shall stone H7275 thee with stones, H68 and thrust thee through H1333 with their swords. H2719 And they shall burn H8313 thine houses H1004 with fire, H784 and execute H6213 judgments H8201 upon thee in the sight H5869 of many H7227 women: H802 and I will cause thee to cease H7673 from playing the harlot, H2181 and thou also shalt give H5414 no hire H868 any more. So will I make my fury H2534 toward thee to rest, H5117 and my jealousy H7068 shall depart H5493 from thee, and I will be quiet, H8252 and will be no more angry. H3707 Because thou hast not remembered H2142 the days H3117 of thy youth, H5271 but hast fretted H7264 me in all these things; behold, H1887 therefore I also will recompense H5414 thy way H1870 upon thine head, H7218 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD: H3069 and thou shalt not commit H6213 this lewdness H2154 above all thine abominations. H8441 Behold, every one that useth proverbs H4911 shall use this proverb H4911 against thee, saying, H559 As is the mother, H517 so is her daughter. H1323 Thou art thy mother's H517 daughter, H1323 that lotheth H1602 her husband H376 and her children; H1121 and thou art the sister H269 of thy sisters, H269 which lothed H1602 their husbands H582 and their children: H1121 your mother H517 was an Hittite, H2850 and your father H1 an Amorite. H567 And thine elder H1419 sister H269 is Samaria, H8111 she and her daughters H1323 that dwell H3427 at thy left hand: H8040 and thy younger H6996 sister, H269 that dwelleth H3427 at thy right hand, H3225 is Sodom H5467 and her daughters. H1323 Yet hast thou not walked H1980 after their ways, H1870 nor done H6213 after their abominations: H8441 but, as if that were a very H6985 little H4592 H6962 thing, thou wast corrupted H7843 more than they H2004 in all thy ways. H1870 As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 Sodom H5467 thy sister H269 hath not done, H6213 she nor her daughters, H1323 as thou hast done, H6213 thou and thy daughters. H1323 Behold, this was the iniquity H5771 of thy sister H269 Sodom, H5467 pride, H1347 fulness H7653 of bread, H3899 and abundance H7962 of idleness H8252 was in her and in her daughters, H1323 neither did she strengthen H2388 the hand H3027 of the poor H6041 and needy. H34 And they were haughty, H1361 and committed H6213 abomination H8441 before H6440 me: therefore I took them away H5493 as I saw H7200 good. Neither hath Samaria H8111 committed H2398 half H2677 of thy sins; H2403 but thou hast multiplied H7235 thine abominations H8441 more than they, H2007 and hast justified H6663 thy sisters H269 in all thine abominations H8441 which thou hast done. H6213 Thou also, which hast judged H6419 thy sisters, H269 bear H5375 thine own shame H3639 for thy sins H2403 that thou hast committed more abominable H8581 than they: H2004 they are more righteous H6663 than thou: yea, be thou confounded H954 also, and bear H5375 thy shame, H3639 in that thou hast justified H6663 thy sisters. H269 When I shall bring again H7725 their captivity, H7622 H7622 the captivity H7622 H7622 of Sodom H5467 and her daughters, H1323 and the captivity H7622 H7622 of Samaria H8111 and her daughters, H1323 then will I bring again the captivity H7622 H7622 of thy captives H7622 in the midst H8432 of them: That thou mayest bear H5375 thine own shame, H3639 and mayest be confounded H3637 in all that thou hast done, H6213 in that thou art a comfort H5162 unto them. When thy sisters, H269 Sodom H5467 and her daughters, H1323 shall return H7725 to their former estate, H6927 and Samaria H8111 and her daughters H1323 shall return H7725 to their former estate, H6927 then thou and thy daughters H1323 shall return H7725 to your former estate. H6927 For thy sister H269 Sodom H5467 was not mentioned H8052 by thy mouth H6310 in the day H3117 of thy pride, H1347 Before thy wickedness H7451 was discovered, H1540 as at the time H6256 of thy reproach H2781 of the daughters H1323 of Syria, H758 and all that are round about H5439 her, the daughters H1323 of the Philistines, H6430 which despise H7590 thee round about. H5439 Thou hast borne H5375 thy lewdness H2154 and thine abominations, H8441 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 For thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 I will even deal H6213 with thee as thou hast done, H6213 which hast despised H959 the oath H423 in breaking H6565 the covenant. H1285 Nevertheless I will remember H2142 my covenant H1285 with thee in the days H3117 of thy youth, H5271 and I will establish H6965 unto thee an everlasting H5769 covenant. H1285 Then thou shalt remember H2142 thy ways, H1870 and be ashamed, H3637 when thou shalt receive H3947 thy sisters, H269 thine elder H1419 and thy younger: H6996 and I will give H5414 them unto thee for daughters, H1323 but not by thy covenant. H1285 And I will establish H6965 my covenant H1285 with thee; and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD: H3068 That thou mayest remember, H2142 and be confounded, H954 and never open H6610 thy mouth H6310 any more because H6440 of thy shame, H3639 when I am pacified H3722 toward thee for all that thou hast done, H6213 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
And David H1732 reigned H4427 over all Israel; H3478 and David H1732 executed H6213 judgment H4941 and justice H6666 unto all his people. H5971
They say, H559 If a man H376 put away H7971 his wife, H802 and she go H1980 from him, and become another H312 man's, H376 shall he return unto her again? H7725 shall not that land H776 be greatly H2610 polluted? H2610 but thou hast played the harlot H2181 with many H7227 lovers; H7453 yet return again H7725 to me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
For of old time H5769 I have broken H7665 thy yoke, H5923 and burst H5423 thy bands; H4147 and thou saidst, H559 I will not transgress; H5674 H5647 when upon every high H1364 hill H1389 and under every green H7488 tree H6086 thou wanderest, H6808 playing the harlot. H2181 Yet I had planted H5193 thee a noble vine, H8321 wholly a right H571 seed: H2233 how then art thou turned H2015 into the degenerate plant H5494 of a strange H5237 vine H1612 unto me?
But draw near H7126 hither, ye sons H1121 of the sorceress, H6049 the seed H2233 of the adulterer H5003 and the whore. H2181 Against whom do ye sport H6026 yourselves? against whom make ye a wide H7337 mouth, H6310 and draw out H748 the tongue? H3956 are ye not children H3206 of transgression, H6588 a seed H2233 of falsehood, H8267 Enflaming H2552 yourselves with idols H410 under every green H7488 tree, H6086 slaying H7819 the children H3206 in the valleys H5158 under the clifts H5585 of the rocks? H5553 Among the smooth H2511 stones of the stream H5158 is thy portion; H2506 they, they are thy lot: H1486 even to them hast thou poured H8210 a drink offering, H5262 thou hast offered H5927 a meat offering. H4503 Should I receive comfort H5162 in these? Upon a lofty H1364 and high H5375 mountain H2022 hast thou set H7760 thy bed: H4904 even thither wentest thou up H5927 to offer H2076 sacrifice. H2077 Behind H310 the doors H1817 also and the posts H4201 hast thou set up H7760 thy remembrance: H2146 for thou hast discovered H1540 thyself to another than me, and art gone up; H5927 thou hast enlarged H7337 thy bed, H4904 and made H3772 thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst H157 their bed H4904 where H3027 thou sawest H2372 it. And thou wentest H7788 to the king H4428 with ointment, H8081 and didst increase H7235 thy perfumes, H7547 and didst send H7971 thy messengers H6735 far off, H7350 and didst debase H8213 thyself even unto hell. H7585
For they call H7121 themselves of the holy H6944 city, H5892 and stay H5564 themselves upon the God H430 of Israel; H3478 The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name. H8034
As we have heard, H8085 so have we seen H7200 in the city H5892 of the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 in the city H5892 of our God: H430 God H430 will establish H3559 it for H5704 ever. H5769 Selah. H5542
And the rulers H8269 of the people H5971 dwelt H3427 at Jerusalem: H3389 the rest H7605 of the people H5971 also cast H5307 lots, H1486 to bring H935 one H259 of ten H6235 to dwell H3427 in Jerusalem H3389 the holy H6944 city, H5892 and nine H8672 parts H3027 to dwell in other cities. H5892
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 1
Commentary on Isaiah 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Isa 1:1-31.
1. The General Title or Program applying to the entire book: this discountenances the Talmud tradition, that he was sawn asunder by Manasseh.
Isaiah—equivalent to "The Lord shall save"; significant of the subject of his prophecies. On "vision," see 1Sa 9:9; Nu 12:6; and see my Introduction.
Judah and Jerusalem—Other nations also are the subjects of his prophecies; but only in their relation to the Jews (Isa 13:1-23:18); so also the ten tribes of Israel are introduced only in the same relation (Isa 7:1-9:21). Jerusalem is particularly specified, being the site of the temple, and the center of the theocracy, and the future throne of Messiah (Ps 48:2, 3, 9; Jer 3:17). Jesus Christ is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Re 5:5).
Uzziah—called also Azariah (2Ki 14:21; 2Ch 26:1, 17, 20). The Old Testament prophecies spiritually interpret the histories, as the New Testament Epistles interpret the Gospels and Acts. Study them together, to see their spiritual relations. Isaiah prophesied for only a few years before Uzziah's death; but his prophecies of that period (Isa 1:1-6:13) apply to Jotham's reign also, in which he probably wrote none; for Isa 7:1-25 enters immediately on Ahaz' reign, after Uzziah in Isa 6:1-13; the prophecies under Hezekiah follow next.
2. The very words of Moses (De 32:1); this implies that the law was the charter and basis of all prophecy (Isa 8:20).
Lord—Jehovah; in Hebrew, "the self-existing and promise-fulfilling, unchangeable One." The Jews never pronounced this holy name, but substituted Adonai. The English Version, Lord in capitals, marks the Hebrew "Jehovah," though Lord is rather equivalent to "Adonai" than "Jehovah."
children—(Ex 4:22).
rebelled—as sons (De 21:18) and as subjects, God being king in the theocracy (Isa 63:10). "Brought up," literally, "elevated," namely, to peculiar privileges (Jer 2:6-8; Ro 9:4, 5).
3. (Jer 8:7).
crib—the stall where it is fed (Pr 14:4). Spiritually the word and ordinances.
Israel—The whole nation, Judah as well as Israel, in the restricted sense. God regards His covenant-people in their designed unity.
not know—namely, his Owner, as the parallelism requires; that is, not recognize Him as such (Ex 19:5, equivalent to "my people," Joh 1:10, 11).
consider—attend to his Master (Isa 41:8), notwithstanding the spiritual food which He provides (answering to "crib" in the parallel clause).
4. people—the peculiar designation of God's elect nation (Ho 1:10), that they should be "laden with iniquity" is therefore the more monstrous. Sin is a load (Ps 38:4; Mt 11:28).
seed—another appellation of God's elect (Ge 12:7; Jer 2:21), designed to be a "holy seed" (Isa 6:13), but, awful to say, "evildoers!"
children—by adoption (Ho 11:1), yet "evildoers"; not only so, but "corrupters" of others (Ge 6:12); the climax. So "nation—people—seed children."
provoked—literally, "despised," namely, so as to provoke (Pr 1:30, 31).
Holy One of Israel—the peculiar heinousness of their sin, that it was against their God (Am 3:2).
gone … backward—literally, "estranged" (Ps 58:3).
5. Why—rather, as Vulgate, "On what part." Image from a body covered all over with marks of blows (Ps 38:3). There is no part in which you have not been smitten.
head … sick, &c.—not referring, as it is commonly quoted, to their sins, but to the universality of their punishment. However, sin, the moral disease of the head or intellect, and the heart, is doubtless made its own punishment (Pr 1:31; Jer 2:19; Ho 8:11). "Sick," literally, "is in a state of sickness" [Gesenius]; "has passed into sickness" [Maurer].
6. From the lowest to the highest of the people; "the ancient and honorable, the head, the prophet that teacheth lies, the tail." See Isa 9:13-16. He first states their wretched condition, obvious to all (Isa 1:6-9); and then, not previously, their irreligious state, the cause of it.
wounds—judicially inflicted (Ho 5:13).
mollified with ointment—The art of medicine in the East consists chiefly in external applications (Lu 10:34; Jas 5:14).
7. Judah had not in Uzziah's reign recovered from the ravages of the Syrians in Joash's reign (2Ch 24:24), and of Israel in Amaziah's reign (2Ch 25:13, 23, &c.). Compare Isaiah's contemporary (Am 4:6-11), where, as here (Isa 1:9, 10), Israel is compared to "Sodom and Gomorrah," because of the judgments on it by "fire."
in your presence—before your eyes: without your being able to prevent them.
desolate, &c.—literally, "there is desolation, such as one might look for from foreign" invaders.
8. daughter of Zion—the city (Ps 9:14), Jerusalem and its inhabitants (2Ki 19:21): "daughter" (feminine, singular being used as a neuter collective noun), equivalent to sons (Isa 12:6, Margin) [Maurer]. Metropolis or "mother-city" is the corresponding term. The idea of youthful beauty is included in "daughter."
left—as a remnant escaping the general destruction.
cottage—a hut, made to give temporary shelter to the caretaker of the vineyard.
lodge—not permanent.
besieged—rather, as "left," and Isa 1:9 require, preserved, namely, from the desolation all round [Maurer].
9. Jehovah of Sabaoth, that is, God of the angelic and starry hosts (Ps 59:5; 147:4; 148:2). The latter were objects of idolatry, called hence Sabaism (2Ki 17:16). God is above even them (1Ch 16:26). "The groves" were symbols of these starry hosts; it was their worship of Sabaoth instead of the Lord of Sabaoth, which had caused the present desolation (2Ch 24:18). It needed no less a power than His, to preserve even a "remnant." Condescending grace for the elect's sake, since He has no need of us, seeing that He has countless hosts to serve Him.
10. Sodom—spiritually (Ge 19:24; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:46; Re 11:8).
11. God does not here absolutely disparage sacrifice, which is as old and universal as sin (Ge 3:21; 4:4), and sin is almost as old as the world; but sacrifice, unaccompanied with obedience of heart and life (1Sa 15:22; Ps 50:9-13; 51:16-19; Ho 6:6). Positive precepts are only means; moral obedience is the end. A foreshadowing of the gospel, when the One real sacrifice was to supersede all the shadowy ones, and "bring in everlasting righteousness" (Ps 40:6, 7; Da 9:24-27; Heb 10:1-14).
full—to satiety; weary of
burnt offerings—burnt whole, except the blood, which was sprinkled about the altar.
fat—not to be eaten by man, but burnt on the altar (Le 3:4, 5, 11, 17).
12. appear before me—in the temple where the Shekinah, resting on the ark, was the symbol of God's presence (Ex 23:15; Ps 42:2).
who hath required this—as if you were doing God a service by such hypocritical offerings (Job 35:7). God did require it (Ex 23:17), but not in this spirit (Mic 6:6, 7).
courts—areas, in which the worshippers were. None but priests entered the temple itself.
13. oblations—unbloody; "meat (old English sense, not flesh) offerings," that is, of flour, fruits, oil, &c. (Le 2:1-13). Hebrew, mincha.
incense—put upon the sacrifices, and burnt on the altar of incense. Type of prayer (Ps 141:2; Re 8:3).
new moons—observed as festivals (Nu 10:10; 28:11, 14) with sacrifices and blowing of silver trumpets.
sabbaths—both the seventh day and the beginning and closing days of the great feasts (Le 23:24-39).
away with—bear, Maurer translates, "I cannot bear iniquity and the solemn meeting," that is, the meeting associated with iniquity—literally, the closing days of the feasts; so the great days (Le 23:36; Joh 7:37).
14. appointed—the sabbath, passover, pentecost, day of atonement, and feast of tabernacles [Hengstenberg]; they alone were fixed to certain times of the year.
weary—(Isa 43:24).
15. (Ps 66:18; Pr 28:9; La 3:43, 44).
spread … hands—in prayer (1Ki 8:22). Hebrew, "bloods," for all heinous sins, persecution of God's servants especially (Mt 23:35). It was the vocation of the prophets to dispel the delusion, so contrary to the law itself (De 10:16), that outward ritualism would satisfy God.
16. God saith to the sinner, "Wash you," &c., that he, finding his inability to "make" himself "clean," may cry to God, Wash me, cleanse me (Ps 51:2, 7, 10).
before mine eyes—not mere outward reformation before man's eyes, who cannot, as God, see into the heart (Jer 32:19).
17. seek judgment—justice, as magistrates, instead of seeking bribes (Jer 22:3, 16).
judge—vindicate (Ps 68:5; Jas 1:27).
18. God deigns to argue the case with us, that all may see the just, nay, loving principle of His dealings with men (Isa 43:26).
scarlet—the color of Jesus Christ's robe when bearing our "sins" (Mt 27:28). So Rahab's thread (Jos 2:18; compare Le 14:4). The rabbins say that when the lot used to be taken, a scarlet fillet was bound on the scapegoat's head, and after the high priest had confessed his and the people's sins over it, the fillet became white: the miracle ceased, according to them, forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem, that is, exactly when Jesus Christ was crucified; a remarkable admission of adversaries. Hebrew for "scarlet" radically means double-dyed; so the deep-fixed permanency of sin in the heart, which no mere tears can wash away.
snow—(Ps 51:7). Repentance is presupposed, before sin can be made white as snow (Isa 1:19, 20); it too is God's gift (Jer 31:18, Lam 5:21, Acts 5:31).
red—refers to "blood" (Isa 1:15).
as wool—restored to its original undyed whiteness. This verse shows that the old fathers did not look only for transitory promises (Article VII, Book of Common Prayer). For sins of ignorance, and such like, alone had trespass offerings appointed for them; greater guilt therefore needed a greater sacrifice, for, "without shedding of blood there was no remission"; but none such was appointed, and yet forgiveness was promised and expected; therefore spiritual Jews must have looked for the One Mediator of both Old Testament and New Testament, though dimly understood.
19, 20. Temporal blessings in "the land of their possession" were prominent in the Old Testament promises, as suited to the childhood of the Church (Ex 3:17). New Testament spiritual promises derive their imagery from the former (Mt 5:5).
20. Lord hath spoken it—Isaiah's prophecies rest on the law (Le 26:33). God alters not His word (Numbers 23. 19).
21. faithful—as a wife (Isa 54:5; 62:5; Ho 2:19, 20).
harlot—(Eze 16:28-35).
righteousness lodged—(2Pe 3:13).
murderers—murderous oppressors, as the antithesis requires (see on Isa 1:15; 1Jo 3:15).
22. Thy princes and people are degenerate in "solid worth," equivalent to "silver" (Jer 6:28, 30; Eze 22:18, 19), and in their use of the living Word, equivalent to "wine" (So 7:9).
mixed—literally, "circumcised." So the Arabic, "to murder" wine, equivalent to dilute it.
23. companions of thieves—by connivance (Pr 29:24).
gifts—(Eze 22:12). A nation's corruption begins with its rulers.
24. Lord … Lord—Adonai, Jehovah.
mighty One of Israel—mighty to take vengeance, as before, to save.
Ah—indignation.
ease me—My long tried patience will find relief in at last punishing the guilty (Eze 5:13). God's language condescends to human conceptions.
25. turn … hand—not in wrath, but in grace (Zec 13:7), "upon thee," as Isa 1:26, 27 show; contrasted with the enemies, of whom He will avenge Himself (Isa 1:24).
purely—literally, "as alkali purifies."
thy dross—not thy sins, but the sinful persons (Jer 6:29); "enemies" (Isa 1:24); degenerate princes (see on Isa 1:22), intermingled with the elect "remnant" of grace.
tin—Hebrew, bedil, here the alloy of lead, tin, &c., separated by smelting from the silver. The pious Bishop Bedell took his motto from this.
26. As the degeneracy had shown itself most in the magistrates (Isa 1:17-23), so, at the "restoration," these shall be such as the theocracy "at the first" had contemplated, namely, after the Babylonish restoration in part and typically, but fully and antitypically under Messiah (Isa 32:1; 52:8; Jer 33:7; Mt 19:28).
faithful—no longer "an harlot."
27. redeemed—temporarily, civilly, and morally; type of the spiritual redemption by the price of Jesus Christ's blood (1Pe 1:18, 19), the foundation of "judgment" and "righteousness," and so of pardon. The judgment and righteousness are God's first (Isa 42:21; Ro 3:26); so they become man's when "converted" (Ro 8:3, 4); typified in the display of God's "justice," then exhibited in delivering His covenant-people, whereby justice or "righteousness" was produced in them.
converts—so Maurer. But Margin, "they that return of her," namely the remnant that return from captivity. However, as Isaiah had not yet expressly foretold the Babylonian captivity, the English Version is better.
28. destruction—literally, "breaking into shivers" (Re 2:27). The prophets hasten forward to the final extinction of the ungodly (Ps 37:20; Re 19:20; 20:15); of which antecedent judgments are types.
29. ashamed—(Ro 6:21).
oaks—Others translate the "terebinth" or "turpentine tree." Groves were dedicated to idols. Our Druids took their name from the Greek for "oaks." A sacred tree is often found in Assyrian sculpture; symbol of the starry hosts, Saba.
gardens—planted enclosures for idolatry; the counterpart of the garden of Eden.
30. oak—Ye shall be like the "oaks," the object of your "desire" (Isa 1:29). People become like the gods they worship; they never rise above their level (Ps 135:18). So men's sins become their own scourges (Jer 2:9). The leaf of the idol oak fades by a law of necessary consequence, having no living sap or "water" from God. So "garden" answers to "gardens" (Isa 1:29).
31. strong—powerful rulers (Am 2:9).
maker of it—rather, his work. He shall be at once the fuel, "tow," and the cause of the fire, by kindling the first "spark."
both—the wicked ruler, and "his work," which "is as a spark."