Isaiah 1:1-20 Introduction

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Isaiah 1:1-20 Introduction (this page)
The two Isaiahs
Luke 4:15-21 Jesus reads in Luke and stops

More: Major prophets

The book of Isaiah is the longest of the prophets in the OT (Old Testament). Like many authors, the beginning of the first chapter sets the tone for the entire book.

Isaiah 1:1 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. [kjv]

ορασις ην ειδεν ησαιας υιος αμως ην ειδεν κατα της ιουδαιας και κατα ιερουσαλημ εν βασιλεια οζιου και ιωαθαμ και αχαζ και εζεκιου οι εβασιλευσαν της ιουδαιας [lxx]

Isaiah 1:1

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: חזון ישעיהו בן אמוץ אשר חזה על יהודה וירושלם בימי עזיהו יותם אחז יחזקיהו מלכי יהודה׃

Greek: ορασις ην ειδεν ησαιας υιος αμως ην ειδεν κατα της ιουδαιας και κατα ιερουσαλημ εν βασιλεια οζιου και ιωαθαμ και αχαζ και εζεκιου οι εβασιλευσαν της ιουδαιας

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:2

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KJV: Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Hebrew: שמעו שמים והאזיני ארץ כי יהוה דבר בנים גדלתי ורוממתי והם פשעו בי׃

Greek: ακουε ουρανε και ενωτιζου γη οτι κυριος ελαλησεν υιους εγεννησα και υψωσα αυτοι δε με ηθετησαν

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:3

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KJV: The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Hebrew: ידע שור קנהו וחמור אבוס בעליו ישראל לא ידע עמי לא התבונן׃

Greek: εγνω βους τον κτησαμενον και ονος την φατνην του κυριου αυτου ισραηλ δε με ουκ εγνω και ο λαος με ου συνηκεν

Isaiah 1:4 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 Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:4

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KJV: 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 Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Hebrew: הוי גוי חטא עם כבד עון זרע מרעים בנים משחיתים עזבו את יהוה נאצו את קדוש ישראל נזרו אחור׃

Greek: ουαι εθνος αμαρτωλον λαος πληρης αμαρτιων σπερμα πονηρον υιοι ανομοι εγκατελιπατε τον κυριον και παρωργισατε τον αγιον του ισραηλ

Isaiah 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:5

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KJV: Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Hebrew: על מה תכו עוד תוסיפו סרה כל ראש לחלי וכל לבב דוי׃

Greek: τι ετι πληγητε προστιθεντες ανομιαν πασα κεφαλη εις πονον και πασα καρδια εις λυπην

Isaiah 1:6 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:6

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: מכף רגל ועד ראש אין בו מתם פצע וחבורה ומכה טריה לא זרו ולא חבשו ולא רככה בשמן׃

Greek: απο ποδων εως κεφαλης ουτε τραυμα ουτε μωλωψ ουτε πληγη φλεγμαινουσα ουκ εστιν μαλαγμα επιθειναι ουτε ελαιον ουτε καταδεσμους

Isaiah 1:7 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:7

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ארצכם שממה עריכם שרפות אש אדמתכם לנגדכם זרים אכלים אתה ושממה כמהפכת זרים׃

Greek: η γη υμων ερημος αι πολεις υμων πυρικαυστοι την χωραν υμων ενωπιον υμων αλλοτριοι κατεσθιουσιν αυτην και ηρημωται κατεστραμμενη υπο λαων αλλοτριων

Isaiah 1:8 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:8

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ונותרה בת ציון כסכה בכרם כמלונה במקשה כעיר נצורה׃

Greek: εγκαταλειφθησεται η θυγατηρ σιων ως σκηνη εν αμπελωνι και ως οπωροφυλακιον εν σικυηρατω ως πολις πολιορκουμενη

Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:9

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KJV: Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Hebrew: לולי יהוה צבאות הותיר לנו שריד כמעט כסדם היינו לעמרה דמינו׃

Greek: και ει μη κυριος σαβαωθ εγκατελιπεν ημιν σπερμα ως σοδομα αν εγενηθημεν και ως γομορρα αν ωμοιωθημεν

Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:10

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KJV: Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Hebrew: שמעו דבר יהוה קציני סדם האזינו תורת אלהינו עם עמרה׃

Greek: ακουσατε λογον κυριου αρχοντες σοδομων προσεχετε νομον θεου λαος γομορρας

Isaiah 1:11 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 blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [kjv]

1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [kjv]

1:13 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. [kjv]

1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [kjv]

Isaiah, at the start of his writings, identifies the problem. It appears to involve compulsion by the religious establishment in required ceremonies, sacrifices, meetings, etc.

Isaiah appears to elaborate on the ideas of Amos as to the "yoke of compulsion". Barnabas refers to these ideas in his letter.

More: Amos 5: The yoke of compulsion

More: Epistle of Barnabas

Isaiah 1:11

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KJV: 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 blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Hebrew: למה לי רב זבחיכם יאמר יהוה שבעתי עלות אילים וחלב מריאים ודם פרים וכבשים ועתודים לא חפצתי׃

Greek: τι μοι πληθος των θυσιων υμων λεγει κυριος πληρης ειμι ολοκαυτωματων κριων και στεαρ αρνων και αιμα ταυρων και τραγων ου βουλομαι

Isaiah 1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [kjv]

Isaiah 1:12

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KJV: When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

Hebrew: כי תבאו לראות פני מי בקש זאת מידכם רמס חצרי׃

Greek: ουδ εαν ερχησθε οφθηναι μοι τις γαρ εξεζητησεν ταυτα εκ των χειρων υμων πατειν την αυλην μου

Isaiah 1:13 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:13

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: לא תוסיפו הביא מנחת שוא קטרת תועבה היא לי חדש ושבת קרא מקרא לא אוכל און ועצרה׃

Greek: ου προσθησεσθε εαν φερητε σεμιδαλιν ματαιον θυμιαμα βδελυγμα μοι εστιν τας νουμηνιας υμων και τα σαββατα και ημεραν μεγαλην ουκ ανεχομαι νηστειαν και αργιαν

Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:14

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KJV: Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Hebrew: חדשיכם ומועדיכם שנאה נפשי היו עלי לטרח נלאיתי נשא׃

Greek: και τας νουμηνιας υμων και τας εορτας υμων μισει η ψυχη μου εγενηθητε μοι εις πλησμονην ουκετι ανησω τας αμαρτιας υμων

Isaiah 1:15 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:15

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ובפרשכם כפיכם אעלים עיני מכם גם כי תרבו תפלה אינני שמע ידיכם דמים מלאו׃

Greek: οταν τας χειρας εκτεινητε προς με αποστρεψω τους οφθαλμους μου αφ υμων και εαν πληθυνητε την δεησιν ουκ εισακουσομαι υμων αι γαρ χειρες υμων αιματος πληρεις

Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; [kjv]

1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [kjv]

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. [kjv]

και δευτε και διελεγχθωμεν λεγει κυριος και εαν ωσιν αι αμαρτιαι υμων ως φοινικουν ως χιονα λευκανω εαν δε ωσιν ως κοκκινον ως εριον λευκανω [lxx]

After presenting the problem, Isaiah, at the start of his writings, presents the solution. The religious establishment, however, has been using the problem (required rules, etc.) for their own personal advantage.

Born in Philadelphia, Robert Lowry (1826-1899) wrote the words and music to "What can wash away my sin", "Shall we gather at the river", and others.

Many modern churches services remove Jesus and the blood.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [kjv]

5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. [kjv]

More: Song: What can wash away my sin

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Isaiah 1:16

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KJV: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Hebrew: רחצו הזכו הסירו רע מעלליכם מנגד עיני חדלו הרע׃

Greek: λουσασθε καθαροι γενεσθε αφελετε τας πονηριας απο των ψυχων υμων απεναντι των οφθαλμων μου παυσασθε απο των πονηριων υμων

Isaiah 1:17

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KJV: Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Hebrew: למדו היטב דרשו משפט אשרו חמוץ שפטו יתום ריבו אלמנה׃

Greek: μαθετε καλον ποιειν εκζητησατε κρισιν ρυσασθε αδικουμενον κρινατε ορφανω και δικαιωσατε χηραν

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. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. [kjv]

The following are similar and related ancient Greek words.

"κόκκος" ≈ "grain, seed" and it could mean a scarlet dye made from the crushed bodies of the kermes bugs sometimes (incorrectly) thought of as a "seed".
"κόκκινος" ≈ "scarlet, blushing, red" from the scarlet dye.
"κόκκῦ" ≈ "cuckoo" as a call of a bird. The "birds" are in the parable "lodging" in the branches of the "tree".

A possible play on words would require a "bird" and the color "red". The ruling power in Judea, Rome used both the "eagle" and the color "red" as a symbol. This presence would continue for many centuries.

The historical interpretation of this parable is during the time of Rome and Constantine when the church went from a relatively flat organization into a larger hierarchical tree-structured organization.

More: Matthew 13:31-32 KP3 Parable of the mustard seed

Isaiah 1:18

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: לכו נא ונוכחה יאמר יהוה אם יהיו חטאיכם כשנים כשלג ילבינו אם יאדימו כתולע כצמר יהיו׃

Greek: και δευτε και διελεγχθωμεν λεγει κυριος και εαν ωσιν αι αμαρτιαι υμων ως φοινικουν ως χιονα λευκανω εαν δε ωσιν ως κοκκινον ως εριον λευκανω

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [kjv]

Isaiah 1:19

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KJV: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Hebrew: אם תאבו ושמעתם טוב הארץ תאכלו׃

Greek: και εαν θελητε και εισακουσητε μου τα αγαθα της γης φαγεσθε

Isaiah 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. [kjv]

Isaiah 1:20

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KJV: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Hebrew: ואם תמאנו ומריתם חרב תאכלו כי פי יהוה דבר׃

Greek: εαν δε μη θελητε μηδε εισακουσητε μου μαχαιρα υμας κατεδεται το γαρ στομα κυριου ελαλησεν ταυτα