Isaiah 1
1
1#The title, or inscription, of the book is an editorial addition to identify the prophet and the circumstances of his ministry. Isaiah: meaning “the salvation of the Lord,” or “the Lord is salvation.” Amoz: not Amos the prophet. Judah: the Southern Kingdom of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Uzziah: also called Azariah; cf. 2 Kgs 15:1; 2 Chr 26:1. The vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Accusation and Appeal
2#This chapter is widely considered to be a collection of oracles from various periods in Isaiah’s ministry, chosen by the editor as a compendium of his most characteristic teachings. Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth,
for the Lord speaks:
Sons have I raised and reared,
but they have rebelled against me!#Dt 32:1, 5–6, 18.
3An ox knows its owner,
and an ass,#Ox…ass: Isaiah uses animals proverbial for their stupidity and stubbornness to underline Israel’s failure to respond to God. Israel: a term Isaiah (and other prophets) frequently applies to Judah, especially after the fall of the Northern Kingdom (which Isaiah normally calls Ephraim, as in 7:2, 9, 17; 9:8), but sometimes applies to the entire chosen people, as in 8:14. its master’s manger;
But Israel does not know,
my people has not understood.#Jer 8:7; Lk 2:12.
4Ah!#Ah: see note on 5:8–24. Holy One of Israel: a title used frequently in the Book of Isaiah, rarely elsewhere in the Old Testament (see 5:19, 24; 10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 45:11; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5; 55:5; 60:9, 14). Sinful nation, people laden with wickedness,
evil offspring, corrupt children!
They have forsaken the Lord,
spurned the Holy One of Israel,
apostatized,#Is 5:24; Dt 32:15.
5Why#The Hebrew expression translated “Why?” may also be translated “Where?” The ambiguity is probably intentional: “Why, O Israel, would you still be beaten, and where on your bruised body do you want the next blow?” The bruised body is a metaphor for the historical disaster that has overtaken Israel (see v. 7) because of its sins. would you yet be struck,
that you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
the whole heart faint.
6From the sole of the foot to the head
there is no sound spot in it;
Just bruise and welt and oozing wound,
not drained, or bandaged,
or eased with salve.
7Your country is waste,
your cities burnt with fire;
Your land—before your eyes
strangers devour it,
a waste, like the devastation of Sodom.#Sodom: Sodom and Gomorrah (see vv. 9–10; cf. Gn 19) were proverbial as wicked cities completely overthrown and destroyed by God. Judah, more fortunate, survives at least as a remnant. The devastation of the land and the isolation of Jerusalem suggest the time of Sennacherib’s invasion of 701. #Is 13:19; Dt 29:22; Jer 49:18; 50:40; Am 4:11.
8And daughter Zion#Daughter Zion: Jerusalem, as isolated as a little hut erected in a field for the shelter of watchmen and laborers. is left
like a hut in a vineyard,
Like a shed in a melon patch,
like a city blockaded.
9If the Lord of hosts#Lord of hosts: God, who is the Creator and Ruler of the armies of Israel, the angels, stars, etc. had not
left us a small remnant,
We would have become as Sodom,
would have resembled Gomorrah.#Rom 9:29.
10#A powerful indictment of the religious hypocrisy of rulers and others who neglect just judgment and oppress the weaker members, yet believe they can please God with sacrifices and other external forms of worship. The long list of observances suggests the Lord’s tedium with such attempts. Sodom…Gomorrah: the names are picked up from v. 9, but now to emphasize their wickedness rather than the good fortune of escaping total destruction. Hear the word of the Lord,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
11What do I care for the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord.
I have had enough of whole-burnt rams
and fat of fatlings;
In the blood of calves, lambs, and goats
I find no pleasure.#Ps 50:8–13; Sir 34:23; Mi 6:7.
12When you come to appear before me,
who asks these things of you?
13Trample my courts no more!
To bring offerings is useless;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath, calling assemblies—
festive convocations with wickedness—
these I cannot bear.#Prv 15:8; Jer 6:20.
14Your new moons and festivals I detest;#Am 5:21–24.
they weigh me down, I tire of the load.
15When you spread out your hands,
I will close my eyes to you;
Though you pray the more,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood!#Hands…blood: oppression of the poor is likened to violence that bloodies the hands, which explains why the hands spread out in prayer (v. 15) are not regarded by the Lord. This climax of the accusations is followed by positive admonitions for reversing the evil situation. #Prv 1:28; Sir 34:25–31.
16Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil;
17learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.#Ex 23:6; Dt 24:17; Sir 4:9–10; Jer 22:3; Ez 22:7; Am 5:14–15; Zec 7:9–10.
18Come now, let us set things right,#Let us set things right: the Hebrew word refers to the arbitration of legal disputes (Jb 23:7). God offers to settle his case with Israel on the basis of the change of behavior demanded above. For Israel it is a life or death choice; life in conformity with God’s will or death for continued disobedience.
says the Lord:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson,
they may become white as wool.#Ps 51:9.
19If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
20But if you refuse and resist,
you shall be eaten by the sword:
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
The Purification of Jerusalem
21How she has become a prostitute,
the faithful city,#Faithful city: the phrase, found in v. 21 and v. 28, forms an inclusio which marks off the passage and also suggests three chronological periods: the city’s former ideal state, its present wicked condition (described in vv. 21b–23), and the future ideal conditions intended by God. This will be brought about by a purging judgment directed primarily against the leaders (“judges…counselors”). so upright!
Justice used to lodge within her,
but now, murderers.#Jer 3:8; Hos 2:7.
22Your silver is turned to dross,
your wine is mixed with water.
23Your princes are rebels
and comrades of thieves;
Each one of them loves a bribe
and looks for gifts.
The fatherless they do not defend,
the widow’s plea does not reach them.#Ex 23:8; Dt 16:19.
24Now, therefore, says the Lord,
the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:
Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes
and fully repay my enemies!#Dt 32:41.
25I will turn my hand against you,
and refine your dross in the furnace,
removing all your alloy.
26I will restore your judges#Judges: the reference must be to royal judges appointed by David and his successors, not to the tribal judges of the Book of Judges, since the “beginning” of Jerusalem as an Israelite city dates only to the time of David. The Davidic era is idealized here; obtaining justice in the historical Jerusalem of David’s time was more problematic (see 2 Sm 15:1–6). as at first,
and your counselors as in the beginning;
After that you shall be called
city of justice, faithful city.#Jer 33:7–11; Zec 8:8.
27#These verses expand the oracle that originally ended at v. 26. The expansion correctly interprets the preceding text as proclaiming a purifying judgment on Zion in which the righteous are saved while the wicked perish. The meaning of “by justice” and “by righteousness” is ambiguous. Do these terms refer to God’s judgment or to the justice and righteousness of Zion’s surviving inhabitants? Is 33:14–16 suggests the latter interpretation. Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and her repentant ones by righteousness.
28Rebels and sinners together shall be crushed,
those who desert the Lord shall be consumed.
Judgment on the Sacred Groves
29#These verses were secondarily inserted here on the catchword principle; like v. 28 they pronounce judgment on certain parties “together” (v. 31). The terebinths and gardens refer to the sacred groves or asherahs that functioned as idolatrous cultic symbols at the popular shrines or high places (1 Kgs 14:23; 2 Kgs 17:10). Hezekiah cut down these groves during his reform (2 Kgs 18:4); they were a religious issue during Isaiah’s ministry (cf. Is 17:7–11). Isaiah threatens those who cultivate these symbols with the same fate that befalls trees when deprived of water. You shall be ashamed of the terebinths which you desired,
and blush on account of the gardens which you chose.
30You shall become like a terebinth whose leaves wither,
like a garden that has no water.
31The strong tree shall turn to tinder,
and the one who tends it shall become a spark;
Both of them shall burn together,
and there shall be none to quench them.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Isaiah 1
1
1The vision of Yesha’yahu [Yehovah has saved] the son of Amotz [strong], which he saw concerning Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] and Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] in the days of ‘Uziyah [my strength is Yehovah], Toram [Yehovah is Perfect], Achaz [he has grasped], [and] Hizkiyahu [Yehovah is my strength], kings of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised].
2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
3The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: [but] Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] does not know, my people does not consider.
4Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), they have provoked the Holy One of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] unto anger, they are gone away backward.
5Why should you2f be stricken anymore? you2f will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified (be softened; appeased) with ointment.
7Your 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.
8And the daughter of Tziyon [parched place] is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9Except the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies] had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as S’dom [Burning], [and] we should have been like unto ‘Amora [Submersion].
10Hear the word of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), you2f rulers of S’dom [Burning]; give ear unto the Torah of our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], you2f people of ‘Amora [Submersion].
11To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? says the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate): 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.
12When you2f come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Shabbat, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].
15And when you2f spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yes, when you2f make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16Wash you, make yourself clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;
17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate): though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19If you2f be willing and obedient, you2f shall eat the good of the land:
20But if you2f refuse and rebel, you2f shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has spoken [it].
21How is the faithful city become an prostitute! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
22Your1s silver is become scum, youri wine mixed with water:
23Your1s princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: everyone loves gifts, and follows after rewards: they defend not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them.
24Therefore says the Lord-Adon [Lord of the Earth], the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) Tz’va’ot [of the Heavenly Armies], the mighty One of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], Ah, I will free myself of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies:
25And I will turn my hand upon youi, and purely purge away youri scum, and take away all youri tin:
26And I will restore youri as at the first, and youri counselors as at the beginning: afterward youi shall be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
27Tziyon [parched place] shall be redeemed with judgment, and her repentant [ones] with righteousness.
28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they that forsake the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) shall be consumed.
29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you2f have desired, and you2f shall be confounded for the gardens that you2f have chosen.
30For you2f shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.
31And the strong shall be as tinder, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench [them].
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