Isaiah 1:21

Isaiah 1:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
• New International Version (NIV)See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!
• English Standard Version (ESV)How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

Context of Isaiah 1:21

19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. 20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The faithful town — what an adulteress she has become! She was once full of justice. Righteousness once dwelt in her, but now, murderers! 22Your silver has become dross to be discarded, your beer is diluted with water. 23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow’s case never comes before them.

Isaiah 1:21 word by word

אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• How is the faithfulאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
• cityקִרְיָהqiryâh · townH7151
• become an harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• it was fullמָלֵאmâlê' · fullH4392
• of judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• lodgedלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
• in it; but now murderersרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523

Cross-references for Isaiah 1:21

• Isaiah 48:2For they are named after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; his name is the Lord of Armies.
• Nehemiah 11:1Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river — its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
• Psalms 48:1The Lord is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
• Hosea 11:12Ephraim surrounds me with lies, the house of Israel, with deceit. Judah still wanders with God and is faithful to the holy ones.
• Zechariah 8:3The Lord says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.”
• Hebrews 12:22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,
• Jeremiah 2:20For long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, “I will not serve!” On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.
• Jeremiah 3:1If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Wouldn’t such a land become totally defiled? But you! You have prostituted yourself with many partners — can you return to me? This is the Lord’s declaration.
• Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem has sinned grievously; therefore, she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness. She herself groans and turns away.
• Ezekiel 16:1The word of the Lord came to me again:
• Ezekiel 22:1The word of the Lord came to me:
• Ezekiel 23:1The word of the Lord came to me again:
• Luke 13:34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
• Revelation 11:2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the Lord of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant he delighted in. He expected justice but saw injustice; he expected righteousness but heard cries of despair.

Commentaries on Isaiah 1:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Become a harlot - See before, the Discourse on the Prophetic Style; and see Lowth's Comment on the place, and De Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. xxxi.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21How is - This is an expression of deploring, or lamenting. It indicates that that had occurred which was matter of grief. The prophet had stated the principles of the divine government; had urged the people to reason with God; and had affirmed his willingness to pardon. But it was seen that they would not repent. They were so wicked and perverse, that there was no hope of their reformation. His mind is full of this subject; he repeats the charge of their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-31Verses 21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The image of Jerusalem as a prostitute symbolizes Judah's unfaithfulness to God (see Jeremiah 3:6–14; Ezekiel 16:25–26; Hosea 1–3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. faithful--as a wife (Is 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 Is 1:15; 1Jo 3:15).Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 1:21

• Backsliders
• Church
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Adultery
• Convert
• Crib
• Eat
• Fade
• Harlot
• Isaiah, The Book of
• Judgment
• Oblation
• Owner

Commentaries on Isaiah 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings