English Standard Version
Isaiah 1:18
18"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
Context of Isaiah 1:18
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 1:18 word by word
לְכוּ־נָ֛א וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אִם־יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ אִם־יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ כַתּוֹלָ֖ע כַּצֶּ֥מֶר יִהְיֽוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Come nowיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- and let us reason togetherיָכַחyâkach · to rebukeH3198
- saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- though your sinsחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399
- be as scarletשָׁנִיshânîy · scarletH8144
- they shall be as whiteלָבֵןlâban · to whitenH3835
- as snowשֶׁ֫לֶגsheleg · snowH7950
- though they be redאָדֹם'âdam · to reddenH119
- like crimsonתּוֹלָעtôlâ‛ tôlê‛âh tôla‛ath tôla‛ath · wormH8438
- they shall be as woolצֶ֫מֶרtsemer · woolH6785
Cross-references for Isaiah 1:18
- Isaiah 41:21Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
- Isaiah 43:24You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.
- 1 Samuel 12:7Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers.
- Jeremiah 2:5Thus says the Lord: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
- Micah 6:2Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
- Acts 17:2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
- Acts 18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
- Acts 24:25And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."
- Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
- Psalms 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
- Romans 5:20Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
- Ephesians 1:6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
- Revelation 7:14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Commentaries on Isaiah 1:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Though your sins be as scarlet - שני shani, "scarlet or crimson," dibaphum, twice dipped, or double dyed; from שנה shanah, iterare, to double, or to do a thing twice. This derivation seems much more probable than that which Salmasius prefers from שנן shanan, acuere, to whet, from the sharpness and strength of the color, ; תלע tela, the same; properly the worm, vermiculus, (from whence vermeil), for this color was produced from a worm or insect which grew…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Come now - This is addressed to the nation of Israel; and the same exhortation is made to all sinners. It is a solemn act on the part of God, submitting the claims and principles of his government to reason, on the supposition that men may see the propriety of his service, and of his plan. Let us reason together - ונוכחה venivākechâh from יכח yâkach not used in Kal, but in Hiphil; meaning to show, to prove. Job 13:15: Surely I will prove my ways…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in which sinners of every age and rank may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, a deep dye, a double dye, first in the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18God called his people to come and settle their dispute so that he could restore his covenant relationship with them. Judah had to choose between obedience and rebellion (Isaiah 1:19–20). Isaiah says their sins are "like scarlet" and "red like crimson," the color of blood, which Judah had shed unjustly (Isaiah 1:15). white as snow … like wool: The people would be radically transformed. God would cleanse, purify, and make them holy (see also Psalm 51:7…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. God deigns to argue the case with us, that all may see the just, nay, loving principle of His dealings with men (Is 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 1:18
In the dictionaries
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
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