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!
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.

Context of Isaiah 1:21

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." How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water. 23Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to 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 call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is his name.
• Nehemiah 11:1Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
• Psalms 48:1Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
• Hosea 11:12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
• Zechariah 8:3Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.
• Hebrews 12:22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
• Jeremiah 2:20"For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve.' Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.
• Jeremiah 3:1"If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord.
• Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away.
• Ezekiel 16:1Again the word of the Lord came to me:
• Ezekiel 22:1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
• Ezekiel 23:1The word of the Lord came to me:
• Luke 13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
• Revelation 11:2but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!

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