Isaiah 1:18

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
• 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.

Context of Isaiah 1:18

16“Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil. 17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows.” “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord. “Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. 20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be destroyed by swords.” The Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 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 41:21“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forward your best arguments,” says Jacob’s king.
• Isaiah 43:24You did not buy me any sugar cane with ⌞your⌟ money or satisfy me with the best part of your sacrifices. Rather, you burdened me with your sins and troubled me with your wrongdoings.
• 1 Samuel 12:7Now, stand up while I put you on trial in front of the Lord and cite all the righteous things the Lord did for you and your ancestors.
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
• Micah 6:2Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit, you mountains. Listen, you strong foundations of the earth. The Lord has filed a lawsuit against his people. He is arguing his case against Israel.
• Acts 17:2As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. On three consecutive days of rest—holy days, he had discussions about Scripture with the synagogue members.
• Acts 18:4On every day of rest—a holy day, Paul would discuss ⌞Scripture⌟ in the synagogue. He tried to win over Jews and Greeks who had converted to Judaism.
• Acts 24:25As Paul discussed the subjects of God’s approval, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, “That’s enough for now. You can go. When I find time, I’ll send for you again.”
• Isaiah 44:22I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you.
• Psalms 51:7Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.
• Romans 5:20The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more.
• Ephesians 1:6so that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.
• Revelation 7:14I answered him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me, “These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. 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

• Ablution
• Anthropomorphisms
• Church
• Colors
• Condescension of God
• God Continued...
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Purity
• Reasoning
• Reward
• Salvation
• Sin
• Snow
• Will

In the dictionaries

• Colour
• 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