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, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil, 17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case. “Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, You will eat the best of the land; 20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of 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

• Comeהָלַךְhâlak · to go: come!H1980
• nowנָאnâ' · pleaseH4994
• debateיָכַחyâkach · to rebukeH3198
• Saysאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Thoughאִם'im · ifH518
• your sinsחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399
• are as scarletשָׁנִיshânîy · scarletH8144
• They shall become as whiteלָבֵןlâban · to whitenH3835
• as snowשֶׁ֫לֶגsheleg · snowH7950
• they are redאָדֹם'âdam · to reddenH119
• like crimsonתּוֹלָעtôlâ‛ tôlê‛âh tôla‛ath tôla‛ath · wormH8438
• They shall be like woolצֶ֫מֶרtsemer · woolH6785

Cross-references for Isaiah 1:18

• Isaiah 41:21“Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your evidence,” The King of Jacob says.
• Isaiah 43:24You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your wrongdoings.
• 1 Samuel 12:7Now then, take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord that He did for you and your fathers.
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?
• Micah 6:2Listen, you mountains, to the indictment by the Lord, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; And He will dispute with Israel.
• Acts 17:2And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
• Acts 18:4And Paul was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
• Acts 24:25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.”
• Isaiah 44:22I have wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Psalms 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
• Romans 5:20The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
• Ephesians 1:6to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.
• Revelation 7:14I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and 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