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 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 devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. 22Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. 23Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come 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 call themselves after the holy city, And lean on the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is His name:
• Nehemiah 11:1Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
• Psalms 48:1Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.
• Hosea 11:12“Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, Even with the Holy One who is faithful.
• Zechariah 8:3“Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, 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, to an innumerable company of angels,
• Jeremiah 2:20“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.
• Jeremiah 3:1“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man’s, May he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.
• Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem has sinned gravely, Therefore she has become vile. All who honored her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Yes, she sighs and turns away.
• Ezekiel 16:1Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
• Ezekiel 22:1Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
• Ezekiel 23:1The word of the Lord came again to me, saying:
• Luke 13:34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one 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 brood under her wings, but you were not willing!
• Revelation 11:2But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot 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 plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

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