New Living Translation
Isaiah 1:18
18“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.
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
16Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. 17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. “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. 19If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. 20But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have 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 41:21“Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel.
- Isaiah 43:24You have not brought me fragrant calamus or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your faults.
- 1 Samuel 12:7Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors.
- Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves.
- Micah 6:2And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel.
- Acts 17:2As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.
- Acts 18:4Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.
- Acts 24:25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”
- Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
- Psalms 51:7Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
- Micah 7:18Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
- Romans 5:20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
- Ephesians 1:6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
- Revelation 7:14And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.
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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