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 King James Version (NKJV)How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

Context of Isaiah 1:21

19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. How is the faithful city become an harlot! she that was full of judgment! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. 23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Isaiah 1:21 word by word

אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Howאֵיכָה'êyk 'êykâh 'êykâkâh · how?H349
• faithfulאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
• cityקִרְיָהqiryâh · townH7151
• becomeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• fullמְלֵאָהmelê'âh · fruitH4395
• judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• nowעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
• murderersרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523

Cross-references for Isaiah 1:21

• Isaiah 48:2For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.
• Nehemiah 11:1And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.
• Psalms 46:4There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
• Psalms 48:1Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
• Hosea 11:12Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One.
• Zechariah 8:3Thus saith the LORD: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts The holy mountain.
• Hebrews 12:22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,
• Jeremiah 2:20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.
• Jeremiah 3:1They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
• Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
• Ezekiel 16:1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
• Ezekiel 22:1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
• Ezekiel 23:1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
• Luke 13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!
• Revelation 11:2And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

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