Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 5:20
20Oy to those who call evil good and good evil, who present darkness as light and light as darkness, who present bitter as sweet, and sweet as bitter!
Isaiah 5:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
- New International Version (NIV)Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Context of Isaiah 5:20
18Oy to those that drag iniquity along with cords of deceit, and sin as if with a cart rope! 19They say: “Let Him hurry up and hasten His work, so we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, so we may know it!” Oy to those who call evil good and good evil, who present darkness as light and light as darkness, who present bitter as sweet, and sweet as bitter! 21Oy to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight! 22Oy to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant at mixing drinks,
Read all of Isaiah 5Isaiah 5:20 word by word
ה֣וֹי הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לָרַ֛ע ט֖וֹב וְלַטּ֣וֹב רָ֑ע שָׂמִ֨ים חֹ֤שֶׁךְ לְאוֹר֙ וְא֣וֹר לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ שָׂמִ֥ים מַ֛ר לְמָת֖וֹק וּמָת֥וֹק לְמָֽר׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Woeהוֹיhôy · woe!H1945
- unto them that callאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- that putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
- for lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- bitterמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
- for sweetמָתוֹקmâthôq mâthûq · sweetH4966
Cross-references for Isaiah 5:20
- Proverbs 17:15Acquitting the wicked and condemning the righteous: both are an abomination to Adonai.
- Malachi 2:17You wearied Adonai with your words. Yet you say: “How did we weary Him?” When you say: “Everyone doing evil is good in the sight of Adonai, and He delights in them.” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”
- Malachi 3:15So now we are calling the proud blessed. Those who practice iniquity are built up. Indeed, they have tested God, and escaped!”
- Matthew 6:23But if your eye is bad, your body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
- Matthew 15:3And answering, He said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
- Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he is obligated.’
- Luke 11:35Therefore, watch out that the light in you is not darkness.
- Luke 16:15But He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before the people, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable in God’s sight.”
- 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come—
- 2 Peter 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Commentaries on Isaiah 5:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Wo unto them that call evil good - This is the fourth class of sins denounced. The sin which is reprobated here is that of “perverting and confounding” things, especially the distinctions of morality and religion. They prefer erroneous and fake doctrines to the true; they prefer an evil to an upright course of conduct. The Chaldee renders this, Wo to those who say to the impious, who are prospered in this age, You are good; and who say to the meek, Ye…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-23Verses 8-23 Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their hearts…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Woe: The fourth threat of judgment was against a lack of integrity. evil good … darkness to light … sweet with bitter: This distorted view of life corrupts God's holy order.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Fourth Woe--against those who confound the distinctions of right and wrong (compare Ro 1:28), "reprobate," Greek, "undiscriminating: the moral perception darkened." bitter ... sweet--sin is bitter (Jr 2:19; 4:18; Ac 8:23; He 12:15); though it seem sweet for a time (Pr 9:17, 18). Religion is sweet (Psa 119:103).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 5:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 5
- 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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