Isaiah 1

1 This is the vision [a prophetic revelation, divine insight] concerning Judah [the tribe and region] and Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Judah] that Isaiah [Jeshaiah, Jehovah has saved] son of Amoz [father of the prophet] saw [had a prophetic vision, perceived] during the reigns [days, periods of rule] of Uzziah [my strength is Jehovah], Jotham [Jehovah is perfect], Ahaz [God has grasped, held], and Hezekiah [God has strengthened, made strong], kings [rulers, monarchs] of Judah [the southern kingdom]. word study 2 Listen [hear and obey], O heavens [the visible universe, the abode of God], and give ear [pay attention, heed], O earth [the land, the world], for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has spoken: “I have raised [nourished, brought up] children [sons, descendants] and brought them up [cared for, magnified], but they have rebelled [transgressed, revolted] against Me [in disobedience, rebellion]. word study 3 The ox [cattle, like bulls] knows its owner [master, one who has acquired], and the donkey [male ass] its master’s [one who has authority] manger [feeding trough, crib], but Israel [God’s chosen people] does not know [is ignorant of, lacks understanding]; My people [nation, those I have redeemed] do not understand [discern, have insight].” word study 4 Alas, O sinful [guilty of sin] nation, a people laden with [moral evil, wickedness] iniquity, a brood [seed, offspring] of evildoers, children [sons, descendants] of depravity [corruption, ruin]! They have forsaken [abandoned, relinquished] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; they have despised [spurned, shown contempt for] the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel and turned their backs [gone away backward, become strangers] on Him. word study 5 Why do you want more beatings [to be stricken, punished]? Why do you keep rebelling [revolting, turning away]? Your head [the whole of your mind, thinking] has a massive wound [is sick, diseased], and your whole heart [innermost being, emotions] is afflicted [faint, troubled, weak in spirit]. word study 6 From the sole [bottom, base] of your foot to the top [crown, highest point] of your head, there is no soundness [wholeness, completeness, health]— only wounds [bruises, injuries] and welts [swellings, sores] and festering [putrifying, infected] sores [open wounds, painful lesions] neither cleansed [purified, healed] nor bandaged [bound up, covered] nor soothed [mollified, comforted] with oil [olive oil]. word study 7 Your land [country, territory] is desolate [wasted, devastated]; your cities [towns, settlements] are burned [consumed] with fire [burning, flame]. Foreigners [strangers, non-natives] devour [eat, consume] your fields [lands, territories] before you— a desolation [devastation, ruin] demolished [overthrown, destroyed] by strangers [foreigners, outsiders]. word study 8 And the Daughter [of God, a beloved child] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem] is abandoned [left deserted, like a shelter without watchmen] like a shelter [a small booth, a temporary dwelling] in a vineyard [a garden of grapes, a place of abundance], like a shack [a lodge, a small hut] in a cucumber field [a garden of cucumbers, a place of fruitfulness], like a city [a town, a place of human habitation] besieged [surrounded by enemies, under attack]. word study 9 Unless [if not, except] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] had left [to remain, spared] us a few [a very small, little] survivors [remnant, those who remain alive], we would have become [to be, exist] like [similar to, comparable with] Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness], we would have resembled [to compare, liken] Gomorrah [a city in ancient Palestine, known for its wickedness]. word study 10 Hear [listen and obey] the word [divine message] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], you rulers [chiefs, leaders] of Sodom [a city known for wickedness]; listen [give ear, pay attention] to the instruction [law, teachings] of our God [Elohim, the one supreme God], you people [nation, community] of Gomorrah [a city destroyed for its corruption]! word study 11 “What good [purpose or benefit] to Me is your multitude [abundance, great number] of sacrifices [offerings to God]?” says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. “I am full [satisfied, having enough] from the burnt offerings [completely consumed by fire] of rams [strong, powerful animals] and the fat [the richest or best part] of well-fed [healthy, flourishing] cattle; I take no delight [do not find pleasure] in the blood [the life-giving fluid] of bulls [young, powerful oxen] and lambs [young, innocent sheep] and goats [full-grown, mature animals]. word study 12 When you come [to worship] to appear before Me [my face, my presence], who [what person, which one] has required [demanded, asked for] this of you [at your hand, from you]— this [specifically, this act of] trampling [treading down, stomping on] of My courts [my holy places, my sanctuary]? word study 13 Bring your worthless [vain, meaningless] offerings no more; your incense [a sweet smoke from burning sacrifices] is detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to Me— your New Moons [lunar cycle, month], Sabbaths [day of rest, worship], and convocations [public gatherings, assemblies]. I cannot endure [be able to bear, tolerate] iniquity [evil, wickedness] in a solemn [sacred, holy] assembly [a gathering, meeting]. word study 14 I hate [detest, intensely dislike] your New Moons [lunar cycles, celebrations of each new moon] and your appointed feasts [sacred seasons, festivals]. They have become [been, come to be] a burden [trouble, weight] to Me; I am weary [tired, disgusted] of bearing [lifting, carrying] them. word study 15 When you spread out [stretch forth, extend] your hands [palms, open hands] in prayer [supplication, request to God], I will hide [conceal, turn away] My eyes [sight, gaze] from you; even though you multiply [increase, grow] your prayers [petitions, pleas], I will not listen [hear, heed]. Your hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] are covered [full, filled] with blood [the liquid of life]. word study 16 Wash [cleanse yourselves, be spiritually clean] and cleanse [make yourselves pure, remove impurities] yourselves. Remove [put away, turn aside] your evil [bad, morally wrong] deeds [actions, practices] from My sight [My eyes, My presence]. Stop [cease, put an end to] doing [practicing, committing] evil [wrong, harmful]! word study 17 Learn [to guide, instruct] to do right [what is good, pleasing]; seek [ask for, worship] justice [righteous judgment] and correct [relieve, condemn] the oppressor [one who takes advantage by force, robber]. Defend [vindicate, support] the fatherless [orphan, child without a father] and plead [contend, argue] the case [cause, lawsuit] of the widow [woman whose husband has died, vulnerable one].” word study 18 “Come now [let us have an argument together], let us reason together [accuse me],” says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. “Though your sins [crimes or guilt] are like scarlet [deep red, crimson], they will be as white as snow [pure, clean]; though they are as red [flushed, turned red] as crimson [deep red, like the color of the coccus ilicis insect], they will become like wool [white, warm, and pure]. word study 19 If [you consent and obey] you are willing [to give ear to my word] and obedient [to do as you’re told], you will eat [consume, devour] the best [good, goodness] of the land [the earth, a country]. word study 20 But if you [refuse, turn away] resist and rebel [resist, disobey], you will be devoured [eaten, consumed] by the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool of war].” For the mouth [lip, edge] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has spoken [declared, communicated]. word study 21 See how the faithful [trustworthy, loyal] city has become a harlot [fornicator, idolatrous]! She once was full of justice [righteous judgment]; righteousness [God’s standard] resided [lodged, dwelt] within her, but now only murderers [those who take lives, killers]! word study 22 Your [valuable, pure] silver [silver; money, a price] has become [turned into, corrupted by] dross [waste, impurities]; your fine [pure, unmixed] wine [liqueur, drink] is diluted [watered down, weakened] with water [a spring or watercourse]. word study 23 Your rulers [princes, leaders] are rebels [faithless, apostates], friends [companions] of thieves [those who take what doesn’t belong to them]. They all love [are fond of, have affection for] bribes [gifts, rewards] and chasing after [pursuing, following] rewards [payment for a specific action]. They do not defend [protect, vindicate] the fatherless [orphan, child without a father], and the plea [cause, strife] of the widow [woman whose husband has died] never comes before [is not brought to, does not approach] them. word study 24 Therefore the Lord [the sovereign Master, ʼâdôwn] GOD [Yehovah, the national name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], the Mighty One [emphasizing power] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob], declares: “Ah [woe, an expression of sadness], I will be relieved [ease, comfort] of My foes [adversaries, enemies] and avenge [punish, take revenge] Myself on My enemies [those who hate Me]. word study 25 I will turn [return, bring back] My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] against you; I will thoroughly [completely, utterly] purge [refine, cleanse] your dross [waste, impurities]; I will remove [take away, turn aside] all [everything] your impurities [tin, alloy, like dross from silver]. word study 26 I will restore [give back, return to a former state] your judges [rulers, leaders] as at first [in the beginning, initially], and your counselors [advisers, guides] as at the beginning [the start, the initial phase]. After that you will be called [named, known as] the City [town, community] of Righteousness [justice, moral integrity], the Faithful [trustworthy, loyal] City [town, community].” word study 27 Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem] will be redeemed [rescued, ransomed] with justice [righteous judgment], her repentant ones [those who return, convert] with righteousness [virtue, morality]. word study 28 But rebels [transgressors, those who break away from authority] and sinners [those who have committed a crime or sin, making them guilty] will together [in unitedness, as one] be shattered [broken, destroyed, consumed], and those who forsake [loosen or relinquish, abandon] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will perish [come to an end, be finished, consumed]. word study 29 Surely you will be [put to shame, confounded] ashamed of the sacred oaks [trees of your desire, idols] in which you have [taken great pleasure, delighted] delighted; you will be [ashamed, embarrassed] embarrassed by the gardens [places of worship, pleasure gardens of idols] that you have chosen [selected]. word study 30 For [as a result of your actions] you will become like [a very large tree] an oak [a strong and sturdy tree] whose leaves [foliage, greenery] are withered [fading, losing strength], like [similar to] a garden [a place of cultivation and growth] without [lacking, devoid of] water [refreshment, nourishment]. word study 31 The strong man [powerful, mighty warrior] will become tinder [like tow, refuse of flax] and his work [deeds, accomplishments] will be a spark [small, fiery particle]; both will burn [be consumed by fire] together [in unity, as one], with no one [nothing, none] to quench [extinguish, put out] the flames [fire, burning]. word study