ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Isaiah 1.19-20

Book: Isaiah · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"17. learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

"19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20. but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it."

"21. How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water." (Isaiah 1:17-22, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"17. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” 18. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

"19. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20. but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.”"

"21. How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water." (Isaiah 1:17-22, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"17. Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. relieve: or, righten 18. 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."

"19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

"21. How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 22. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:" (Isaiah 1:17-22, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"17. Seek judgment, make happy the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, strive [for] the widow. 18. Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be!"

"19. If ye are willing, and have hearkened, The good of the land ye consume, 20. And if ye refuse, and have rebelled, [By] the sword ye are consumed, For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken."

"21. How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it, now murderers. 22. Thy silver hath become dross, Thy drink polluted with water." (Isaiah 1:17-22, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Isaiah son of Amoz (traditional unity) + LORD direct discourse
  • Audience: Judah under Uzziah/Jotham/Ahaz/Hezekiah + exilic remnant
  • Location: Jerusalem and Judah
  • Time period: ministry c. 740-680 BC

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.