Passage

Isaiah 1

Book: Isaiah · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged and gone backward. 5. Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil. 7. Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8. And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9. Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 10. Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11. What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. 12. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,, I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting. 14. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them. 15. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 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. 23. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 24. Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies; 25. and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin; 26. and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town. 27. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. 28. But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed. 29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31. And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them." (Isaiah 1:1-31, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3. The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know, my people don’t consider.” 4. Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward. 5. Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil. 7. Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8. The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city. 9. Unless Yahweh of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom; we would have been like Gomorrah. 10. Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11. “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says Yahweh. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. 12. When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13. Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can’t bear with evil assemblies. 14. My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. 15. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16. Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. 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. 23. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They don’t judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them. 24. Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies; 25. and I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin. 26. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’ 27. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. 28. But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake Yahweh shall be consumed. 29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen. 30. For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. 31. The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”" (Isaiah 1:1-31, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. ^{laden: Heb. of heaviness} ^{gone: Heb. alienated, or, separated} 5. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ^{revolt: Heb. increase revolt} 6. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. ^{ointment: or, oil} 7. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. ^{overthrown: Heb. the overthrow of} 8. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 10. Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. ^{he goats: Heb. great he goats} 12. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? ^{to appear: Heb. to be seen} 13. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. ^{iniquity: or, grief} 14. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. ^{make: Heb. multiply prayer} ^{blood: Heb. bloods} 16. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 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: 23. Thy 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. 24. Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: ^{purely: Heb. according to pureness} 26. And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. ^{her: or, they that return of her} 28. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. ^{destruction: Heb. breaking} 29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. ^{maker: or, and his work}" (Isaiah 1:1-31, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. The Visions of Isaiah son of Amoz, that he hath seen concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For Jehovah hath spoken: Sons I have nourished and brought up, And they, they transgressed against Me. 3. An ox hath known its owner, And an ass the crib of its master, Israel hath not known, My people hath not understood. 4. Ah, sinning nation, a people heavy [with] iniquity, A seed of evil doers, sons, corrupters! They have forsaken Jehovah, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have gone away backward. 5. Wherefore are ye stricken any more? Ye do add apostasy! Every head is become diseased, and every heart [is] sick. 6. From the sole of the foot, unto the head, There is no soundness in it, Wound, and bruise, and fresh smiting! They have not been closed nor bound, Nor have they softened with ointment. 7. Your land [is] a desolation, your cities burnt with fire, Your ground, before you strangers are consuming it, And a desolation as overthrown by strangers! 8. And left hath been the daughter of Zion, As a booth in a vineyard, As a lodge in a place of cucumbers, as a city besieged. 9. Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left to us a remnant, Shortly, as Sodom we had been, To Gomorrah we had been like! 10. Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom, Give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah, 11. 'Why to Me the abundance of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah, I have been satiated [with] burnt-offerings of rams, And fat of fatlings; And blood of bullocks, and lambs, And he-goats I have not desired. 12. When ye come in to appear before Me, Who hath required this of your hand, To trample My courts? 13. Add not to bring in a vain present, Incense, an abomination it [is] to Me, New moon, and sabbath, calling of convocation! Rendure not iniquity, and a restraint! 14. Your new moons and your set seasons hath My soul hated, They have been upon me for a burden, I have been weary of bearing. 15. And in your spreading forth your hands, I hide mine eyes from you, Also when ye increase prayer, I do not hear, Your hands of blood have been full. 16. Wash ye, make ye pure, Turn aside the evil of your doings, from before Mine eyes, Cease to do evil, learn to do good. 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. 23. Thy princes [are] apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them. 24. Therefore, the affirmation of the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I am eased of Mine adversaries, And I am avenged of Mine enemies, 25. And I turn back My hand upon thee, And I refine as purity thy dross, And I turn aside all thy tin, 26. And I give back thy judges as at the first, And thy counsellors as in the beginning, After this thou art called, 'A city of righteousness, a faithful city.' 27. Zion in judgment is redeemed, And her captivity in righteousness. 28. And the destruction of transgressors and sinners [is] together, And those forsaking Jehovah are consumed. 29. For [men] are ashamed because of the oaks That ye have desired, And ye are confounded because of the gardens That ye have chosen. 30. For ye are as an oak whose leaf is fading, And as a garden that hath no water. 31. And the strong hath been for tow, And his work for a spark, And burned have both of them together, And there is none quenching!" (Isaiah 1:1-31, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

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.