Isaiah 1

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 1

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.

3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

4Ah 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.

5Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6From 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.

7Your 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.

8And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

9Except 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.

11To 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.

12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

13Bring 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.

14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].

15And 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;

17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18Come 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.

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].

21¶ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; 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.

24Therefore 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:

25And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

26And 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.

27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

30For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

31And 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].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah chapter one opens with a lament from the Lord concerning Judah and Jerusalem's profound rebellion, despite His care. He condemns their empty religious rituals, declaring His abhorrence for their sacrifices and feasts while their hands are full of blood and injustice prevails. The chapter then issues a powerful call to repentance, offering forgiveness for sins as scarlet, and promises restoration for a purified Zion, while warning of destruction for the unrepentant.

Medium Summary

The vision of Isaiah begins with a divine indictment against Judah and Jerusalem for their deep-seated rebellion against the Lord, who nurtured them. The prophet declares that even animals recognize their master, but Israel does not consider God, being a nation laden with iniquity and spiritual sickness. The Lord expresses His weariness with their multitude of sacrifices, new moons, and solemn assemblies, which He deems vain and an abomination, as their hands are full of blood and they neglect justice. He calls them to wash, make clean, cease evil, and learn to do well, emphasizing the importance of seeking judgment for the oppressed, fatherless, and widow. A promise of cleansing is offered: though sins be as scarlet, they can become white as snow, contingent upon willingness and obedience. However, the chapter also warns of destruction for those who refuse and rebel, concluding with a prophecy of Jerusalem's purification and the consumption of transgressors.

Long Summary

Isaiah chapter one, a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, opens with a dramatic call to the heavens and earth to witness the Lord's lament. He declares that He has nourished children who have rebelled against Him, noting that even an ox knows its owner, but Israel does not understand. The nation is described as sinful, laden with iniquity, and spiritually sick from head to foot, with wounds and putrefying sores. Their land is desolate, cities burned, and Zion left isolated, saved from utter destruction like Sodom and Gomorrah only by a small remnant. The Lord then vehemently rejects their formal worship, including sacrifices, burnt offerings, new moons, sabbaths, and assemblies, calling them vain oblations and an abomination because their hands are full of blood and injustice. He will hide His eyes and not hear their prayers. A pivotal call to repentance follows, urging them to wash, make clean, cease evil, and learn to do well by seeking judgment, relieving the oppressed, and defending the fatherless and widow. The Lord invites them to reason together, promising that though their sins be as scarlet, they can become white as snow, and though red like crimson, they can be as wool, if they are willing and obedient. Conversely, refusal and rebellion will lead to destruction by the sword. The chapter concludes by lamenting Jerusalem's fall from a faithful city to one of murderers, with corrupt princes. Yet, the Lord promises to purge away her dross, restore righteous judges, and redeem Zion with judgment, so she will be called "The city of righteousness." Finally, transgressors and sinners who forsake the Lord will be consumed, shamed by their idolatrous practices, and will fade like a leaf or dry garden, burning together like tow.

Core Concepts

  • Israel's RebellionThe nation, despite being nurtured by the Lord, has turned away, becoming spiritually sick and laden with iniquity, failing to acknowledge or obey Him.
  • Vain WorshipThe Lord expresses His abhorrence for the multitude of sacrifices, new moons, and solemn assemblies, as they are performed by those whose hands are full of blood and injustice, rendering the rituals meaningless.
  • Call to RepentanceA divine invitation to cease evil, learn to do well, and seek justice for the oppressed, fatherless, and widow, promising forgiveness and cleansing for sins.
  • Promise of ForgivenessThe Lord offers that even sins as scarlet or crimson can be made white as snow or wool, contingent upon the people's willingness and obedience to His commands.
  • Consequences of Obedience/DisobedienceObedience will lead to eating the good of the land, while refusal and rebellion will result in destruction by the sword.
  • Jerusalem's Corruption and RestorationThe once faithful city has become corrupt with murderers and unjust leaders, but the Lord promises to purge her dross, restore righteous governance, and redeem her to be called "The city of righteousness."
  • Divine JudgmentThe chapter warns of the consumption of transgressors and sinners who forsake the Lord, likening their destruction to fading leaves and burning tow, while the righteous are preserved.