Isaiah 1:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

NIV: See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!

NASB: How the faithful city has become a prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.

CSB: The faithful town— what an adulteress she has become! She was once full of justice. Righteousness once dwelt in her, but now, murderers!

NLT: See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.

KJV: How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

NKJV: How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.

Isaiah begins a new section here, returning to the Lord's lawsuit against Israel. He adds charges to those stated before (Isaiah 1:2–4) to show how the people of Judah have broken their covenant with the Lord.

He is comparing the city of Jerusalem during Israel's glory days under David and Solomon to the state of the great city during present time. Jerusalem was once known as a city of people faithful to the Lord. The capital of Israel was known as a place of justice, where the righteous sought to reward those who did right and condemn those who did evil.

Here, Isaiah uses the uncomfortable, challenging parallel between false worship and sexual infidelity. In a spiritual way, the faithful city has become "a whore." The covenant relationship between God and Israel is often compared to a marriage in the Bible, especially by the prophets Jeremiah, Hosea, and Isaiah (Isaiah 54:5). Jerusalem, the once faithful wife, has become a prostitute. In other words, the people have cheated on the Lord. They are committing adultery by worshiping false gods Instead of the Lord, in hopes to get what they want from these false gods.

Also, instead of being famous for her justice, Jerusalem is now known as a place where murderers walk free. This may refer to those who take advantage of the poor and powerless to the point where they die in destitution.

Isaiah 1:21–31 focuses on the city of Jerusalem as representative of the people of Judah in Israel. Once faithful to God and known for justice, the city has become a prostitute and a town in which murderers walk free and leaders are friends with thieves. The Lord declares that He will purify the corruption from the city and return it to a place of justice. Those who repent will be redeemed. Those who don't will be broken and consumed. Those who have worshipped false gods will be embarrassed and then destroyed.

After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.

Isaiah 1 begins Isaiah's massive book of prophecy with the Lord presenting a lawsuit against His people Israel in Judah for breach of covenant. They live in rebellion against Him and are saturated in sin. They refuse to treat their spiritual illness and will be decimated by their enemies. Their offerings are meaningless. They must stop doing evil and start doing what is good. The Lord will burn off the corrupt from Jerusalem and return it to a place of justice and righteousness. Those who refuse to repent will be broken and destroyed.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).