Isaiah 1:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water.

NIV: Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.

NASB: Your silver has become waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.

CSB: Your silver has become dross to be discarded, your beer is diluted with water.

NLT: Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine.

KJV: Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

NKJV: Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water.

Isaiah is describing the state of Jerusalem as representative of the sins of Judah. He has said that the city that was once faithful to the Lord has become a prostitute,(Isaiah 1:21) implying the participation of the people in the worship of false gods. Jerusalem is a now place where murderers escape justice.

In terms of quality, Jerusalem was once silver. But is now dross, the mix of silver and contaminating metals that has no value. She is also compared to once good, rich wine, but is now watered down wine that nobody wants to drink. In every way, life in Jerusalem and Judah has become abhorrent in the eyes of the Lord. If there is not change, destruction will become inevitable.

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).

Accessed 5/8/2024 12:35:04 AM