Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Isaiah 1:21

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Church;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jerusalem;   Murder;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Harlot;   Isaiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Prostitution;   Zion;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Murder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Harlot;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Antichrist;   Babylon, Mystical;   Beast;   Harlot;   Jerusalem;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Immorality;   Isaiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gift, Giving;   Isaiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Harlot ;   Synagogue;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Harlot;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crime;   Divorce in Old Testament;   Isaiah;   Joel (2);   Poetry, Hebrew;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Adultery;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ekah (Lamentations) Rabbati;   Lamentations;   Melchizedek;   Shabbat Naḥamu;   Sin;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Look at Jerusalem. She was a faithful city. What made her become like a prostitute? In the past, Jerusalem was filled with justice, and goodness should live there now. Instead, there are murderers.
New Living Translation
See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.
Update Bible Version
How has the faithful city become a prostitute! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
New Century Version
The city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord , but she is no longer loyal to him. She used to be filled with fairness; people there lived the way God wanted. But now, murderers live there.
New English Translation
How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.
Webster's Bible Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
World English Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, But now murderers.
Amplified Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute [idolatrous, despicable], She who was full of justice! Right standing with God once lodged in her, But now murderers.
English Standard Version
How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Hou is the feithful citee ful of dom maad an hoore? riytfulnesse dwellide ther ynne; but now menquelleris dwellen ther ynne.
English Revised Version
How is the faithful city become an harlot! she that was full of judgment! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Berean Standard Bible
See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
Contemporary English Version
Jerusalem, you are like an unfaithful wife. Once your judges were honest and your people lived right; now you are a city full of murderers.
American Standard Version
How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Bible in Basic English
The upright town has become untrue; there was a time when her judges gave right decisions, when righteousness had a resting-place in her, but now she is full of those who take men's lives.
Complete Jewish Bible
How the faithful city has become a whore! Once she was filled with justice, righteousness lodged in her; but now murderers!
Darby Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness used to lodge in it, but now murderers.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
King James Version (1611)
Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, righteousnesse lodged in it; but now murtherers.
New Life Bible
The faithful city has become like a woman who sells the use of her body. At one time she was full of what was right and fair! Those who are right and good lived in her, but now those who kill.
New Revised Standard
How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her— but now murderers!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, and iustice lodged therein, but now they are murtherers.
George Lamsa Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! For once it was full of justice; and righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.
Good News Translation
The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How hath she become unchaste! - The city that was Faithful, - Full of justice, Righteousness lodged in her, But, now, murderers!
Douay-Rheims Bible
How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers.
Revised Standard Version
How the faithful city has become a harlot, she that was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe happeneth it then that the righteous citie which was full of equitie, is become vnfaythfull as a whore? Righteousnesse dwelt in it, but nowe murtherers.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
How has the faithful city Sion, once full of judgement, become a harlot! wherein righteousness lodged, but now murderers.
Christian Standard Bible®
The faithful town—what an adulteress she has become!She was once full of justice.Righteousness once dwelt in her,but now, murderers!
Hebrew Names Version
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, But now murderers.
King James Version
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Lexham English Bible
How has a faithful city become like a whore? Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Literal Translation
Oh how the faithful city has become a harlot! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it. But now, murderers!
Young's Literal Translation
How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it -- now murderers.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
How happeneth it then that the rightuous citie (which was full of equite) is become vnfaithfull as an whore? rightuousnes dwelt in it, but now murthur.
THE MESSAGE
Oh! Can you believe it? The chaste city has become a whore! She was once all justice, everyone living as good neighbors, And now they're all at one another's throats. Your coins are all counterfeits. Your wine is watered down. Your leaders are turncoats who keep company with crooks. They sell themselves to the highest bidder and grab anything not nailed down. They never stand up for the homeless, never stick up for the defenseless.
New American Standard Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.
Legacy Standard Bible
How the faithful city has become a harlot,She who was full of justice!Righteousness once lodged in her,But now murderers.

Contextual Overview

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, 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 do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. 24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies. 25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. 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, the faithful city." 27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness. 28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 29 For they [fn] shall be ashamed of the terebinth treesWhich you have desired;And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardensWhich you have chosen. 30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden that has no water.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the faithful: Isaiah 48:2, Nehemiah 11:1, Psalms 46:4, Psalms 48:1, Psalms 48:8, Hosea 11:12, Zechariah 8:3, Hebrews 12:22

become: Jeremiah 2:20, Jeremiah 2:21, Jeremiah 3:1, Lamentations 1:8, Lamentations 1:9, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 22:1 - Ezekiel 23:49, Luke 13:34, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 11:8

it was full: Isaiah 5:7, 2 Samuel 8:15, 2 Chronicles 19:9, Ezekiel 22:3-7, Micah 3:2, Micah 3:3, Zephaniah 3:1-3, Acts 7:52

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:13 - all Ezra 4:12 - bad city Psalms 12:1 - godly Isaiah 1:26 - thou shalt Isaiah 5:2 - he looked Isaiah 59:3 - your hands Jeremiah 30:15 - for the Jeremiah 31:23 - O Lamentations 1:6 - from Lamentations 4:1 - How is the gold Ezekiel 5:13 - I will cause Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Ezekiel 16:35 - O harlot Hosea 2:5 - their mother Hosea 4:18 - drink Habakkuk 1:4 - for Luke 18:3 - a widow Acts 24:25 - righteousness Revelation 21:2 - the holy

Cross-References

Genesis 1:18
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:25
And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all [fn] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Genesis 1:31
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.
Genesis 7:14
they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.
Genesis 8:17
Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
Genesis 8:19
Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.
Genesis 9:7
And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How is the faithful city become a harlot!.... The city of Jerusalem, in which were the temple, and the pure worship of God, and was in the tribe of Judah, which ruled with God, and was very faithful with the saints when the ten tribes revolted, and fell in with the sin of Jeroboam; but now, in Isaiah's time, was become like a treacherous wife to her husband, unfaithful to the Lord, went after other lovers, committed spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry, with stocks and stones; and in the times of Christ were a wicked and an adulterous generation, corrupting the word and worship of God; see Matthew 12:39

it was full of judgment; strict justice was exercised privately between man and man, as well as in the public courts of judicature;

righteousness lodged in it; that is, righteous men, who walked in all the commandments of the Lord, and lived soberly, righteously, and godly; see 2 Peter 3:13

but now murderers: of the prophets whom they stoned, who were sent unto them, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom they were the betrayers and murderers; see Matthew 23:37.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How is - This is an expression of deploring, or lamenting. It indicates that that had occurred which was matter of grief. The prophet had stated the principles of the divine government; had urged the people to reason with God; and had affirmed his willingness to pardon. But it was seen that they would not repent. They were so wicked and perverse, that there was no hope of their reformation. His mind is full of this subject; he repeats the charge of their wickedness Isaiah 1:21-23, and states what must be the consequences.

The faithful city - Jerusalem. It is represented here under the image of a wife - once faithful to her husband; once a devoted and attached partner. Jerusalem was thus once. In former days, it was the seat of the pure worship of God; the place where his praise was celebrated, and where his people came to offer sincere devotion. In the Scriptures, the church is often represented under the image of a wife, to denote the tenderness and sacredness of the union; Hosea 2:19-20; Isaiah 62:5; Isaiah 54:6; Revelation 21:9.

An harlot - She has proved to be false, treacherous, unfaithful. The unfaithfulness of the people of God, particularly their idolatry, is often represented under the idea of unfaithfulness to the marriage contract; Jeremiah 3:8-9; Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 13:27; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:32; Ezekiel 23:37; Joshua 2:2; Joshua 4:2.

It was full of judgement - It was distinguished for justice and righteousness.

Lodged in it - This is a figurative expression, meaning that it was characterized as a righteous city. The word ילין yālı̂yn is from לוּן lûn, to pass the night, to remain through the night Genesis 19:2; and then to lodge, to dwell; Psalms 25:13; Job 17:2; Job 29:19. In this place it has the sense of abiding, remaining, continuing permanently. Jerusalem was the home of justice, where it found protection and safety.

Now murderers - By murderers here are meant probably unjust judges; people who did not regard the interests of the poor, the widow, and the orphan; and who therefore, by a strong expression, are characterized as murderers. They had displaced justice from its home; and had become the permanent inhabitants of the city; compare the note at Isaiah 1:15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 1:21. Become a harlot — See before, the Discourse on the Prophetic Style; and see Lowth's Comment on the place, and De Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. xxxi.


 
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