חֲזוֹן יְשַׁעְיָהוּ בֶן־אָמוֹץ אֲשֶׁר חָזָה עַל־יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם בִּימֵי עֻזִּיָּהוּ יוֹתָם אָחָז יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה׃ 1:1
Isai. 1:1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz that he beheld about Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah:
We learn from this first verse of the book, that Isaiah prophesied for a period of about fifty plus years, perhaps from about 750 BCE to about 700 BCE. [Return to Isai. 64:12]
Now notice that this first verse seems to be a summary of Isaiah’s ministry. Therefore, it could not have been written at the beginning of his prophetic activity, unless he somehow knew beforehand when he would complete his work . So if he was not prescient, one of two likely possibilities is apparent: (1) this verse was added later, perhaps after Isaiah had died, or upon his retirement, and (2) this chapter was not the first he recorded. In fact, it may have been the last, or near the last. The entire chapter itself is a good summary of Isaiah’s teachings. So he may have decided to place it first, following a familiar pattern I’ve identified before -- that of introducing a topic and subsequently enlarging upon it. Then it’s possible this chapter can be viewed as a summary of the next 65.
שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמַיִם וְהַאֲזִינִי אֶרֶץ כִּי יְהוָה דִּבֵּר בָּנִים גִּדַּלְתִּי וְרוֹמַמְתִּי וְהֵם פָּשְׁעוּ בִי׃ 1:2
Isai. 1:2 Hear, O heaven, and listen, O earth,
For the Lord is speaking:
“I have nourished and brought up children,
And they rebel against Me.”
יָדַע שׁוֹר קֹנֵהוּ וַחֲמוֹר אֵבוּס בְּעָלָיו יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָדַע עַמִּי לֹא הִתְבּוֹנָן׃ 1:3
Isai. 1:3 “An ox knows its owner,
And an ass, the crib of its master.
Israel does not know.
My people does not understand.”
הוֹי גּוֹי חֹטֵא עַם כֶּבֶד עָוֺן זֶרַע מְרֵעִים בָּנִים מַשְׁחִיתִים עָזְבוּ אֶת־יְהוָה נִאֲצוּ אֶת־קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נָזֹרוּ 1:4 אָחוֹר׃
Isai. 1:4 Alas, it is a nation of sin,
A people laden with iniquity,
A fruit of evil doers,
Children of corruption.
They have forsaken the Lord,
Blasphemed the Holy One of Israel,
They have turned backward.
עַל מֶה תֻכּוּ עוֹד תּוֹסִיפוּ סָרָה כָּל־רֹאשׁ לָחֳלִי וְכָל־לֵבָב דַּוָּי׃ 1:5
Isai. 1:5 Over what shall you be stricken,
As you increase rebellion more?
The whole head is diseased,
The whole heart faint.
מִכַּף־רֶגֶל וְעַד־רֹאשׁ אֵין־בּוֹ מְתֹם פֶּצַע וְחַבּוּרָה וּמַכָּה טְרִיָּה לֹא־זֹרוּ וְלֹא חֻבָּשׁוּ וְלֹא רֻכְּכָה בַּשָּׁמֶן׃ 1:6
Isai. 1:6 From the sole of the foot and up to the head
There is no soundness in it.
Putrefying wounds and bruises and sores
Have not closed and have not healed
And have not been softened with oil.
אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה עָרֵיכֶם שְׂרֻפוֹת אֵשׁ אַדְמַתְכֶם לְנֶגְדְּכֶם זָרִים אֹכְלִים אֹתָהּ וּשְׁמָמָה כְּמַהְפֵּכַת זָרִים׃ 1:7
Isai. 1:7 Your land is desolate,
Your cities are burning with fire.
Your soil, strangers are devouring it in your presence,
And it is as desolate as the discard of strangers.
וְנוֹתְרָה בַת־צִיּוֹן כְּסֻכָּה בְכָרֶם כִּמְלוּנָה בְמִקְשָׁה כְּעִיר נְצוּרָה׃ 1:8
Isai. 1:8 And the daughter of Zion
Is left like a booth in a vineyard,
Like a cabin in a cucumber patch,
Like a city besieged. [Return to Jere. 10:5]
לוּלֵי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת הוֹתִיר לָנוּ שָׂרִיד כִּמְעָט כִּסְדֹם הָיִינוּ לַעֲמֹרָה דָּמִינוּ׃ 1:9
Isai. 1:9 Were it not that the Lord of hosts
Is leaving a remnant for us so small,
We would be like Sodom,
We would be compared to Gomorrah.
שִׁמְעוּ דְבַר־יְהוָה קְצִינֵי סְדֹם הַאֲזִינוּ תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַם עֲמֹרָה׃ 1:10
Isai. 1:10 Hear the word of the Lord,
Rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the Torah of our God,
People of Gomorrah!
לָמָּה־לִּי רֹב־זִבְחֵיכֶם יֹאמַר יְהוָה שָׂבַעְתִּי עֹלוֹת אֵילִים וְחֵלֶב מְרִיאִים וְדַם פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים וְעַתּוּדִים 1:11 לֹא חָפָצְתִּי׃
Isai. 1:11 For “What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I am full of the burnt offerings, rams,
And the grease of fat beasts,
And I do not desire
The blood of bullocks and lambs and he-goats.” [Return to Psal. 40:7]
כִּי תָבֹאוּ לֵרָאוֹת פָּנָי מִי־בִקֵּשׁ זֹאת מִיֶּדְכֶם רְמֹס חֲצֵרָי׃ 1:12
Isai. 1:12 “When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires such from your hand,
Trampling My courts?”
לֹא תוֹסִיפוּ הָבִיא מִנְחַת־שָׁוְא קְטֹרֶת תּוֹעֵבָה הִיא לִי חֹדֶשׁ וְשַׁבָּת קְרֹא מִקְרָא לֹא־אוּכַל אָוֶן 1:13 וַעֲצָרָה׃
Isai. 1:13 “Do not continue bringing offerings of vanity
(It is an abominable perfume to Me),
Holding new moon and Sabbath convocations.
I will not endure wickedness and solemn assembly.”
חָדְשֵׁיכֶם וּמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם שָׂנְאָה נַפְשִׁי הָיוּ עָלַי לָטֹרַח נִלְאֵיתִי נְשֹׂא׃ 1:14
Isai. 1:14 “My ‘soul’ hates your new moons
And your appointed seasons.
They are for a ‘burden’ on Me
I am ‘weary’ of bearing.”
וּבְפָרִשְׂכֶם כַּפֵּיכֶם אַעְלִים עֵינַי מִכֶּם גַּם כִּי־תַרְבּוּ תְפִלָּה אֵינֶנִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יְדֵיכֶם דָּמִים מָלֵאוּ׃ 1:15
Isai. 1:15 “And when you spread forth your hands,
I will veil My ‘eyes’ from you.
Also when you multiply prayer,
I will not be there listening.
Your hands are too full of blood.”
רַחֲצוּ הִזַּכּוּ הָסִירוּ רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם מִנֶּגֶד עֵינָי חִדְלוּ הָרֵעַ׃ 1:16
Isai. 1:16 “Wash yourselves,
Become clean.
Remove the evil of your endeavors
From in front of my ‘eyes.’
Stop what is evil.”
לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט אַשְּׁרוּ חָמוֹץ שִׁפְטוּ יָתוֹם רִיבוּ אַלְמָנָה׃ 1:17
Isai. 1:17 “Learn to do good.
Seek justice,
Relieve the oppressed,
Vindicate the orphan,
Defend the widow.”
לְכוּ־נָא וְנִוָּכְחָה יֹאמַר יְהוָה אִם־יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ אִם־יַאְדִּימוּ כַתּוֹלָע כַּצֶּמֶר 1:18
יִהְיוּ׃
Isai. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together.
The Lord will say,
“Though your sins may be like scarlet,
They can be made white like snow.
Though they may be red like crimson,
They can be like wool.”
אִם־תֹּאבוּ וּשְׁמַעְתֶּם טוּב הָאָרֶץ תֹּאכֵלוּ׃ 1:19
Isai. 1:19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land.
וְאִם־תְּמָאֲנוּ וּמְרִיתֶם חֶרֶב תְּאֻכְּלוּ כִּי פִּי יְהוָה דִּבֵּר׃ 1:20
Isai. 1:20 But if you refuse and you rebel,
You shall eat the sword.
For the “mouth” of the Lord has spoken.
אֵיכָה הָיְתָה לְזוֹנָה קִרְיָה נֶאֱמָנָה מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט צֶדֶק יָלִין בָּהּ וְעַתָּה מְרַצְּחִים׃ 1:21
Isai. 1:21 How the faithful city,
So full of justice,
Has become to be a harlot!
The righteous dwelled in her,
But now, murderers.
כַּסְפֵּךְ הָיָה לְסִיגִים סָבְאֵךְ מָהוּל בַּמָּיִם׃ 1:22
Isai. 1:22 Your silver has become for dross,
Your wine, mixed with water.
שָׂרַיִךְ סוֹרְרִים וְחַבְרֵי גַּנָּבִים כֻּלּוֹ אֹהֵב שֹׁחַד וְרֹדֵף שַׁלְמֹנִים יָתוֹם לֹא יִשְׁפֹּטוּ וְרִיב אַלְמָנָה לֹא־יָבוֹא 1:23 אֲלֵיהֶם׃
Isai. 1:23 Your princes are rebellious
And friends of thieves,
Everyone a lover of bribes
And a follower of rewards.
They do not judge the orphan,
And the cause of the widow
Is not brought to them.
לָכֵן נְאֻם הָאָדוֹן יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל הוֹי אֶנָּחֵם מִצָּרַי וְאִנָּקְמָה מֵאוֹיְבָי׃ 1:24
Isai. 1:24 Therefore says the Lord, the Lord of hosts,
The Mighty One of Israel:
“Alas, I will ease Myself from My adversaries,
And avenge Myself of My enemies.”
וְאָשִׁיבָה יָדִי עָלַיִךְ וְאֶצְרֹף כַּבֹּר סִיגָיִךְ וְאָסִירָה כָּל־בְּדִילָיִךְ׃ 1:25
Isai. 1:25 “And I will set My hand on you again
And I will purify your dross like a cleanser
And I will take away all your alloy.”
וְאָשִׁיבָה שֹׁפְטַיִךְ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָה וְיֹעֲצַיִךְ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה אַחֲרֵי־כֵן יִקָּרֵא לָךְ עִיר הַצֶּדֶק קִרְיָה נֶאֱמָנָה׃ 1:26
Isai. 1:26 “And I will restore your judges like in the beginning,
And your counselors like in the beginning.
After this the name for you will be
The City of Righteousness,
The Faithful City.”
צִיּוֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּט תִּפָּדֶה וְשָׁבֶיהָ בִּצְדָקָה׃ 1:27
Isai. 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
And her returnees by righteousness.
וְשֶׁבֶר פֹּשְׁעִים וְחַטָּאִים יַחְדָּו וְעֹזְבֵי יְהוָה יִכְלוּ׃ 1:28
Isai. 1:28 But the destruction of the transgressors and the sinners
Shall be the same,
And the forsakers of the Lord;
They shall be consumed.
כִּי יֵבֹשׁוּ מֵאֵילִים אֲשֶׁר חֲמַדְתֶּם וְתַחְפְּרוּ מֵהַגַּנּוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתֶּם׃ 1:29
Isai. 1:29 For they shall become as dry
As the terebinths that you have desired,
And you shall be put to shame
As the gardens that you have chosen.
כִּי תִהְיוּ כְּאֵלָה נֹבֶלֶת עָלֶהָ וּכְגַנָּה אֲשֶׁר־מַיִם אֵין לָהּ׃ 1:30
Isai. 1:30 For you shall become like a teribinth,
Fallen of leaf, and like a garden
For which there is no water.
וְהָיָה הֶחָסֹן לִנְעֹרֶת וּפֹעֲלוֹ לְנִיצוֹץ וּבָעֲרוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו וְאֵין מְכַבֶּה׃ 1:31
Isai. 1:31 And the strong one shall be for tow
With his work for a spark,
And both of them shall burn together
And there will be none who can quench.
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