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1Here is the vision that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, received by divine revelation concerning what was going to happen to Judah and Jerusalem during the times of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.[#1:1 Or “prophecy.” This refers to the entire book as a divine revelation from God. The Hebrew word chazown means “to see spiritually,” “to have a revelation or dream,” or “to receive an oracle.” This word was commonly used to describe how the prophets received divine communication.; #1:1 It is believed that Isaiah was an aristocrat, a member of the royal family, and the nephew of King Uzziah. His father, Amoz, was the brother of King Amaziah.; #1:1 Even the names mentioned in v. 1 have something to teach us. Isaiah means “ is salvation [victory].” Amoz means “to be made strong or courageous.” Judah means “praise.” Jerusalem means “the teaching of peace (wholeness).” Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah (“the power of ” or “mighty is ”), Jotham (“the one makes perfect” or “ is upright”), Ahaz (“possessor” or “to lay hold of”), and Hezekiah (“strengthened by ” or “the one makes firm”). Here is what the meanings in the names of v. 1 teach us: We can see that prophetic vision from a courageous prophet imparts the power of , which releases those whom makes perfect to maturity. They will be possessors and those who lay hold of heaven’s promises until they are strengthened by and made firm in all their ways! All of this will take place in the land of praise and in the teaching of peace.]
2Listen, O heavens! Hear, O earth![#1:2 The Hebrew is literally “ear me.”]
For the Lord Yahweh has spoken:
“I tenderly nurtured children and made them great,
but they have rebelled against me!
3Even a dumb ox instinctively knows its owner
and the stubborn mule knows the hand that feeds it,
but Israel does not know me
nor do my people understand.”
4Oh, how this nation keeps sinning![#1:4 Or “Alas” or “Woe.” The Hebrew word ( hoy ) was used at funerals as a lament.]
See them dragging the heavy burden of their guilt!
They are corrupt children, descendants of evildoers.
They have turned their backs on the Lord God
and despised the Holy One of Israel!
They have cut themselves off from the help of God!
5Why would you seek to be injured further?
Why would you stubbornly continue in your rebellion?
Your whole head is sick,
and your heart and your will are weak and faint.
6You are corrupt from the bottom of your feet
to the top of your head. There is no integrity —
nothing but bruises, putrefying sores, and raw open wounds!
They have not been drained or bandaged or soothed with oil.
7Your country is devastated
and your cities burned to the ground;
foreigners plunder your crops before your eyes—
with nothing but devastation and destruction in their wake!
8And the daughter of Zion is left as helpless as[#1:8 Even during devastation, God called his people the “daughter of Zion.” God’s people are his daughter, born out of Zion, the holy realm. Instead of being his dwelling place, they have become like a flimsy hut. The work of God, as seen in the book of Isaiah, is to restore this “hut” to the place of the divine shelter or dwelling place (see Isa. 66). Even the besieged city will one day become the New Jerusalem, where God and humanity mingle as one.]
a deserted shack in a vineyard or
a flimsy shelter in a field of cucumbers—
in every way like a city besieged!
9If the Lord of Angel Armies had not left us survivors,[#1:9 Or “the Lord of every sort of host” or “ , who is hosts.”]
our fate would have been the same as Sodom and Gomorrah!
10Hear the word of Yahweh :[#1:10 Isaiah used this command twenty-three times in this book.]
“You leaders of Sodom, heed the correction of our God!
People of Gomorrah, you’d better listen to his rebuke.”
11And Yahweh keeps saying:
“Why such countless sacrifices—what use are they to me?
I’ve had my fill of your burnt offerings of rams
and your fattened animals.
I find no delight in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats!
12When you come before my face,
who asked you to come trampling on my courtyards?
13Stop bringing your meaningless offerings.[#1:13 Or “your gifts of nothing.”]
Your burning incense stinks!
Your sin-stained celebrations,
your new moon festivals, Sabbaths,
your various pious meetings—I can’t stand them!
14With all my soul I hate[#1:14 God has a soul with emotions and desires. He is perfect throughout.]
your new moon festivals and your feasts;
they are nothing but a burden
that I’m sick and tired of carrying.
15When you stretch out your hands to pray,
I will hide my eyes from you.
Repeat your prayers all you want, but I will not listen,
for your hands are stained with innocent blood.
16Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
Remove your evil actions from my sight
and stop sinning!
17Learn what it means to do what is good
by seeking righteousness and justice!
Rescue the oppressed. Uphold the rights of the fatherless
and defend the widow’s cause.
18Come now and let’s deliberate over the next steps to take together.”[#1:18 Or “Come now and let us argue it out together.” This is taken from the Hebrew word yākah , which has clear judicial overtones with an implication of a verdict in court.]
Yahweh promises you over and over:
“Though your sins stain you like scarlet,
I will whiten them like bright, new-fallen snow!
Even though they are deep red like crimson,
they will be made white like wool!
19If you have a willing heart to let me help you,
and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings
of an abundant harvest.
20But if you are stubborn and refuse to obey,
the sword will eat you instead.”
The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.
21Look how the once faithful city
has become as unfaithful as a prostitute!
She who was once the “Center of Justice,”
where righteousness made its home,
is now the dwelling place of murderers!
22She was once like sterling silver, now only mixture;
once so pure, now diluted like watered-down wine.
23Your rulers are rebellious and companions of crooks.
They are self-centered racketeers
who love a bribe and who chase after payoffs.
They don’t defend the fatherless
or consider the rights of a helpless widow.
24Therefore, here is what the Sovereign One,
the Lord God of Angel Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, decrees:
“Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries
and avenge myself on my foes!
25I will put my fiery hand upon you
and purify you with fire into something clean.”
26“I will restore deliverers as in former times
and your wise counselors as at the beginning.
Only then will you be called the Righteous City
and the Faithful City!”
27Yes , Zion will be redeemed with justice
and her repentant converts with righteousness.
28There will be a shattering of rebels and sinners together,
and those who forsake the Lord will be consumed.
29You will reap shame from the idols you once delighted in
and you will be humiliated by your cultic sacred groves,
where you chose to worship.
30You will be like an oak tree with faded, fallen leaves
and like a withered, waterless garden.
31The “powerful elite” will become like kindling
and their evil deeds like sparks—both will burn together
and no one will be able to put out the fire.