Isaiah 1:16-17 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:16-20

THE REQUIREMENT OF GOD — AMENDMENT OF LIFE . God, having put aside the worthless plea of outward religiousness made by his people, goes on to declare, by the mouth of his prophet, what he requires. First, in general terms ( Isaiah 1:16 ), and then with distinct specification ( Isaiah 1:17 ), he calls on them to amend their ways, both negatively ("cease to do evil") and positively ("learn to do well"). If they will really amend, then he assures them of forgiveness and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:16-20

No return to God's favor without amendment of life. The outward show of religion, which the Israelites maintained, vain and futile as it was, seemed to indicate that they were not wholly irreclaimable—they did not desire to break altogether with God. The prophet, therefore, assumes that they would wish to know the way by which they may remove God's anger, and enter once more into favor with him; and he proceeds to point out that the one and only road open to them is to amend their ways—to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do well. Now comes the positive; first, in the general form" learn," etc.; which resembles the apostle's "Put on the armor of light" ( Romans 13:12 ). Then follow the particulars. Seek judgment ; or, seek out justice ; i.e. endeavor to get justice done to all men; see that they "have right." Relieve the oppressed. So the LXX ; the Vulgate, the Syriac, and the Chaldean Versions. But the word translated "oppressed" is thought by many to mean "oppressor" (Kimchi, Gesenius,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:16

Wash you - This is, of course, to be understood in a moral sense; meaning that they should put away their sins. Sin is represented in the Scriptures as defiling or polluting the soul Ezekiel 20:31; Ezekiel 23:30; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 9:4; and the removal of it is represented by the act of washing; Psalms 51:2 : ‘Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin;’ Jeremiah 4:14 : ‘O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved;’ Job 9:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do well - , To learn here is to become accustomed to, to practice it. To do well stands opposed to all kinds of evil. “Seek judgment.” The word “judgment” - משׁפט mishpâṭ - here means justice. The direction refers particularly to magistrates, and it is evident that the prophet had them particularly in his view in all this discourse. Execute justice between man and man with impartiality. The word “seek” - דרשׁוּ dı̂reshû - means to pursue, to search for, as an object to be gained; to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:16-17

Isaiah 1:16-17. Wash ye, make you clean Repent, and do works meet for repentance: cleanse your hearts and hands from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and do not content yourselves with your ceremonial washings. He refers to the charge preferred in the preceding clause, and alludes to the legal purifications commanded on several occasions: see Leviticus 14:8-9; Leviticus 14:47. Put away the evil, &c., from before mine eyes Reform yourselves thoroughly, that you may not only approve... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:10-31

Religious and moral corruption (1:10-31)No doubt the people thought they were pleasing God by offering sacrifices, attending public worship services, and keeping the special Israelite feasts; but because their everyday lives were full of sin, their religious exercises were hateful to God. No matter how correct the form of worship, God will not accept it unless the people show a corresponding zeal for right behaviour (10-15).The people must turn from their selfishness and treachery, and begin to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:16-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:16-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:16-17

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:10-31

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 1:16

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 1:17

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 1:17

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