The Meaning of Isaiah 1:18 Explained

Isaiah 1:18

KJV: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

YLT: Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be!

Darby: Come now, let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

ASV: Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Come now,  and let us reason together,  saith  the LORD:  though your sins  be as scarlet,  they shall be as white  as snow;  though they be red  like crimson,  they shall be as wool. 

What does Isaiah 1:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 1:10-20 - Religion Without Righteousness Vain
The prophet points out, first the misery that had overtaken the country, Isaiah 1:4-9; and then the sins of the ruling classes, Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 1:21-23. What may be called personal and private sins, such as drunkenness, vanity, bribery, and the oppression of the poor, are viewed in their public hearing, as bringing wrath and disaster on the whole nation. No man can sin by himself. His most private sins react on the whole community. Thistle-down floats far and wide. In reply, the nation pointed to the splendid ritual and innumerable sacrifices of the Temple service. But these observances only added to the tale of their sins, because they were formal and perfunctory. The sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart. The outward is absolutely worthless, unless it is the expression of the inward and the spiritual. But where a pure and holy spirit is present, the simplest forms are magnificent in their significance and value. To atone becomes the base of a ladder to heaven, and the thorn-bush flames with Deity. But forgiveness is freely offered to the guilty. Crimson and scarlet are the most lasting of all colors, and their removal impresses the completeness of God's pardoning love. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 1

1  Isaiah complains of Judah for her rebellion
5  He laments her judgments
10  He upbraids their whole service
16  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
21  Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God's judgments
25  He promises grace
28  And threatens destruction to the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 1:18 mean?

Come now and let us reason together says Yahweh Though are your sins like scarlet as snow they shall be as white they are red like crimson as wool they shall be
לְכוּ־ נָ֛א וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אִם־ יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ כַתּוֹלָ֖ע כַּצֶּ֥מֶר יִהְיֽוּ

לְכוּ־  Come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
נָ֛א  now 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה  and  let  us  reason  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: יָכַח  
Sense: to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right.
יֹאמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אִם־  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם  your  sins 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: חֵטְא  
Sense: sin.
כַּשָּׁנִים֙  like  scarlet 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁנִי  
Sense: scarlet, crimson.
כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג  as  snow 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁלֶג 
Sense: snow.
יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ  they  shall  be  as  white 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָבַן 
Sense: to be white.
יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ  they  are  red 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָדֵם  
Sense: to be red, red.
כַתּוֹלָ֖ע  like  crimson 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּולָע 
Sense: worm, scarlet stuff, crimson.
כַּצֶּ֥מֶר  as  wool 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶמֶר  
Sense: wool.
יִהְיֽוּ  they  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.