The Meaning of Isaiah 1:16 Explained

Isaiah 1:16

KJV: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

YLT: Wash ye, make ye pure, Turn aside the evil of your doings, from before Mine eyes, Cease to do evil, learn to do good.

Darby: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil,

ASV: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wash  you, make you clean;  put away  the evil  of your doings  from before  mine eyes;  cease  to do evil; 

What does Isaiah 1:16 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 1:16 mean?

Wash yourselves make yourselves clean Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes Cease to do evil
רַחֲצוּ֙ הִזַּכּ֔וּ הָסִ֛ירוּ רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מִנֶּ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י חִדְל֖וּ הָרֵֽעַ

רַחֲצוּ֙  Wash  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
הִזַּכּ֔וּ  make  yourselves  clean 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: זָכָה  
Sense: to be clean, be pure, be clear.
הָסִ֛ירוּ  Put  away 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
רֹ֥עַ  the  evil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹעַ  
Sense: badness, evil.
מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם  of  your  doings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מַעֲלִיל 
Sense: deed, practice.
מִנֶּ֣גֶד  from  before 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
עֵינָ֑י  My  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
חִדְל֖וּ  Cease 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָדַל 
Sense: to stop, cease, desist, forego, cease to be, leave undone, forbear.
הָרֵֽעַ  to  do  evil 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.