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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Isaiah 1:21

How is the faithful city, Jerusalem with its representative inhabitants, formerly excelling in faithfulness to Jehovah, become an harlot, given to spiritual adultery or idolatry! It was full of judgment, justice in agreement with the Law of God being practiced in the city; righteousness lodged in it, being at home there at one time; but now murderers, for violence, tyranny, oppression are transgressions of the Fifth Commandment.

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See also Isaiah 1:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Isaiah 1:21. _BECOME A HARLOT_] See before, the Discourse on the Prophetic Style; and see Lowth's Comment on the place, and De Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. xxxi....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HOW IS - This is an expression of deploring, or lamenting. It indicates that that had occurred which was matter of grief. The prophet had stated the principles of the divine government; had urged the...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS The reader will find that every chapter has been analyzed as to its contents. We have not made copious annotations, because the three lectures on the book of Isaiah as found a...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A complete poem, of uncertain date, in elegiac rhythm. How has the city once loyal to Yahweh become faithless to her husband! Her silver has become dross, her wine adulterated. Her princes rebel again...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IS. [is it that she]....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HOW IS THE FAITHFUL CITY BECOME AN HARLOT— Though the Lord, in the preceding part of the chapter, had suggested to the wicked and the hypocrites a method of returning to his favour, yet he foresaw tha...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. THE JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED Isaiah 1:21-31 a. REASON FOR JUDGMENT, THE CORRUPT CITY TEXT: Isaiah 1:21-23 21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodg...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. HOW IS THE FAITHFUL CITY BECOME AN HARLOT! "Faithful" - as a wife (; ; Hosea 2:19...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JEHOVAH'S ARRAIGNMENT OF HIS PEOPLE This chapter is general in character, and much of it (e.g. Isaiah 1:10) might refer to almost any period. This general character of the prophecy renders it especial...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AN HARLOT] figuratively expressing the faithlessness, through its idolatry, of the nation which had been betrothed to God: cp. Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 31:16. JUDGMENT] i.e. justice, as in Isaiah 1:1...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS ISAIAH DECLARES HOW GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIVING ISAIAH CHAPTER S 1 TO 9 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 1 WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT V1 Messages about Judah and *Jerus...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    True religion is a relationship of love with God. That love for God will affect all people’s relationships with each other. Water that someone adds to *wine affects all the *wine. So lack of love for...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HOW IS THE FAITHFUL CITY BECOME AN HARLOT!... — The opening word, as in Lamentations 1:1, is the key-note of an elegiac wail, which opens a new section. The idea of prostitution as representing aposta...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְ זֹונָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER I THE ARGUMENT OF THE LORD AND ITS CONCLUSION Isaiah 1:1 -His General Preface THE first chapter of the Book of Isaiah owes its position not to its date, but to its character. It was publishe...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A NATION PURGED OF DROSS BY DISASTER Isaiah 1:21-31 The great lover of our souls does not abandon His people even when they spurn the first overtures of His appealing pity. Though they refuse to yiel...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Isaiah was a prophet to Judah. He exercised his ministry wholly within her borders, and with a view to her correction and comfort. His burdens of the nations were uttered concerning those nations whic...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    How is the (d) faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now (e) murderers. (d) That is, Jerusalem, which had promised happiness to me, as a wife to her...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Under these figures of speech, are represented the sad fall of our nature. It forms in language a beautiful, though in reality, an awful account. But, Reader, painful as it is to know, yet it is profi...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    21._How is the faithful city become an harlot _! In order to make the rebuke more forcible, and the crime of the people more shocking, in having thus departed from God and from all uprightness, he cri...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Isaiah 1 begins with a testimony to the sad condition of the people. They were all wounds and corruption. It was useless to chastise them any more. Their ceremonies were an abomination to Jehovah. He...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    HOW IS THE FAITHFUL CITY BECOME A HARLOT!.... The city of Jerusalem, in which were the temple, and the pure worship of God, and was in the tribe of Judah, which ruled with God, and was very faithful w...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Ver. 21. _How is the faithful city._] Here beginneth, as some think, a new sermon; a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _How is the faithful city_ Jerusalem, which in the reign of former kings was faithful to God; _become a harlot_ Filled with idolatry, called whoredom in the Scriptures. _It was full of judgment_, &c....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HOW, a note of admiration at so strange, and sad, and sudden a change, IS THE FAITHFUL CITY, Jerusalem, which in the reign of former kings was faithful to God, BECOME AN HARLOT is filled with idolatry...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 1:21 faithful H539 (H8737) city H7151 harlot H2181 (H8802) full H4392 justice H4941 Righteousness H6664 lodged...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THEIR STATE BEFORE GOD (ISAIAH 1:21). Isaiah 1:21 ‘How is the faithful city, Become a prostitute? She who was full of discerning judgment. Righteousness lodged in her, B...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE FUTURE (ISAIAH 1:21). The call having been made to Israel for response, God describes their present state and guarantees that in the end He will bring their transformation about...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ISAIAH OUTLINES THE MESSAGE HE IS BRINGING (ISAIAH 1:1). This introductory message is also presented in balanced chiastic form. a He calls on Creation to be aware of God's judgment on His people (Is...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Charge against Israel for their ingratitude and degeneration. Call to repentance and reformation. CHARACTERS: God, Isaiah. CONCLUSION: The backslidings of those who have professed relations...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 1:1. _The vision._ What the prophet saw with the eyes of his mind, concerning the state of Judah and Jerusalem, his ministry being chiefly confined to the kingdom of Judea. _Isaiah, the son of...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _How is the faithful city become an harlot_ THE FAITHFUL CITY A HARLOT A dirge in dirge metre over Jerusalem. “Harlot” is unfaithful wife. In Isaiah “unfaithfulness” is declension from social and c...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken_ GOD FINDS VINDICATION IN NATURE I well remember two funerals going out of my house within a few brief months during my residence in...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 1:1 Introduction: “Ah, Sinful Nation!” The prophet rebukes God’s people and calls them to obey God’s word. He promises miraculous grace beyond judgment....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    MORAL DECLENSION Isaiah 1:21. _How is the faithful city become an harlot!_ [430] _It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers_ [433] Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mix...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    AN ILLUSTRIOUS INHABITANT Isaiah 1:21. _Righteousness lodged in it_. I. A HIGH COMMENDATION. Righteousness lodged in the city—not merely visited it as a passing guest, but dwelt in it as a permanent...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    PART I.—EARLIER PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH (CH. 1-35.) SECTION I.—THE GREAT ARRAIGNMENT (Isaiah 1:1.). EXPOSITION Isaiah 1:1

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The book of Isaiah is a marvelous book of prophecy. Of course, it is the longest book of prophecy in the Bible, and it would seem that God gave to Isaiah a clearer vision of the redemptive work of Jes...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Chronicles 19:9; 2 Samuel 8:15; Acts 7:52; Ezekiel 16:1; Ezekie

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The city — Jerusalem, which in the reign of former kings was faithful to God. An harlot — Is filled with idolatry. Murderers — Under that one gross kind, he comprehends all sorts of unrighteous men an...

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