ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Isaiah 1

Isa. 1:1–5:30 Introduction: “Ah, Sinful Nation!” The prophet rebukes God’s people and calls them to obey God’s word. He promises miraculous grace beyond judgment.

Isa. 1:1–31 Isaiah explains why the people of Judah are in crisis. They do not comprehend that they have forsaken God, abused their worship, and corrupted their society.

Isa. 1:1 The superscription for the entire book. vision. A message from God (1 Sam. 3:1; Ezek. 7:26), often given in symbolic form.

Isa. 1:2 heavens . . . earth. Isaiah calls the entire universe as a faithful witness to God’s word (Deut. 30:19; Ps. 50:4). Children . . . they. These emphatic words highlight the contrast between God’s grace and his people’s ingratitude. That is how Isaiah summarizes Israel’s history up to his time. Israel as a whole is God’s “son” (Ex. 4:22–23), and individual Israelites are also “sons” (see esv footnote and Deut. 14:1). The privilege of being God’s children should have led to gratitude, but it did not. rebelled. See Isa. 66:24.

Isa. 1:4 sinful. Isaiah uses several Hebrew words for sin (translated here as iniquity and corruptly) to reveal to the people their true character. the Holy One of Israel. This is Isaiah’s most frequent title for God, occurring 25 times in the book. To despise the “Holy One” is to reject all that God is.

Isa. 1:10–17 God rejects his people’s worship, however extravagant, because they use it as an excuse not to help the weak.

Isa. 1:11 sacrifices . . . burnt offerings. Isaiah criticizes the way people have disconnected the sacrifices from their proper purpose. Apparently they were treating their worship as a way of manipulating God. See note on Amos 4:4–5.

Isa. 1:18–20 let us reason together. The people are urged to consider their actual position before God. though your sins are like scarlet . . . red like crimson. Their hands, red with blood (v. 15), can be cleansed (Ps. 51:7). But they must deliberately choose to repent (Isa. 1:19–20).

Isa. 1:24–28 the Lord . . . the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel. See note on 1 Sam. 1:3. God’s judgment on his people is not the end of the story. The purpose of judgment is to smelt away the dross, that is, to remove the unbelieving members of the people (rebels and sinners, those who forsake the Lord). Afterward, what remains will be a chastened people of God, those . . . who repent (that is, who turn their hearts to God). The word redeemed here means rescued or protected (see note on Isa. 41:14). The prophet looks forward to a cleansed people restored to its mission (see 2:1–5).