Isaiah 1:18
New International Version
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

New Living Translation
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

English Standard Version
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Berean Standard Bible
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

New American Standard Bible
“Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.

NASB 1995
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

NASB 1977
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says Yahweh, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Amplified Bible
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.

Christian Standard Bible
“Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Come, let us discuss this,” says the LORD.” Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And come, we shall speak with each other, says LORD JEHOVAH, and if your sins will be as scarlet, they will be white as snow, and if they turn red as scarlet dye, they shall be as wool

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And come, let us reason together, saith the Lord: and though your sins be as purple, I will make them white as snow; and though they be as scarlet, I will make them white as wool.

Contemporary English Version
I, the LORD, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Come on now, let's discuss this!" says the LORD. "Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.

International Standard Version
"Please come, and let's reason together," implores the LORD. "Even though your sins are like scarlet, they'll be white like snow. Though they're like crimson, they'll become like wool.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
Now come, and we settle this,” says YHWH, “If your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow, | If they are red as crimson, they will be as wool!

Majority Standard Bible
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

New American Bible
Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool.

NET Bible
Come, let's consider your options," says the LORD. "Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.

New Revised Standard Version
Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

New Heart English Bible
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Webster's Bible Translation
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

World English Bible
“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Young's Literal Translation
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!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Meaningless Offerings
17Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” 18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.…

Cross References
Revelation 7:14
"Sir," I answered, "you know." So he replied, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Job 9:33
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 41:1
"Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.

Isaiah 41:21
"Present your case," says the LORD. "Submit your arguments," says the King of Jacob.

Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 43:26
Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.


Treasury of Scripture

Come now, and let us reason together, said 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.

and let us

Isaiah 41:21
Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isaiah 43:24-26
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities…

1 Samuel 12:7
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

though your

Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Micah 7:18,19
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy…

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Blood Crimson Dark Purple Reason Red Scarlet Seem Sins Snow Together White Wool
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














(18) Come now, and let us reason together.--The Authorised Version suggests the thought of a discussion between equals. The Hebrew implies rather the tone of one who gives an authoritative ultimatum, as from a judge to the accused, who had no defence, or only a sham defence, to offer (Micah 6:2-3). "Let us sum up the pleadings--that ultimatum is one of grace and mercy--'Repent, and be forgiven.'"

Though your sins be as scarlet.--The two colours probably corresponded to those now designated by the English words. Both words point to the dyes of Tyre, and the words probably received a fresh emphasis from the fact that robes of these colours were worn by the princes to whom Isaiah preached (2Samuel 1:24). To the prophet's eye that dark crimson was as the stain of blood. What Jehovah promises is that the guilt of the past, deep-dyed in grain as it might be, should be discharged, and leave the character with a restored purity. Men might dye their souls of this or that hue, but to bleach them was the work of God. He alone could transfigure them that they should be "white as snow" (Mark 9:3). Comp. the reproduction of the thought, with the added paradox that it was the crimson "blood of the lamb" that was to bleach and cleanse, in Revelation 3:4-5; Revelation 7:14. . . .

Verse 18. - Come now, and let us reason together. God has from time to time permitted man to reason with him (Genesis 18:23-32; Exodus 4:1-17; Job 23:3-7; Micah 6:2); but it is difficult to see that there is any "reasoning" or "controversy" here. Mr. Cheyne translates, "Let us bring our dispute to an end." Though your sins be as scarlet... like crimson; i.e. "open, evident, glaring." Or there may be an allusion to their blood-guiltiness (see vers. 15, 19). They shall be as white as snow. Comp. Psalm 51:7, which is completely parallel, whether it was written before or after. There can be no better image of, purity than snow (comp. Job 9:30; Lamentations 4:7). As wool. A weaker illustration than the preceding one, but needed for the parallelism. (The resemblance of falling snow to wool is noted in Psalm 147:16.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Come
לְכוּ־ (lə·ḵū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

now,
נָ֛א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let us reason together,”
וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖ה (wə·niw·wā·ḵə·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

says
יֹאמַ֣ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“Though
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

your sins
חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם (ḥă·ṭā·’ê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2399: A crime, its penalty

are
יִֽהְי֨וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like scarlet,
כַּשָּׁנִים֙ (kaš·šā·nîm)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8144: Crimson, the insect, its color, stuff dyed with it

they will be as white
יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ (yal·bî·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3835: To be, white, to make bricks

as snow;
כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג (kaš·še·leḡ)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7950: Snow

though
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they are as red
יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ (ya’·dî·mū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 119: Flush, turn rosy

as crimson,
כַתּוֹלָ֖ע (ḵat·tō·w·lā‘)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8438: The crimson-grub, of the color, from it, cloths dyed therewith

they will become
יִהְיֽוּ׃ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like wool.
כַּצֶּ֥מֶר (kaṣ·ṣe·mer)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6785: Wool


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 1:18 Come now and let us reason together (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 1:17
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