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.

Isaiah 1:18 nkjv

"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.

Isaiah 1:18 niv

"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.

Isaiah 1:18 esv

"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.

Isaiah 1:18 nlt

"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.

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 18 Meaning

Isaiah 1:18 presents a gracious divine invitation from God to His people, Judah, who are deeply steeped in sin and rebellion. Despite the severe indictment against their spiritual and moral corruption, God calls them to engage in a spiritual dialogue, promising radical cleansing and forgiveness. The verse uses vivid color metaphors—scarlet and crimson symbolizing indelible, pervasive sin—contrasted with snow and wool, representing absolute purity and transformation. It declares God's unparalleled ability and willingness to fully absolve and purify, offering reconciliation and a new beginning irrespective of the depth of their transgressions, provided they are willing to respond to His call.

Isaiah 1 18 Context

Isaiah chapter 1 serves as an overarching indictment against Judah and Jerusalem for their profound spiritual corruption, moral decay, and empty religious observance. God addresses them as "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" (v. 10), metaphors for extreme wickedness. He details their rebellion, the pervasive nature of their sin which has made them like a "diseased" body (vv. 5-6), and their futile sacrifices without genuine repentance (vv. 11-15). He calls them to truly "seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause" (v. 17). Verse 18 then marks a crucial turning point, a pause in the judgment pronouncements, presenting a divine offer of reconciliation and cleansing before the ultimate consequences detailed in verses 19-20 if they refuse to respond. It demonstrates God's persistent grace and patience despite His people's stubbornness.

Isaiah 1 18 Word analysis

• "Come now" (לְכוּ־נָא - lek-oo-na): An imperative of invitation and urgency. It's a divine summons, initiating the dialogue. It underscores God's willingness to engage and initiate the process of reconciliation. It signifies a personal and direct appeal, not a forceful command, reflecting God's patient yearning.
• "and let us reason together" (וְנִוָּכְחָה - wə-nīwāḵḥāh): From the root יכח (yākaḥ), which means to argue, to arbitrate, to contend, to correct, or to be convinced. It implies a legal or judicial context, where arguments are presented to determine guilt or innocence, or to settle a dispute. God invites them to present their case, not because His judgment is unclear, but to clarify their understanding of His just character and His redemptive plan. It suggests God is not just commanding but willing to engage in dialogue, inviting understanding rather than blind submission.
• "says the LORD" (אָמַר יְהוָה - āmar Yahweh): This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and the personal nature of the invitation. YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, is the one extending this offer. It validates the sincerity and power of the promise that follows.
• "though your sins" (אִם־יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם - im yihyu ḥaṭāʾêḵem): "Sins" (ḥaṭāʾîm) denotes missing the mark, moral failures, and rebellion against God's law. The "though" implies the recognition of the extreme gravity and extent of their transgressions, acknowledging the visible and deep stains.
• "like scarlet" (כַשָּׁנִים - kaššānîm): Scarlet dye was notoriously fast, deep, and difficult to remove, made from the cochineal insect. This vivid red color vividly symbolizes the deep-seated, persistent, and outwardly evident nature of their guilt and moral defilement. It highlights the perceived permanence of their transgression.
• "they shall be as white as snow" (כַשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ - kaššeleḡ yaḥlbīnū): Snow, untouched and pristine, is a powerful biblical metaphor for absolute purity and cleanliness (Ps 51:7, Lam 4:7). The verb "make white" (yalbinu) signifies a complete and radical transformation from deep stain to unsullied purity, an act only God can perform. It indicates total forgiveness and restoration, not just concealment of sin.
• "though they are red like crimson" (אִם־יַאְדִּימוּ כַתּוֹלָע - im yaʾdīmū khattôlā‘): "Crimson" (tôla‘) refers to another intensely deep, indelible red dye, often extracted from a similar insect (tola'at shani). The repetition emphasizes the entrenched and severe nature of the sin, reiterating the powerful visual of deep, almost black, red. This parallel phrase intensifies the contrast that follows.
• "they shall become like wool" (כַצֶּמֶר יִהְיוּ - kaṣṣemer yihyu): Raw wool is naturally white and soft, associated with cleanliness, innocence, and warmth. In biblical contexts, white wool could be associated with sacrificial lambs (pure offering) or even divine appearance (Dan 7:9). Like snow, it underscores the complete and pure cleansing offered, representing an intrinsic change from moral impurity to spiritual purity and restoration to a righteous standing before God.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Come now, and let us reason together": This phrase underlines God's initiative, patience, and desire for restorative justice rather than immediate punitive judgment. It’s an invitation to a formal deliberation, highlighting God’s willingness to present His case and for His people to understand His terms for reconciliation. It points to a divine encounter where truth and justice are to be weighed.
• "though your sins are like scarlet... though they are red like crimson": The parallel use of "scarlet" and "crimson" strongly emphasizes the ingrained, pervasive, and seemingly indelible nature of the people's sin. It paints a vivid picture of extreme moral defilement, stressing that human effort cannot remove such deep stains. The colors are deliberately chosen to communicate the apparent impossibility of their removal.
• "they shall be as white as snow; they shall become like wool": This parallel phrase articulates the absolute and supernatural cleansing God promises. The contrast between deep red and pure white is dramatic and powerful. "White as snow" and "like wool" are potent images of radical purification and restoration to a state of moral and spiritual spotlessness, a transformation only achievable through divine power.

Isaiah 1 18 Bonus section

• This verse can be seen as an early foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement that would come through Jesus Christ. The "white as snow" imagery directly points to the cleansing power of His shed blood (Rev 7:14), which alone can purify sins that are humanly indelible.
• The legal or forensic tone of "reason together" implies that God invites us into a process of divine justice where He is willing to show the pathway to righteousness and justification, demonstrating His justice not just in judgment but also in pardon.
• The offer of reconciliation in Isaiah 1:18 is contingent on a response of "willing and obedient" action, as indicated in the subsequent verses (1:19-20). It highlights that divine grace is not an automatic entitlement but requires a humble and repentant heart to accept.
• The dramatic imagery serves as a powerful reminder that no sin is too deep or too stained for God's forgiveness and purification. It offers hope to even the most hardened hearts, emphasizing the limitless power of divine mercy to utterly transform.

Isaiah 1 18 Commentary

Isaiah 1:18 stands as a profound summary of God's character and the heart of the gospel message even in the Old Testament. Following a searing indictment of Judah's deep rebellion and hypocrisy, God extends an extraordinary invitation: "Come now, and let us reason together." This isn't merely a casual chat; it's a divine summons to a spiritual court, where God, as the righteous Judge, also offers Himself as the advocate. He invites His deeply corrupted people, whose sins are likened to indelible scarlet and crimson dyes—colors symbolizing pervasive guilt and impurity—to engage with Him.

The radical promise that follows highlights the vastness of God's grace: those seemingly permanent stains of sin, visible and damning, will be made "white as snow" and "like wool." This transformation signifies not merely a covering of sin but its complete removal and a thorough cleansing, resulting in a state of absolute purity. It is an act that defies natural possibility, emphasizing that only God's omnipotent grace can achieve such a profound and miraculous cleansing. The verse doesn't offer a license for sin, but a merciful pathway to redemption for those willing to respond to His gracious call. It underscores God's mercy preceding His judgment, offering restoration to a righteous standing through His power alone.